Prefatory Note OUR of the studies contained in this volume are now offered to the public in a revised form. The other two, those on "Othello" and "The Merry Wives of Windsor," are entirely new. The work, like its predecessor, "Shakespeare Studied in Eight Plays," is intended for the general reader rather than the Shakespearian scholar. A. S. G. CANNING. LONDON, July, 1906. L I OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE” ORD MACAULAY writes enthusiastically of It this famous tragedy: "Othello' is perhaps the greatest work in the world.” 1 It has certainly been often mentioned as one of the ablest tragedies ever written, though it is, of course, a matter of opinion if it surpasses, or even equals, “King Lear" either in pathos or in profound knowledge of character. is, however, only by a careful examination of its different personages that its merits as a sketch of life and character can be fairly compared to those of others. Othello himself appears as a Moorish officer, though a Christian and engaged in the service of the Venetians, who, while not warring with the Mohammedans of Morocco, Othello's fellowcountrymen, were often at war with the Turks, the only other Mohammedan nation which ever invaded Europe. Othello's baptism is only once mentioned (Act II., Scene 3), and where it took place, at what age, or under what circumstances, is not told. This 1 "Criticisms on the Principal Italian Writers," Miscellaneous Writings, vol. i. play at the first describes him commanding, or aspiring to command, the Venetians against the Turks, or Ottomans, as the poet sometimes terms them. Othello now stands deservedly high in the trust and confidence of the Venetian Senate. The Doge, or Duke, its supreme ruler, takes little part; like the Doge in the "Merchant of Venice," he seems little more than a figure-head, though each nominally is at the head of affairs. In both of these plays little, if any, allusion is made to Italian scenery or local customs. Othello is beloved by Desdemona, the daughter and only child of an aged Venetian Senator, Brabantio, likewise highly esteemed by the Venetian Government. Desdemona has, before this play commences, refused the hand of Roderigo, a young Venetian gentleman, and, unknown to her father, elopes with Othello at night and secretly marries him. Where this secret marriage took place, or who were present at it, are never stated, but Desdemona evidently knew, or believed, that her father would never consent to her wedding Othello. Yet why Brabantio should so vehemently disapprove her marrying one of the chief officers in the Venetian State, who was generally respected and trusted, appears to be only owing to Othello's Moorish origin. In Othello's case, Shakespeare makes the singular mistake of describing the Moor as a negro, "black" and "thick-lipped." Few, if any, Moors are thoroughly black, though usually of dark complexion, while they are never thick-lipped, and often have fine features. |
