Othello: William Shakespeare (Ramji Lall)

Tragedy in its starkest form is epitomised by Shakespeare's Othello. Its central theme is the human weakness caused by jealousy, and jealousy is apparent at several levels in the play. There is the jealousy of the Venetian Senator Barbantio, whose daughter Desdemona has been wooed and won by Othello, the Moorish general whose military skills are essential to the ruling class of Venice. There is Othello�s own jealousy, which is stimulated by his natural uxoriousness compounded by the paranoia of the mercenary, and there is that of Othello�s officer Iago who is jealous both of Othello�s high rank and his virtuous and lovely wife. Prof. Ramji Lall�s Critical study of this starkly realistic play is well-researched and comprehensive. It contains a detailed account of Shakespearean tragedy and the place that Othello occupies in it, in addition to an examination and analysis of the text, glossary and notes as well so Important Questions with Answers on the text.