Othello vs O the Modern Spin

‘O is a modern spin on Othello that attempts to address issues that are relevant for a contemporary audience. However, ultimately the literary value of Othello is lost in this appropriation”

The film ‘O’ directed by Tim Blake Nelson is a recognised contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Othello, which addresses a number of issues that are relevant to a modern day audience compared to that of the past. The director of the film has changed crucial parts of the play which makes the play such a classic, which has essentially ruined the literary value of Othello. This is evident for a number of concepts including, the overt links between the play and film, the power of words and language and Iago and his motives

The director of ‘O’ has made errors which causes Othello to lose its literary value. Othello is known as classic artistic play however, the director of the film has caused the play to lose this element. Of course the director has made overt links between the play and the film. The obvious links between the play and the film include the naming of the characters for example naming Othello’s character O and naming Desdemona’s character Desi. When Desi and O first have sexual intercourse they are in a hotel called ‘Willow’ which represents the song sung by Desdemona when she is about to die. The role of women in the play and the film remain the same, the submissive and obedient type. Yet, in today’s society women would be more confident and feministic in their ways. These obvious and almost childlike connections between ‘O’ and Othello does not necessarily mean that ‘O’ is effective appropriation of the play.

The beauty of Othello is the power of words and language. The play uses articulate...

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...n”/last line, this shows no reasons. Whats the effect? The character Iago – doesn’t fulfol the audience curisoty.

The new – give motives (typical hollywood) drugs and dad – brings Iago back to audience’s ‘reality’ of the world and hence destroys any substance to character and movie.

Nelson goes so far to completely interpret the character of iago incorrectly, and impress his interpretations on the audience.

In the film the director has made the mistake of giving Hugo motives such as the use of steroids and his father saying ‘I love Odin like he is my own son’. This causes Hugo to rage with anger and jealousy and therefore plan his devious revenge. This is the typical Hollywood film that spoon feeds the audience so they know exactly what is going on. In the original Iago is given know reason to act like this towards Othello, the audience is left to interpret