USING AT LEAST OF THE TWO OF THE CRITICAL READINGS PROVIDED, COMPARE WHAT THEY SAY AND DISCUSS THE EXTENT TO WHICH YOU AGREE WITH THEIR ANALYSIS OF SHAKESPEARE'S CHARACTERISATION OF OTHELLO. YOU MUST ALSO PROVIDE A CLEAR VIEWPOINT OF YOUR OWN.

After studying 'Othello' and the critical readings of Fintan O'Toole and A.C. Bradley, and comparing their views on Shakespeare's characterisation of Othello. I have drawn my own conclusions.

Bradley's first sentence reads 'Othello is, in one sense of the word, by far the most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes.' I disagree with this statement. It appears Othello is romantic when we hear him speak.

"It gives me wonder great as my content

To see you here before me. O my soul's joy,

If after every tempest come such calms" (2,1,181).

As the character develops we realise that he is not romantic. Othello doesn't know how to be romantic; it is especially not in his nature.

It appears that Othello had not had a lover before Desdemona, this highlights his lack of experience with women.

The only way in which Othello is romantic is in the style i

For she shall not live. No my heart is turned to stone" (4,1,181).

Although Othello loved Desdemona, she was also to him certification that he is part of Venetian society. He believes that because he has married a Venetian woman that he is now part of their society. Othello could not have truly loved Desdemona, because if he did, he wouldn't have murdered her, he was just thinking about himself and his reputation.

I think Othello only speaks in a romantic way towards Desdemona in order to impress her, and the Venetian people around her.

Bradley emphasises his point that he doesn't think that Othello is really that naive by repeating that he thinks any man in Othello's position would have believed Iago. 'Now I repeat that any man situated as Othello was would have been disturbed by Iago's communications, and I add that many a man would have been made wildly jealous.'

Like Bradley I think Othello is more poetic in the way he speaks than romantic. 'One will not doubt that Othello is the greatest poet of them all.' Othello is very poetic in the way that he speaks.

It is the only way he knows to express his feelings towards Desdemona.

He is too self-obsessed. Othello cares more about his reputation than he does his about his wife. As he shows at the end of the play when he presents his last speech

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Approximate Word count = 2026
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page double spaced)