Othello - Early critics

Othello - Early critics

1. Neoclassicists

   • Important! Learn defination and stages
   • wanted tragedies to have tragic decorum
   • Plot was key - single plot line - occur in a limited time & space
     • (women) characters had to act politely + contribute to the plots action
       • language - appropriate - no crude words
         • play + characters had to have a moral focus

2. Rymer - 1693 - wrote earliest criticisms for Othello

   • Important
   • argued the play was unrealistic
   • 'some humour' but the 'tragic part' was a 'bloody farce
     • plot was ridiculous and improbable
       • handkerchief wouldn't have caused such jealousy
         • criticized plays setting and argued the change in location
   • Othello wouldn't be a general
     • or marry a women of Desy's race and class
       • Iago's actions were unexplainable - too eager for Othello to kill Desy
         • Desy was contradictory - innocent but worldly pg 29
           • Cassio was overly-flirtatious and courteous
   • the language lacked decorum and objected to Desy's apparent flirting
   • accused Shakespeare ignoring tragic decorum to appeal to a lower class
   • no instructive moral or poetic justice because Othello isn't punished
     • ending is 'barbarous' no pathos in Desy's death - has lines even after she's smothered

3. Samuel Johnson

   • Important
   • 18th century critic influenced by neoclassicism
     • agreed wit Rymer about the setting change contradicted tragic decorum
       • but generally disagree with Rymer's views
   • defended that characters were realistic
     • play demonstrates Shakespeare's understanding of human nature
       • impressed by the 'fiery openness of Othello'
         • 'cool malignity of Iago' etc
           • Rymer's main objection - Iago contradicted the characteristics of a stock soldier
             • Johnson dismissed this and though all characters successfully served their purpose
               • could be refereed to archetypes here - Iago villain to hate and Othello is pitied
   • Iago's manipulation of Othello was 'artfully natural' and convincing
     • Johnson as a neoclassicist looked closely at the play's moral
       • disagreed with Rymer that there was no moral
         • argued that the lesson was 'not to make an unequal match'