A comparison of othello and the movie o 1551 words 123. Comparison othello play and film english literature essay. This is i believe a way to modernize the version to appeal to another audience. In order to understand othello and grasp what i was reading i had to place the original text next to a modern translation. The movie o starts off showing odin receiving an award in front of the rest of the school for the most valuable basketball player. Othello by william shakespeare is a classic play that has been successfully created into a movie. Cassios innocence and trust that other people will see his virtue makes him a parallel character to desdemona. This is not an example of the work written by professional essay writers. The movie s character roger is chided as a faggot while shakespeares rodrigo acts like an adolescent in love, speaking of suicide at the loss of the desdemona he never had the chance to love. It is completely impossible for any of shakespeares work to be replicated or reproduced. This time period had no war on drugs and no high school shootings.
The o movie is a modification of othello by william shakespeare and is set in the 20th century in a high school, where odin in contrast to othello is a star basketball star and dating desi, desdemona in the play. A type of the play othello in writing by william shakespeare that requests to teens is. Instead many directors use the process of adaptation to tell a modernized version of his stories. A few years ago when i taught othello for the first time i decided instead to show the movie o which is a modernization of the play othello. The main difference between the play othello and the movie o is the language. Compare movie and play othello many shakespearean plays have been utilized by hollywood. Othello throughout hollywood history, many screen adaptations of famous books and novels have strayed away from its original. In the play othello there are two characters that make the play what it is. Some similarities that both the movie and play focus on are themes of racial tension, jealousy, manipulation, small props, and much more. Odin to othello, desi to desdemona, hugo to iago, emily. O othello movie analysis and summary schoolworkhelper. However, unlike desdemona, cassio evolves as a character. The movies character roger is chided as a faggot while shakespeares rodrigo acts like an adolescent in love, speaking of suicide at the loss of the desdemona he never had the chance to love.
Written in 1604, it has spanned a total of 12 movie adaptations othello, including the 2001 version directed by tim blake nelson. Choices in the movie o a young boy named hugo feels neglected by his father causing him to twist the minds of friends and family making it easy for him to get revenge on odin a basketball player who he feels receives more attention from his father then he does. The moorish general othello is manipulated into thinking that his new wife desdemona has been carrying on an affair with his lieutenant michael cassio, when in reality, it is all part of the scheme of a bitter ensign named iago. The main thing that makes shakespeare so hard to read, is his use of language. Analysis of adaptation othello 1995 by oliver parker. Othello comparisoncontrast by brittany washington on prezi. Othello goes to high school, welsh, 225 is an accurate description of the movie o as directed by tim blake nelson. However, they were transferred into different situations and setting.
With laurence fishburne, kenneth branagh, irene jacob, nathaniel parker. However, ultimately the literary value of othello is lost in this appropriation the film o directed by tim blake nelson is a recognised contemporary. O is a 2001 american drama film, and a modern adaptation of william shakespeare s othello, set in an american high school. O the main differences between the play and movie although the movie o is a production based on shakespe atomic number 18s othello, several differences follow between the two such as womens brotherly status, iagos personality change, and the type of language employed by the characters. This is reflected in shakespeares othello and tim blake nelsons o which both share universal elements whilst indicating the progression of.
Nelsons o is heavily based on shakespeares original but is set in a modern setting, with high school students playing the roles crafted by shakespeare. The similarities between the movie o and shakespeares othello leave. The comparison between o and othello is that the greeneyed monster showed its. The movie o, released on august 31, 2001, is a retelling of shakespeares othello set in a college prepatory school. The movie o was somewhat accurate to the play, othello, in which it is based upon. That sexuality also comes into play in the use of the fantasy sequences in which othello dreams of finding desdemona and cassio together in bed. O vs othello vs othello1995 by ronnie ransom on prezi. Home essay samples literature othello othello and o the movie. The kids loved the film because its about a basketball team and high school students. Gloriously cinematic despite its tiny budget, orson welless othello is a testament to the filmmakers stubborn willingness to pursue his vision to the ends of the earth.
It was filmed in charleston, south carolina in the spring of 1999. Othello s aide iago kenneth branagh, jealous over the elevation of his rival, cassio nathaniel parker, the directors reallife brother to lieutenant, begins scheming to make othello believe. Desi julia stiles loves him and is faithful to him, but he cannot bring himself to trust her, and that is his downfall. Although some lines are taking out and some scenes are added in, the movie gives viewers a new way of seeing othello without diverting too far from the original story. Create marketing content that resonates with prezi video. Unmatched in his passionate identification with shakespeares imagination, welles brings his inventive visual approach to this enduring tragedy of jealousy, bigotry, and rage, and also gives a towering performance as. Othello differences and similarities of the movie and. Even though hes the only black student at the elite palmetto grove academy, he has the adoration of all, including the teams coach and the deans beautiful daughter, desi. The movie o has those same characteristics with the characters ro. To be jealous has to do with or arose from feelings of envy, apprehension, or bitterness. O essays many shakespearean plays have been used by hollywood.
To some degree, any modern production must make iago the villain and othello the victim, and suffer as a result. Advertisement autoplay when autoplay is enabled, a. Whether it is in the story plot, character, or even its setting, spotting the differences is always easy to find. O the movie portrays the main characters in various similarities and differences. With mekhi phifer, julia stiles, martin sheen, josh hartnett. The two main characters in the play othello are othello and iago. Celebrating prezi s teacher community for teacher appreciation week. The reason why modernized versions of shakespearean plays are so successful is because they take the brilliant. Othello video two cassio and montano fight scene duration. Sep 12, 2019 the movie o was not much different from othello, but it was adapted into a more understandable scenario. Along with no televisions, life in the late 1500s had many different qualities than it does today.
His supposed friend hugo josh hartnett plants the seeds of doubt, suggesting desi is secretly sleeping with another student, michael. The movie o has those same characteristics with the characters roles. Compare othello the play to o the movie free essays. Oliver parker s 1995 movie othello, starring laurence fishburne, irene jacob, and kenneth branagh, is an adaptation of shakespeare s play that remains faithful to the original text, while using the advantages of the big screen and modern day editing to present the story in ways that would be impossible for a stage performance. Differences between film and othello 1503 words bartleby. Anyone interested in making a lowbudget movie ought to see orson welles screen adaptation of william shakespeares othello, a striking example of how much can be achieved with very little money. Directed by oliver parker, it is the first theatrical production of the play that features an african american man in the lead role. Hot young stars, a hip, driving soundtrack, plus a provocative tale of jealousy and betrayal combine to create this controversial modernday version of shakespeares classic, othello.
William shakespeares elizabethan play othello was a. Watching a movie makes things a lot easier to understand, especially when it is set in the 2000s. Iago and roderigo speak the most obvious racial slurs against othello. Othello 1995 directed by oliver parker is an excellent adaptation of william shakespeares the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice. Othello vs o the modern spin essay 853 words bartleby. Differentces and similarities of the movie othello and the. The film othello is a remake of the classic novel by william shakespeare. The film is set in italy and follows the lives and interactions of several characters in. Apr 22, 2011 nelsons movie, o, came out in 2001, starring mekhi phifer as odin othello, julia stiles as desi desdemona, and josh hartnett as hugo iago. The moor of venice is a 1951 tragedy film directed and produced by orson welles, who also adapted the shakespearean play and played the title role. It contains many different styles of music, ranging from rap to opera. May 25, 2018 home essay samples literature othello othello and o the movie.
It was directed by tim blake nelson and written by brad kaaya. Examples of these film adaptations include 1962s all the night long, which shifts the action to underground jazz clubs and features an ending in which the othello and desdemona characters happily reconcile, and 2001s o, which transposes the plot into an american high school setting and stars mekhi phifer, josh hartnett and julia stiles. Differences between film and play othello delving deeper. Many characters in o have a counterpart to othello. Comparisons between the play othello and the movie o. Even thought, the movie departs from the original play, due to the cutting of many dialogues, and an addition of new scenes, still this infusion of the authors vision and shakespearean genius not only changes a common perspective of the play, but. Recipient of the grand prix du festival international du film precursory name for the palme dor at the 1952 cannes film festival, the film was distributed by united artists when it was released in. Odin mekhi phifer, a talented black athlete, the only black student in the school, is in love with desi julia stiles, the headmasters daughter. Odin then says that this would not be possible without his go to guy who hugo believes will be him, due to the fact he has been in the basketball team for some time and has also known odin for some time. Shakespeares play othello vs nelsons film o english literature. The contrast between both the movie and the play is that odin was a basketball. Othello differences and similarities of the movie and play. This movie, shelved over two years due to the epidemic of high school shootings in the late 1990s, is an attempt to take in hand these disasters caused by peer pressure and jealousy kurnit. The similarities between the movie o and shakespeares othello leave no question as to the heritage of this updated production.
Odin to othello, desi to desdemona, hugo to iago, emily to emilia, roger to roderigo, and michel to cassio. Essay on a comparison of othello and the movie o 1548 words. The words that are in shakespeares plays often seem foreign. By the end of the play, he has realized that iago is responsible for desdemonas death, and he.
This movie, shelved over two years due to the epidemic show more content a hawk is no good around other birds. William shakespeares elizabethan play othello was a tragedy believed to have been written in 1603. I made up this handout which summarizes important events in othello and has students respond with the corresponding events in the film o. Essay on a comparison of othello and the movie o 1548. O is odin james, a star high school basketball player and nba hopeful. O is a 2001 american drama film, and a modern adaptation of william shakespeares othello, set in an american high school. Whether it is in the story plot, character, or even its setting, spotting the differences is always. Othello 1951 orson welles synopsis, characteristics. An example of this would be othello, which has been remade into a movie called o. Recipient of the grand prix du festival international du film precursory name for the palme dor at the 1952 cannes film festival, the film was. Especially just at this moment of the films 1995 release, with the fates of o. Differences between film and play othello the 1995 film adaptation of othello is a very well done film that gives watchers a new way of seeing the tragic story of othello. It stars mekhi phifer, julia stiles, and josh hartnett. The similarities between them make o an excellent rendition of the original.
Race and othello on film purdue epubs purdue university. May 10, 2015 othello 1995 directed by oliver parker is an excellent adaptation of william shakespeares the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice. A comparison of othello and the movie o when shakespeare composed the tragedy othello televisions were not. Some of the name in the film also contain a kind of. Othellos aide iago kenneth branagh, jealous over the elevation of his rival, cassio nathaniel parker, the directors reallife brother to lieutenant, begins scheming to make othello believe. The film o consist of many similar elements from the original play, othello. O the main differences between the play and movie although the movie o is a production based on shakespe atomic number 18s othello, several differences follow between the two such as womens brotherly status, iagos personality change. O is a retelling of shakespeares othello, set in a contemporary southern prep school.
A version of the play othello written by william shakespeare that appeals to teens i. The movie continues to show scenes of othello and desdemona having intercourse. In almost every movie based on a literary work, there are always major differences. This paper considers the similarities and differences between two versions of othello. Nelsons movie, o, came out in 2001, starring mekhi phifer as odin othello, julia stiles as desi desdemona, and josh hartnett as hugo iago. For years, stories about this singularly troubled movie circulated more widely than the film itself. The director creates mood, character, character interrelationships and t. The opening act in any play is very important as it creates and establishes the themes that will be explored throughout the play. Welles began shooting othello without securing full financing, so he would gather his cast. The movie o was not much different from othello, but it was adapted into a more understandable scenario.
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