Othello....?

Question

Do you think he is the greatest most romantic figure among Shakespeare's heroes?

Answer 1

I would say no probably. Like a lot of Shakespeare's characters (and consistent with most of his plays), love is pretty prominent. In the case of Othello, he was in love with Desdemona at the beginning of the play. However, he was swayed VERY easily by Iago as the play went on. Like romance in modern society, to be romantic and in a relationship, you have to be trusting of who you are with and who you love. If Othello was going to trust what a general of his said about love over what the woman he loved said about it (and then kill her as well), that's not really trusting of Othello. So Othello being the most romantic? I don't think so. So many Shakespearean characters are swayed easily when it comes to love, but in terms of most romantic, I would have to say Juliet or Dedemona. Usually, the women were a bit more trusting than the males. Hope I helped.

Answer 2

Hi, Cork - that's tough. I agree Othello is one of the most tragic, but most romantic? I don't think so. He would be competing for the honor with Romeo and Juliet, Petruccio and Kate in the Taming of the Shrew...hmmm. Twelfth Night is rife with romance. Then there's Antony and Cleopatra. I would choose Romeo and Juliet as the most romantic, but tragic couple. Kate and Petruccio would win for me as the most romantic couple in a comedy (sounds like the Oscars!). For me, the three most romantic female figures are Rosalind, Portia, and Julia (from Two Gentlemen of Verona). The three most tragic males are Othello, Hamlet and Lear, in my opinion, and certainly Othello wins out as the more romantic figure of the three...You certainly managed to get us all thinking.

(former lit major)

Answer 3

This doesn't answer the question (sorry) but anyone interested in Othello should see the BBC production with Anthony Hopkins in the title role and Bob Hoskins as Iago.

Answer 4

I have to say, I liked his style of falling in love over Romeo and Juliet's. None of this "love at first sight" malarkey--they got to know each other first and challenged opposition without killing themselves. And is it not the man in love more susceptible to fears and "proof" (why else would he think his friend had that hanky? Didn't make sense to suspect Iago from what he KNEW) of infidelity? He didn't kill her to protect his honor, but because he felt so utterly betrayed.

Although I do kind of favor Orlando and Rosalind from As You Like It, too. Beatrice and Benedick are also pretty romantic, if slightly more whimsical.

Answer 5

He very well could be. Shakespeare was a keen observer of human nature and his commentary relevant today. This story of a good man manipulated to evil is romantic and tragic. Antony, Romeo and, of course Caesar would round out my list.

Answer 6

I think the play is among the most romantic. However, I always had a partiality for Michael Cassio. He seemed the most romantic in the play.

Answer 7

Perhaps. He does make a lot of professions of love to his wife compared to other Shakespearean characters in other plays. It's also sad that he loved her right up to the moment that he became convinced of her guilt in cheating on him. I still remember his longest soliloquy in the play that I memorized as part of a school project years ago. Part of it goes like this: "No, Iago, I will see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove, and on the proof, there is no more but this: away at once with love or jealousy." Chills.

Answer 8

~Let me see if I've got this right...Othello, an emotionally unstable guy, goes into a rage and kills his faithful wife, Desdemona, out of jealousy and you think this is romantic?

There is a reason Shakespeare wrote this play as a tragedy.

Answer 9

i don't believe of he can love, he's too dragged down through his own insecurities. He needs her yet she is too organic and he's popular with she will be able to by no skill love him. that couldn't end him attempting to take it besides yet i'm fairly positive he won't be able to love her the way Othello does.

Answer 10

I had never read Othello, but i had play the game.