Othello has long been, and remains, one of Shakespeare's most popular works. It is a favourite work of scholars, students, and general readers alike. Perhaps more than any other of Shakespeare's tragedies, this one seems to speak most clearly to contemporary readers and audiences, partly because it deals with such pressing modern issues as race, gender, multiculturalism, and the ways love, jealousy, and misunderstanding can affect relations between romantic partners. The play also features Iago, one of Shakespeare's most mesmerizing and puzzling villains.
This guide offers students and scholars an introduction to the play's critical and performance history, including notable stage productions and film versions. It includes a keynote chapter outlining major areas of current research on the play and four new critical essays. Finally, a guide to critical, web-based and production-related resources and an annotated bibliography provide a basis for further research.
Series Introduction;
Othello Timeline;
Introduction;
The Critical Backstory RICHARD HARP
Performance History: CHRISTOPHER BAKER
The State of the Art: IMTIAZ HABIB
New Directions:
1.Othello as an Englishman: MATTHEW STEGGLE
2.Iago: Male Witch and Black Magician: ROBERT C. EVANS
3.Othello, the Turks, and Cyprus: RAPHAEL FALCO
4. Othello and His Brothers: LISA HOPKINS
Resources for Teaching and Studying Othello: ALISON SCOTT
Notes on the Contributors;
Index
Arden Early Modern Drama Guides offer students and academics practical and accessible introductions to the critical and performance contexts of key Elizabethan and Jacobean plays. Essays from leading international scholars give invaluable insight into the text by presenting a range of critical perspectives, making the books ideal companions for study and research.
Key features include:
Essays on the play’s critical and performance history
A keynote essay on current research and thinking about the play
A selection of new essays by leading scholars
A survey of resources to direct students’ further reading about the play in print and online
Older titles from the series can be found here: https://www.bloomsbury.com/series/continuum-renaissance-drama-guides/