Othello

"This edition of William Shakespeare's Othello introduces some basic aspects of Shakespeare's life and the theatre of the period, along with a detailed discussion of the play. The Introduction intends to make students think critically about issues the play focuses upon - the relationship between the Turks and the Europeans, the fall of Cyprus and the battle at Lepanto and the subversive potential of the women in this play. The Background presents treatises on the behavioural norms laid down for women, The Lepanto by King James VI, prayer for the preservation of the Christians against the Turks and a record of the courtesans of Venice. The essays by Victor Kiernan, Sukanta Chaudhuri, Stephen Greenblatt, Lisa Jardine, Barbara Everett, David McPherson and Alan Sinfield provide perspectives ranging from a Marxist study of the play to the issues dealing with women, the depiction of the Turks, the creative and realistic handling of the contentious question of racism, the connections with the Cinthio text and the role of ideology in understanding these aspects. This edition may help the readers draw connections between the world of Shakespeare's writing and their own social context. Payal Nagpal teaches English at Janki Devi Memorial College, Delhi University. She has done her Ph D on the plays of Jean Genet. A theatre person and writer, she has acted in plays depicting realistic situations with a critical perspective and conducted theatre workshops. Her book devoted to the study of drama is soon to be published."