I do not know about Othello yet. I am not very excited about reading this play. I think I feel this because I have no idea about what it is. With "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" and "The Taming of the Shrew," I had knowledge of what the plays were. I had seen movies that were based on those two plays, so I was am imagine ways in which each character presented themselves. With Othello, I have no idea what I am to expect. I find it interesting that Othello starts with the audience knowing nothing, and Roderigo coming onto stage in what seems to be in the middle of a conversation.
I think after "The Taming of the Shrew", I am just over Shakespeare plays for now. I am still upset about the way Petruchio treated Katherina. Maybe he was just playing a role all along, in order to tame her, but I feel he just took it over board. And so far this play, Othello, begins with the first scene having someone dislike on another person because of their race. I understand that back then it was not thought of as rude to do half, if not all, the things that are written in these plays but for today it is wrong. I just cannot find it within myself to continuously repeat that these are just plays. Anything where people are being put down because of their sex, race, class, etc, I get upset. I don’t know. I am hoping that by having no background information on this play that things get better and that it is an interesting read.
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I agree about having difficulty getting "in" to Shakespeare... It's really tough to put yourself in the right mind to read and understand and then actually enjoy these plays. I am looking forward to Othello, though, because it will be something a little different than the confounding Shrew and Dream. About the race bit... Just look at the plays from the perspective of the author in the time they were written. I know what you mean; I hate anything written about society and class, and how lower class people aren't good enough (Jane Austen). But stay positive, it could be interesting... I may be wrong, but isn't this the play where someone says, "To Be, or Not To Be, that is the question??" haha.. See you in class.
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