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Chapter 15 - Othello

A Performance Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2021

By
Adrian Lester
Edited by
Ayanna Thompson
Ayanna Thompson
Affiliation:
Arizona State University
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Summary

Adrian Lester talks us through his research in preparation for his portrayal of Othello at the National Theatre in 2013. His examination of the play’s racial politics in performance includes interviews with Iago (Rory Kinnear), Desdemona (Olivia Vinall), and the iconic James Earl Jones who has played Othello four times. In this chapter Lester argues that our reaction to the play is not based on Shakespeare’s intentions but based on Western culture’s manipulative, complex racial history and sexual politics – a history that clouds any attempt at a balanced view when looking at these subjects.

Keywords

Adrian LesterOthelloShakespeareraceactorpreparation
Type
Chapter
Information
The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race , pp. 223 - 236
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Othello
  • Edited by Ayanna Thompson, Arizona State University
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race
  • Online publication: 09 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108684750.015
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  • Othello
  • Edited by Ayanna Thompson, Arizona State University
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race
  • Online publication: 09 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108684750.015
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Othello
  • Edited by Ayanna Thompson, Arizona State University
  • Book: The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare and Race
  • Online publication: 09 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108684750.015
Available formats
×