An innovative guide which focuses on the familiar characters whilst introducing more sophisticated analysis.
Othello is a major Shakespearean text, studied widely and often adapted for film and TV and especially challenging for a multicultural society. Othello lends itself to criticism through discussion of the major characters although this study will also focus on recent criticism's analysis of the characters as 'signifiers'. The study of the key characters takes the discussion of the text immediately into the central issues of 'otherness', gender, race and power. The guide includes: an introductory overview of the text, including a brief discussion of the background to the play including its publishing and reception history; an overview of the narrative structure; chapters discussing in detail the representation of the key characters including Othello, Iago and Desdemona as well as the more minor characters; a conclusion reminding students of the links between the characters and the key themes and issues and a guide to further reading.
