Customer Reviews

Mothello: A High-Flying Introduction to Shakespeare for Kids (Phakespeare's Animal Shakespeare for Children Series)

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I was a bit dubious about this work when I received it, complete with explanatory materials. This is portrayed as a way for young readers to become acquainted with the great Shakespearian tragedy, Othello, without being put off by the Elizabethan language.

First, the characters are drawn from the animal kingdom. Othello is reconceived as Mothello, a moth. The conceit is that if we use animals instead of the characters from the original play, young readers will be more drawn in to the tale.

The story itself is, in essence, a version of the play Othello. And key episodes from the play have nice cognates here. As Imago (Iago, of course) tries to turn Mothello (Othello) away from Desdemona, he uses Mothello's jealousy and suspicion to begin to turn him away from Desdemona, with the predictably unfortunate consequences. Imago's plotting was clearly succeeding, as exemplified in a couple passages from Chapter 15 (The Hurricane). Mothello's jealousy was such that Imago no longer needed to stoke it. As the text says (Page 111): "The more Mothello swallowed the bait, the angrier he became. And eventually a strange thing happened: Mothello became the one convinced, Imago the one asking all the pertinent questions."

And, of course, the eventual tragic denouement, as Desdemona dies and Mothello realizes his folly. . . .

It's a strange approach, I must confess, to making Shakespeare accessible to young readers. I'm not even sure that I think that this is the route to go. But this volume surely makes one rethink how we might introduce our kids to the great playwrights and authors of times past.

As much as I wanted to love this book, I don't. I admire the attempt to make Shakespeare accessible to young people, but honestly, I feel that this book is not very well-written. In order to get young people excited about literature, the passion of language has to be there-- and I simply don't see it in this work. Sure, the issues of otherness and betrayal are there, but I feel as though the author's way of portraying these ideas is luke warm. Furthermore, I was rather surprised to see (on the back cover) testimonials from 7th and 9th graders. I find this work to be better suited to 5th and 6th graders.
When all is said and done, I don't believe it does justice to Shakespeare's Othello. I believe kids can handle serious subject matter without having it so watered down. While I am in agreement that the language of SHakespeare might be overwhelming for some younger readers, the dialogues presented in this work come off as a bit pedestrian.
I applaud the idea, but not necessarily the effort.

Phakespeare's Mothello is an absolutely delightful interpretation of Shakespeare's Othello. To be honest, this is one of the most unique works I have run across in sometime now. The writer, Dilan MacHardy, has taken this wonderful tragedy and rewritten it using, that's right, Moths and Ants in place of people. I must admit that I was a bit skeptical of this at first, but after the first few pages this work had me absolutely hooked. The author of course has simplified the original and has used current English to tell the story, but has done a wonderful job of sticking to the major theme of the story, to the point that it is instantly recognized for what it is and holds that recognition throughout the work. I selected a brief passage at random to illustrate:

"Later that night when Mothello got back, he took Desdemona to a perch at the top of the tree called Lover's Lookout, and told her what had happened. `I don't want to fight against the Reds, I've never even been in a real fight before. And I've never even seen an ant.'

`I know, Mothello, but if you don't, my father will have a fit. He likes the idea that you're successful. It makes him look good in front of the other senators. But I don't want you to go either. If anything happened to you, I don't know what I'd do. But then again, what if I couldn't airy you? If you refuse to go, chances re my father will forbid us to airy.'

Mothello thought about it for a second, then he cried out triumphantly, `what if we just got aired now, Desdemona? I know you want to wait, but considering everything that's happened, what do we have to lose?'

Desdemona stood there, saying nothing, very uncertain about the idea. `I...I don't know, Mothello, my father will...'

`Who cares what he thinks? Come on, why not? We just do it and be done with it. Before he has a chance to stop us.'

And that's just what they did."

Now please don't get the impression that this is a purified version of the story. We still have the darkness of the plot; the betrayals, murder, jealousy and strife. This is not a sugar coated tale; it has simply been reinterpreted in a way that is highly compatible to today's youth. As the book states, as do other reviewers, there is no worry about the archaic speech that turn so many of the young off of Shakespeare these days. The story is quite understandable and it is only a gently leap to the real thing when the reader is ready.

Now there is the purest here and there that may wail about the approach the author has taken. Let the purest stand in front of a class of 15 and 16 year old kids and force feed them the original. If that teacher or person thinks for one second that all those kids in the classroom are enjoying what is being fed them, then you can pretty well bet you have a delusional teacher on your hands. If you have one out of twenty, then you are truly lucky. It is my own opinion, and I take complete responsibility for it, that there have been literally thousands of school kids over the years that have been absolutely ruined as to the delights of reading as a whole, never mind reading the classics, simply from being forced to read works they could not in anyway identify with. Let them get a taste, a small taste at first, and then let nature work its course.

I understand that there are other books in the works at this time which include Romeow and Julicat, King Deer and Lamblet and several others. If these other offerings are of the quality of this one, then it is going to be a job well done!

I might add that I know many an adult that will thoroughly enjoy this work. I know I did and I do wish I had had this work around fifty years ago...it would have made my life much more enjoyable and opened doors for me so much faster.

Don Blankenship
The Ozarks

Being able to speak in "thees" and "thous" is not required to understand the art of Shakespeare's literature. "Mothello" is part of a series created to simplify the works of one of the greatest writers of the millennium by casting the parts as creatures of the animal kingdom, so that young readers will better understand these writings without needing to be told what certain words mean every step of the way. Though simplified, "Mothello" keeps the core of Shakespeare's play "Othello" intact. Sure to delight and entertain readers, "Mothello" is a great choice for anyone seeking to introduce children to literary classics.