In this paper, I will compare the character of Desdemona in the play "Othello" by Shakespeare with that in the burlesque opera "Otello" by Rice. I will first analyze the figure of Desdemona in Shakespeare’s play and then in Rice’s opera – one after another. Next, I will compare the two characters of Desdemona and will explore in which ways their qualities coin-cide, or rather, in what extent they differ in their personalities. Lastly, I will briefly summarize the different characters of Desdemona in both "Othello" and "Otello".
William Shakespeare’s "Othello" portrays the mixed-race love between Desdemona, a white Venetian beauty, and the Moor Othello, Venice’s general. Mislead by Iago, his ensign and also the play’s villain, Othello develops an unfounded suspicion of his wife Desdemona and his lieu-tenant Cassio, which results not only in Othello’s suicide, but also in the murder of his wife who, as it turns out, has been innocent of adultery all along. The tragedy thus represents love and good on the one hand (embodied by Desdemona) and the involved problem of jealousy and revenge (personified by Othello) – not least the issue of miscegenation – on the other hand.
As many of Shakespeare’s works (which usually are adaptations themselves), "Othello", first performed in 1606, has been the basis for numerous subsequent adaptations, such as the burlesque opera by Thomas D. Rice of 1844. The opera’s plot is essentially similar to that of the play by Shakespeare, yet a few changes have been made. In Rice’s parody, Otello and Desdemona have a child and Shakespeare’s handkerchief has become a common towel. Yet the most conspicuous alteration is Desdemona’s resurrection after being killed at the end of the play. Apart from that, it appears that the two characters of Desdemona in both "Othello" and "Otello" are quite alike.
Depicted as a rather subordinate role in both the play and the opera, as compared to her husband and the title character Othello/Otello, Desdemona actually portrays the heroine in both stories. Both become victims of their husbands’ jealousy and finally have to die despite being innocent. When taking a closer look, however, it becomes apparent that the two characters are not that comparable in their personality as initially seems to be the case. In fact, they both gradually reveal themselves as rather different people.
Table of Contents
- 1. Introduction
- 2. The character of Desdemona
- 2.1 Desdemona in Othello by William Shakespeare
- 2.2 Desdemona in Otello by Thomas D. Rice
- 2.3 A comparison of the character of Desdemona in Othello and Otello
- 3. Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to compare the portrayal of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello and Rice's Otello. It analyzes Desdemona's character in each work individually before comparing their similarities and differences. The paper explores how her personality is depicted and the role she plays within the narrative of each piece.
- Character analysis of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello
- Character analysis of Desdemona in Rice's Otello
- Comparison of Desdemona's personality across both works
- The impact of Desdemona's character on the respective narratives
- Exploration of the themes of love, jealousy, and miscegenation.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper, introducing Shakespeare's Othello as a play depicting a mixed-race love story tragically marred by jealousy and revenge. It highlights the play's themes of love, jealousy, miscegenation, and its subsequent adaptation, Rice's burlesque opera Otello. The introduction establishes the basis for comparing the character of Desdemona across both works, foreshadowing the differences and similarities to be explored in the subsequent chapters.
2. The character of Desdemona: This chapter provides a comprehensive analysis of Desdemona's character across Shakespeare's play and Rice's opera. It's divided into sub-sections focusing on Desdemona's portrayal in each work and subsequently comparing both portrayals. It will delve into the nuances of her character and how she is viewed by other characters within the respective narratives, analyzing the language used to describe her and the actions she takes to uncover and highlight her traits and the impact of her actions on the plot.
Keywords
Desdemona, Othello, Otello, Shakespeare, Rice, character analysis, comparative literature, jealousy, miscegenation, love, tragedy, adaptation, opera, play.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Desdemona in Shakespeare's *Othello* and Rice's *Otello*
What is the main focus of this paper?
This paper conducts a comparative analysis of the character of Desdemona as portrayed in William Shakespeare's Othello and Thomas D. Rice's Otello. It examines her character in each work individually and then compares and contrasts the two portrayals, exploring similarities and differences in her personality, role within the narrative, and the impact of her character on the respective plots.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper explores several key themes, including the character analysis of Desdemona in both works, a comparison of her personality across both versions, the impact of her character on each narrative, and the overarching themes of love, jealousy, and miscegenation present in both Othello and Otello.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a chapter dedicated to the character of Desdemona (further divided into subsections analyzing Desdemona in Shakespeare's and Rice's works, and a comparison of the two), and a conclusion.
How is Desdemona's character analyzed in the paper?
The analysis involves a detailed examination of Desdemona's portrayal in both Othello and Otello. This includes analyzing how her personality is depicted through language and actions, how she is perceived by other characters, and the impact of her actions on the plot of each work. The analysis will highlight the nuances of her character and how they differ between Shakespeare's play and Rice's adaptation.
What is the purpose of comparing Shakespeare's *Othello* and Rice's *Otello*?
Comparing the two works allows for a deeper understanding of how the character of Desdemona is interpreted and presented in different contexts. It explores the impact of adaptation on character development and the enduring relevance of themes like love, jealousy, and miscegenation. The comparison allows for a richer understanding of the character and the plays' lasting impact.
What are the key words associated with this paper?
Key words associated with this paper include: Desdemona, Othello, Otello, Shakespeare, Rice, character analysis, comparative literature, jealousy, miscegenation, love, tragedy, adaptation, opera, and play.
What is the scope of the chapter summaries provided?
The chapter summaries provide a brief overview of each chapter's content. The introduction sets the stage, introducing the plays and their themes. The main chapter on Desdemona details the planned in-depth analysis. The summaries provide a roadmap for the overall structure and argument of the paper.
- Quote paper
- Julie Dillenkofer (Author), 2015, The Character of Desdemona. A Comparison of William Shakespeare’s "Othello" and Thomas D. Rice’s "Otello", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/313783
