Links to other texts

Question 1

Cinthio’s version

Answer 1

Iago has a 3 year old child

Turkish threat to Cyprus is only presented in Shakespeare

Iago is solely motivated by Desdemona’s spurning of his advances

Cassio’s drunkenness is only in Shakespeare

Handkerchief is actually stolen by Iago

Handkerchief is in more detail in Shakespeare

Emilia knows of Iago’s full intentions

Othello and Iago both kill Desdemona

After Desdemona’s death, Othello and Iago deny it under torture- Othello is killed by Desdemona’s relatives; Iago dies from wounds from torture

Roderigo and the Clown are only in Shakespeare’s version

Question 2

Merchant of Venice

Answer 2

Antonio’s friend Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia
Link: Roderigo is trying to court Desdemona which has failed in the past)

The celebration of the double marriage is cut short
Link: Desdemona and Othello run out of time to consummate the marriage

Shylock (a Jewish man) wants revenge from Antonio who is unable to pay back his loan so takes him to trial
Link: Othello wants revenge on Desdemona who he perceives had cheated on her

Antonio forces Shylock to convert to Christianity
Link: the other is not accepted by society and must be unsuccessful

Portia tells Nerissa to disguise themselves as men and Portia has success in court in stopping Shylock. They accuse their husbands of giving their rings up to married women but ultimately return back home with their husbands
Link: Desdemona and Emilia despite challenging the patriarchy and speaking out must fail

Question 3

Romeo and Juliet

Answer 3

The idea of star crossed lovers shows their relationship is destined to fail
Link: Desdemona and Othello’s relationship cannot work as it goes against the Great Chain of Being, Brabantio states Desdemona is deceptive which Othelo later chooses to believe

The older generation disprove of their relationship
Link: Brabantio disapproves of the relationship- societal barriers to love

Romeo makes a public declaration of his love for Juliet despite him only just getting over Rosaline
Link: Othello court scene, did they get married for the right reasons

Romeo and Juliet get married secretly and quickly- attempt to break the feud
Link: Othello and Desdemona are an attempt at breaking societal restrictions

Both die tragically and young for rebelling
Link: Desdemona, Emilia and Othello’s death

Question 4

Macbeth

Answer 4

Lady Macbeth soliloquy about not being able to get the blood off her hands linking to the idea of guilt
Link: Othello doesn’t want to spill Desdemona’s blood

The 3 witches are able to determine the future
Link: theme of witchcraft and the devil being associated with Othello

Macbeth kills people out of paranoia as convinced by his wife who is someone he trusts Link: Othello kills Desdemona as he is paranoid about her cheating as he trusts in Iago

Lady Macbeth shows proto-feminist qualities
Link: Emilia is a proto-feminist at times

Question 5

King Lear

Answer 5

Cordelia marries the King of France without her fathers blessing
Link: Othello does not have the approval of Brabantio when marrying Desdemona

Lear finally dies out of grief at Cordelia’s passing
Link: Brabantio dies out of grief of Desdemona leaving him

Albany, Edgar, and the elderly Kent are left to take care of the country under a cloud of sorrow and regret
Link: Cassio and Montano are left to return with the tragic news and Cassio is to take charge

Question 6

The taming of the Shrew

Answer 6

Petruccio marries the reluctant Katherina and uses a number of tactics to render her an obedient wife

Link: Iago makes Emilia complicit in his plan