Differences Between Othello The Play And Movie

The Shakespeare’s play “Othello” and the 2001 contemporary movie “O” both have comparisons in their plots as well as differences. The comparisons that both the movie and the play have are racism, love, jealousy, and manipulative illusions. However, there is contrast in the time, theme and techniques.

  In both, the play and the movie racial tension are observed. Othello is a black man, who is a general that takes precedence over everyone in the Venetian army. He is a noble man of valor on the island of Cyprus who is highly esteemed. In the same way, Odin is the best basketball player on his team and he is the only black in the entire school, who was admired by his peers. Although the racial suggestions are more common in the movie than

the play, it does give you an idea that Othello/Odin is seen differently by the rest of the community. Iago/Hugo, who is supposedly Othello/Odin friend, exemplify in both illustrations to be envious and favorable of Othello/Odin. Iago/Hugo is treacherous and malicious as he starts his trickery toward Othello/Odin; who is gullible believes without questioning the accusations against the innocent Desdemona/Desi, whom he loves so dearly. The jealousy and rage then transpires to Othello/Odin, in which both lives come to an end.
The movie “O” has some differences to the play “Othello”. "O" is more contemporary with a take on drug use, popularity and youth perception of living. while the play took place in the Elizabethan era of war in the 1600s. The theme of the movie "O" takes place. Even though the movie is somewhat different from the original play, they are similar in most aspects.

The main difference between the two is the setting. Othello is set in Venice while the movie that involves Odin is set in modern day in America. However, Othello and O are the same people when it comes to character. Othello and Odin both try to rationalize with themselves that killing their loves is the right thing to do. Othello feels that its right to kill Desdemona because he does not want her to hurt another man like she hurt him. Odin feels that it is right to kill Desi because he does not want anyone else to have her again. At the end, they both try to give a speech to explain why they did what they did and trying to make everyone understand them. They both die in a noble way because they kill themselves so that they would not bring harm to anyone else. The play and movie have their differences but the two characters are the same when it comes to their personality.