Customer Reviews

Othello

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

This edition will be a boon for any instructor or advanced student who wants the usual Oxford treatment--extensive, thorough footnotes; wonderful appendices about music and performance; an excellent introduction that could stand alone as its own book; and well-chosen illustrations and photographs from performances throughout history.

"Othello" is one of my favorite Shakespearean plays, but even the best of things could use a little updating once in a while. That's why I was so excited when I found out about the comic book version. It is the play, the whole play, and nothing but the play, made easier for the layman to understand with interesting contemporary art.

The reading is very monotonous as the reader says the names of each part before the part is read. It drives my students as well as myself crazy. We get through the reading faster by just reading the parts ourselves. I was very disappointed with the purchase.

Knowing Cyril Cusack from his affecting performance of Egeon in the BBC version of 'The Comedy of Errors', I'm suprised by his laughable portrayal of Iago here: the silly whining and hammy delivery of the lines throughout is a trial to listen to. If only he was given the role of the Clown instead...

This is not a review of the quality of this production, rather on the quality of the sale. It's also a warning to other potential buyers who click on this product page. I ordered this audio CD having believed that it was the production with Ewan McGregor and Chiwetel Ejiofor as Iago and Othello respectively; however, when I received the package, I quickly saw that I had been misled. I know Amazon often groups reviews together (i.e. audio CDs include reviews of the book itself rather than the quality of the particular audio), but this was totally deceiving. Right under the title are the names of the actors, and even one of the official reviews is a review of the McGregor and Ejiofor version.

I apologize that my review isn't of the CD I received, but I don't want anyone making the same mistake I did. Perhaps I missed something in the product description, but I was surprised. I'm debating whether to return it or just to live with it and not buy any more audiobooks from Amazon again. Very disappointed.

This play embodies tragedy, and may be my favorite play by Shakes. Othello has wonderful elements - some of the most unbearable and longest dramatic irony of any play, a devilish villain whose true motives we are left to guess, a virtuous but flawed protagonist, the triumph of evil over good. Othello is a gut-wrenching play and should be appreciated for its sheer dramatic energy and passion. Certainly other questions are explored - such as the issue of racial insecurities even in a successful and admired man among prejudiced people. However, perhaps the most important things to take out of it is the sheer evil that Iago spreads around him, puppeteering the good characters with strings of wickedness.

This play leaves the reader with a feeling of despair. How could there be such evil in the world as is in Iago's heart? How could there be such jealousy as with Roderigo? And what of Desdemona's undying love...so powerful that with her last breath she denies that it was indeed her husband that took her life. The flood of emotion and pain in this book leave the reader feeling a great desperation for humanity. However, the reader will find humor in the irony and figurative language that is woven throughout the dialogue. This play exposes the darkest side of man with several thrilling murders and continuous deception. It also colors the most desirable characteristics of man...devotion, trust, and love. Read this play!

Othello is now one of my favorite Shakesperean plays, right behind Romeo and Juliet. The play contains many universal themes which could be applied to life today, such as jealousy and revenge. The book is sad at the end, but it is very well-written and is effective in evoking emotions in the reader. I recommend this book for anyone who has to read a Shakesperean play or for anyone who wants to read a good book.

This Othello is unbelievably beautiful. Disconnecting oneself from The Operative and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and concentrating only on the voices of the fabulous Chiwetel Ejiofor and Ewan MacGregor, one gets a truly immersive experience into the world of jealousy, racism, betrayal, and true love that Shakespeare must originally have intended. I have to not-so-respectfully disagree with the previous reviewer; this recording is layered, clear, and absolutely pulsating with passion and tension.

It's worth every penny, and I say that as a fan of audiobooks in general and Shakespeare in particular. I'll be listening to this for years; Kenneth Branagh and Lawrence Fishburne--eat your hearts out!

I'm using this as a more portable version of the same plays in Norton's Shakespeare by Greenblatt, which is too darn big to lug around conveniently. So I ordered the Dover plays at their cheap price for convenience. Don't let the price make you think they aren't worth much. They are great for taking notes in and contain all the information I need. I can always look online for more info if I need it. These are a great bargain. Norton's Shakespeare by Greenblatt is the best, yes, but it's seriously like 12 lbs or so....and not cheap.