Othello (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) [Hardcover]

Harold Bloom (Author), William Shakespeare (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations | Publication Date: December 1987

The masterful depiction of the anguish of uncertainty offered in Othello demonstrates the full scope of Shakespeare's mastery. Language itself proves to be the source of Othello's power and its eclipse.

The title, William Shakespeare’s Othello, part of Chelsea House Publishers’ Modern Critical Interpretations series, presents the most important 20th-century criticism on William Shakespeare’s Othello through extracts of critical essays by well-known literary critics. This collection of criticism also features a short biography on William Shakespeare, a chronology of the author’s life, and an introductory essay written by Harold Bloom, Sterling Professor of the Humanities, Yale University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 154 pages
• Publisher: Chelsea House Publications (December 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0877549354
• ISBN-13: 978-0877549352
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #209,277 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A TRUE TRAGEDY, October 20, 2001

By 

Camille (TRINIDAD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Othello (MCI) (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations) (Hardcover)

Othello relects the true meaning of a tragedy both in its content and its structure.Tragedy is 'a story of exceptional calamity produced by human actions, leading to the death of a man in high estate.'The downfall of Othello is caused by his own actions, rather than by his character, or rather the two work in unison to create the stage for his downfall.
This is what captured my attention when I read this play.It is very profound to realize the fact that Shakespeare uses Iago to set this stage on which Othello is a mere player.
I love the character of Iago. His total confidence, the superiority that he feels when psychoanalysing human nature, his rational thinking and intellectualism sways the reader to think: 'Wow, this is a compelling and sophisticated man we're dealing with here!'
However, my admiration of Iago does not in anyway undermine my love of Othello. His poetic and calm demeanor makes the reader feel the pity and terror for him when he falls from grace (catharsis). Yet, we are made to understand that the reason why he is made to appear a gullible and ignorant fool to some readers is that he does not have any knowledge of a delicate, domesticated life. Venetian women were foreign to him. This tragic flaw in Othello added to the circumstances used by Iago to destroy him.
The meaning, and hence the tragedy of the play is conveyed through the use of Shakespeare's language, style, literary devices and imagery. Without these dramatic effects, readers would never be able to enjoy the play as much, although the dialogue is at times difficult to decipher.
I thoroughly enjoyed Othello and it is my hope that more people find it enticing as I have. I would be delighted to contribute more of my reviews to that effect.