Hump Day History Book Club

 


What timing!  

My sister and I finished Othello last night and today is the reason I chose April to start with.

Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564.  This is assumed from church records that confirm his baptism on April 26, and it was customary to do so three days after birth.

Anyway, I quite liked this one.  Iago was truly a villain, and Desdemona truly an innocent.  But it's Emilia I'm most unhappy with dying.  She was going to leave her awful husband, and I was rooting for it!  The analysis review suggested she was the play's conscience, and that tracks.

Which leaves Othello, the fool, "to die upon a kiss."  He no longer deserved that, but it was well written.  I'm just glad he stabbed Iago too.

"I bleed, sir, but not kill'd."


"I'd have thee live, for in my sense 'tis happiness to die."

Which Othello chose for himself.



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