Introduction
Literature has for long time been used as a communication's path in society from one generation to the other. It is widely used as a way of expressing one’s thoughts and sentiments. Moreover, scholars use literature as a platform to criticize their opponents’ style of approaching issues and propose alternative solutions to the underlying issue. Literature could be expressed orally or in written form in the current century; literature is preserved as video and audio tapes, published articles or scholarly books.
In-depth Analysis
William Shakespeare is one of the ancient scholars who expressed their feelings, opinions and intuitions through writing. In one of his literal work, Othello, William Shakespeare portrays the intrigues of love racism, jealousy and betrayal among key characters that include Othello, Lago, Casio, Roderigo, Desdemona, and Brabantio. Othello was a Moorish senior in the Venetian army while Lago worked under his command. Desdemona is a daughter to Brabantio, who is a senator. Roderigo had asked Brabantio for his consent to marry him his daughter, Desdemona. He had been using Lago as a link to seek Desdemona’s hand in marriage.
However, His ambitions do not materialize after he realizes that Desdemona had been married to Othello. To complicate the intrigue, Lago is disappointed with Othello’s decision to promote Michael Casssio over him .He decides to destroy Othello’s marriage to his advantage. In addition, he suspects that Othello may have slept with his wife Emilia. This forms the beginning of the love, power and jealousy intrigues that define the thematic expressions in the play.
In the recent past, Literature has continued to evolve with many scholars using the platform to express their understanding of society and cultural perception. Therefore; ancient scholars have had their literature styles and themes being replicated by other scholars to express a different societal occurrence. One of the recent literature is the ‘O’, a film that premiered in 2001 in the United Kingdom. The movie is an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Play on Othello. Therefore, it shares almost the same thematic scenes despite having different characters.
The story line starts at basketball game where Coach Goulding’s basketball team was participating in the competition. Odin James is the best player in the team, therefore, earning the Coach’s credit. Among other team members is Hugo Goulding, the son to the coach. Hugo is irritated by his father’s action to award Odin and Michael Keegan for winning the tournament instead of him. He feels that his dad does not recognize his effort in the team and his position as his son. Odin is the only black person in the school and is presumed to be dating the dean’s daughter, Desi. This is due to their closeness and passionate love towards each other. Hugo decides to use this occurrence to his advantage at the expense of Hugo.
The above narrations between the play Othello and “O” film reveal the similarity of character traits of Lago and Hugo in their respective scenarios. This analysis will depict how the two characters destroy their peers’ love life to their advantage. In addition, it will reveal how Shakespeare’s themes and stylistic devices have been adopted by the recent literature platforms to deliver the intended message to the society. The film “O” explains Shakespeare’s relevance in the world of literature. Lago is jealous of Othello’s position in the Venetian army and uses loathing words to describe him. He feels that Othello should not hold such a position because he is black. Lago describes Othello as an "old black ram tupping" the white ewe or a moor (Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 89-90) He influences Ruderigo to inform Brabantio that his daughter had eloped with Othello. He says, “Call up her Rouse him and poison his delight” Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 68-89) to further express his anger, Lago describes Cassio as “an associate damned in a fair wife”. He associates his appointment to the betrayal of husbands by their beautiful wives. This expresses the loath that Lago has towards Othello and Cassio (Act 1 Line 21)
On the other hand, Hugo feels that he can only be satisfied by inculcating an attitude of revenge towards Odin and Desi. Just like Lago, who uses Ruderigo to destroy Othello, Hugo influences Roger, and they plan to initiate a fight at a party between Keegan and Roger. Consequently, Michael is relinquished from his senior post in the team by the Goulding. Hugo extends his enmity by suggesting that Michael could be having an affair with Desi, a situation that concerned Odin. He further uses his tactical betrayal by suggesting to Desi to implore Odin’s intervention on Michael’s suspension. This character is similar to that of Lago, who tactically sends Ruderigo to report Othello’s elopement with Brabantio’s daughter and hurriedly goes to Othello to inform him that Brabantio was searching for him. This is an act of hypocrisy and selfishness practiced by Lago to his own benefit.
Hugo raises a plan to further inculcate hatred on Odin towards his girlfriend Desi. He borrows Desi’s scarf and gives it to Michael to give his girlfriend as a gift. Odin confronts Desi about the scarf and they both get angry at each other. Hugo also devises a plan that results in death of Michael. Moreover, Odin strangles Desi and a glass with Michael’s fingerprints is left on Desi’s body. Odin becomes the subject of all events until Hugo is arrested and driven away. Hugo’s actions depict the animosity that intrigues of love can result in heinous actions among friends. In comparison Lago also causes the same hatred between Othello and Desdemona that almost causes Desdemona’s death.
Conclusion
Hugo and Lago are self-centered and could take any action at the expense of others to their favor. They depict the extent to which hatred among friends can adversely impact the whole society. In addition, their actions portray jealousness as venom in the society.
Work cited
Shakespeare, William. Othello. Prince Frederick, MD: Recorded Books, 2008. Print.
"Movie Spoiler for the film - O (Othello)." The Movie Spoiler. N.p., 15 Jan. 2014. Web. 23 Mar. 2014.
Bentley, E. "BOOK REVIEW: THE AMERICAN OTHELLO." Theater 5.2 (2000): n. pag. Print.
