Othello

Content Group

Overview
Othello: George Bennett (1800 - 1879) as Othello and Miss Jane Bennett as Desdemona

Its racial challenges seem to have made Othello very controversial, yet popular (Gallery 2.3.22-27). Issues of casting the lead role only with black actors in the lead have been debated recently, particularly since Olivier's film (Gallery 5.2.35-40). Iago is increasingly seen as not only the longest but the dominant role: his black humor is as important a production element as that of the comparable role of Richard III. Desdemona's initial boldness has not endeared her to feminists, because of her ultimate acquiescence to her fate.

Images
Othello, Theatre Guild, 1943-1944
Othello, Laurence Olivier as Othello, National Theatre of Great Britain, 1965
Othello, Giuseppe Verdi's Otello, The Wrocław Opera, 2008
Othello: Edwin Booth as Iago
Othello: Margaret Halstan (1879-1967) as Desdemona and  Matheson Lang (1879-1948) as Othello
*Margaret Webster Production: Othello V.ii; Othello, Iago, Desdemona

Pages

Slideshows
Bibliography

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