If Othello Had Been Written in Modern Times How Would It Differ
Name: Marco Conservo
Candidate number:
May 2013 session
International School of Milan
English A language and literature HL
Task 2: Reader, culture and text
Prescribed question: If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience, how and why might it differ?
Specific question: If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ?
Title of text: Othello
Task is related to course section
Pt 4: Literature- Critical Study, The individual, Community and Identity
Task focus: The aim of this essay is to analyse how Shakespeare’s play Othello would differ if it had been set in a politically correct and modern society such as ours.
If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ?
The play Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in around 1603. The story has four central characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago and Cassio. Othello or “the moor” is a black general, admired for his superb leadership skills. He falls in love with Desdemona, and against Brabantio’s will they elope before embarking on a campaign against the Turks. However, in Cyprus, a storm destroys the Turkish fleet and the real battle turns out to be the one of Iago against Othello. Iago’s hatred for Othello is mainly caused by his anger at missing out on a promotion added to his racism. This leads to his revenge on the protagonist. In this assessment, I am going to analyse how the play would have differed if it had been set in a modern era.
The play opens with a heated discussion between Iago and Roderigo. Iago complains about Othello’s decision to promote Cassio as lieutenant. He confesses that he only remains in service of the general in order to succeed in his evil plan: “ I follow him to serve my turn upon him” act 1 sc 1 l. 42. Othello is described as “the moor”. This epithet often substitutes his actual name “Othello”. Moreover, Roderigo describes Othello’s with terms such as: “thick
Candidate number:
May 2013 session
International School of Milan
English A language and literature HL
Task 2: Reader, culture and text
Prescribed question: If the text had been written in a different time or place or language or for a different audience, how and why might it differ?
Specific question: If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ?
Title of text: Othello
Task is related to course section
Pt 4: Literature- Critical Study, The individual, Community and Identity
Task focus: The aim of this essay is to analyse how Shakespeare’s play Othello would differ if it had been set in a politically correct and modern society such as ours.
If Othello had been set in a modern era, how would it differ?
The play Othello is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare in around 1603. The story has four central characters: Othello, Desdemona, Iago and Cassio. Othello or “the moor” is a black general, admired for his superb leadership skills. He falls in love with Desdemona, and against Brabantio’s will they elope before embarking on a campaign against the Turks. However, in Cyprus, a storm destroys the Turkish fleet and the real battle turns out to be the one of Iago against Othello. Iago’s hatred for Othello is mainly caused by his anger at missing out on a promotion added to his racism. This leads to his revenge on the protagonist. In this assessment, I am going to analyse how the play would have differed if it had been set in a modern era.
The play opens with a heated discussion between Iago and Roderigo. Iago complains about Othello’s decision to promote Cassio as lieutenant. He confesses that he only remains in service of the general in order to succeed in his evil plan: “ I follow him to serve my turn upon him” act 1 sc 1 l. 42. Othello is described as “the moor”. This epithet often substitutes his actual name “Othello”. Moreover, Roderigo describes Othello’s with terms such as: “thick