Othello = ME!

Othello was a probably my favorite work for this entire semester. The themes really captivate me because they are not uncommon for today's society. I think that a tragedy like  Othello could happen today. And as you see in the movie O, which was produced in 2001, it's even something that could have happened to 13 years ago. To me, it is the most relatable text of the semester. I feel like I could be Othello. Someone who was tricked into believing that my lover was cheating and was driven to rage through manipulation and greed.

Othello- Human Condition

   Othello has proven to be one of my favorite literary works by Shakespeare. The themes of jealousy, love, and reputation come together to create a strory that is both entertaining as well as informative about the realities of the human condition. As Iagos spins his lie we see the transformation of Othello from a loving husband to a broken and jealous villain. Othello swears to obtain justice for the wrong done to him by killing Desdemona. Although Othello believes that he is righting a wrong that was done to him he doesn't realize that he is only sealing his own fate. Likewise we often times follow the same path as Othello. We endure pain in life and often seek to remedy this pain by  taking revenge on the source. We feel that our problem will be solved if we rid ourselves of whatever has caused the issue in the first place. However, after doing so we realize that we are left just as empty and hurt as we were before. Just as Othello died, something inside of us dies too.

Othello

William Shakespeare ties together romance and tragedy in the play Othello. As we watched each film in class, the overall themes remained the same - love, jealousy, and death. Each film brought different aspects of how the love between Othello and Desdemona blossomed, how Iago's lies began, and how lies brought heartbreak and death in the end. Some re-makes of plays differ completely from the original version, therefore, I appreciated how the films kept the overarching theme of the original Othello. I enjoyed watching all three of the films, because I took something new out of each one. However, because O is the more modern adaptation of the story, through language and scenery, this film kept my attention more over the others. I feel as though O really helped me understand more clearly what challenges each character was really facing. No one wants to feel unrecognized, as Iago did, or betrayed as Othello did, or heartbroken as Desdemona felt. However, through the lies told in the story, no one gained any happiness in the end. 

For the last couple of weeks we had the privilege of watching three adaptations of the legendary William Shakespeare play Othello. This play was about a man who was tricked by his "friend" into believing that his wife was unfaithful to him. He was forced to believe that his friend was being adulterous with his wife behind his back. As a result, he murdered his wife and later took his life when he realized that he was lied to and his wife was innocent. The more traditional version of the play was very hard to comprehend  because of the language barrier that was created. The second adaptation was a little easier to understand, but the most comprehensive version was O because it showed the play in a more modern and  relatable way. The language was much easier to understand and we were able to see the events of Othello unfold in a more contemporary way. I appreciated O the most because it showed me how something so ancient can still apply to society today. I enjoyed viewing the three filmed versions of this play because it made me appreciate Shakespeare in a way I never had in the past.

Othello

William Shakespeare famous play Othello has many reenactments. The play deals with a black man named, Othello. He is betrayed by someone who he entrusts and believes his wife is cheating on him. He now suspects the person who is supposed to have his back; is the same one going behind it, sleeping with his wife. In the end he murders his true love and then commits suicide. We watched three movie versions of the play. The Othello 1952 shows the play, but it was hard to follow. There was a barrier in understanding what was being said during the movie.  The reenactment of Othello 1995 made it easier for me to follow. The story from the 1952 Othello was slightly different. Despite this, they both portrayed the same message. The movie O 2001 shows a more present day display of the movie.  This was the best modernization as it relates to young people. After watching the different movies of Othello I have gained a deeper appreciation of William Shakespeare literature.

-Lorenza Carey 

Othello

We watched three movie adaptations of William Shakespeare's literary classic Othello. This story centers around the passionate love shared between Desdemona and Othello, that is ultimately broken by Iago, who is hell bent on destroying Othello. I can honestly say that when I found out we would be viewing the movies and learning about Othello, I was indifferent. I didn't have an opinion about the story or the films, but I figured it would be boring. I now know that Othello is the furthest thing from boring. I appreciated every movie adaptation more than the last and I believe there are many layers and perspectives to the characters. I'm glad that I was exposed to this remarkably interesting and exciting story. The best adaption in my opinion was O. Because it took place in modern day it was relatable and it reminded me that even though Shakespeare wrote this long ago, a situation similar to this situation could very well occur today.

-Eryn Peeler

Summoning of Everyman Haiku - Confession

Confession: I know
Your sorrow well Everyman
I will comfort you.