A Reader's Guide to Essential Criticism
'Othello' is perhaps Shakespeare's most troublesome tragedy. The Romantics warmed to the figure of Othello himself and wrung their hands over the plight of Desdemona; the Modernists, looked down on the play as an achievement of Shakespeare's stagecraft rather than of his imagination. The play continues to be read, staged and studied, and each new approach provides a new view.
In this Icon Readers' Guide, Nicholas Potter traces the critical history of the play from the earliest pronouncements to present-day criticism. The most significant critical accounts are excerpted and discussed, placed within their historical context and assessed for their contribution to the developing evaluation of the work. The Guide assumes no particular view of the continuing debate, but tries to do justice to the variety of opinion, as well as pointing out significant themes and recurring concerns. The ugly racism of many critical accounts, and the inadequacy of many attempts to face up the issues raised by the play, are not glossed over.
'Icon Readers' Guides' explore the key critical material relating to major works of world literature. A clear, informative narrative links the extracts and examines their context and importance. From contemporary reviews to postmodern readings, the Guides offer readers a full account of the ways in which the works have been received by academics, critics and the public.
