Othello

Select one of the following prompts upon which to write an essay response of at least five and no more than eight paragraphs’ length. The content, style, and mechanics of the essay will be evaluated to determine the score.

Prompt 1

According to Plato, the human soul consists of three divisions: the reason (intellect), the passions (spirit or emotion), and the appetites (desires). Plato asserts that the proper life requires the participation of all three divisions; however, he also qualifies the model by explaining that the reason must always exercise control over the passions and the appetites.

Explain the reputation, manipulation, and downfall of Othello in terms of Plato’s theory. Remember that you may discuss other characters as they relate to the model so long as they also relate to each of the aforementioned aspects of Othello’s career. Provide all the details from the play necessary to support your case.

Prompt 2

Twentieth-century critics delight in rethinking the traditional interpretations of protagonist and antagonist in classic dramas. Provide an extended definition of protagonist and identify the character best qualified to bear that designation in Othello. Explain the reasoning behind your answer by offering thorough explanations and by noting details from the play.

Prompt 3

Identify the most fascinating character in the play. Do a complete character analysis of him or her. Make sure your analysis concludes with an explanation for the character’s final fate in the drama.

Prompt 4

In recent years, Othello has most frequently been performed by a black actor. Patrick Stewart, the noted (white) Shakespearean actor, mounted a production in which he played Othello while all the other parts were played by black actors.

Discuss Othello as a study in conflict between black and white. Consider the conflict in both literal and figurative terms. Consider more that two characters to develop your theory of the conflict.

Prompt 5

Norman N. Holland, a Shakespeare critic of some note, asserts that Othello has a religious format, operating - to paraphrase Emilia - at the level of “heaven and men and devils.” Discuss that approach to the play by identifying one of the characters with “heaven,” one with “men,” and the third with “devils.” Then explain the dynamics of that interrelationship and use those details to explain the meaning of the conclusion of the play.