Kenneth Branagh's "Othello"

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of the character, Iago, from Shakespeare's "Othello" differs from Shakespeare's original intention. The paper contrasts Branagh's portrayal of Iago as one who is fierce, dead serious and even brooding, with Shakespeare's Iago as one who is less serious and more intent on enjoying the hunt of Othello. The paper also discusses the movie version's emphasis on providing a motive for Iago's vengeance, while Shakespeare actually provides very little explanation of Iago's motivation.

From the Paper:

"Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of Iago lends a very different feel to the text than one might get simply by reading it. His portrayal of Iago is typically dead serious. There seems to be no smirk, no joy, in his undoing of Othello, rather he seems almost sulky, almost duty bound. Even if, in the action of the movie, he momentarily assumes a smile, in soliloquy that smile is immediately swept away to a sullen grimace. This frowning Iago is an unusual interpretation of Shakespeare's most notorious villain. From the text, one might assume that Iago enjoys the chase, enjoys the hunt of Othello, but the movie depicts it very much as a fierce competition. Part of this can be seen in the chessboard theme that runs throughout the movie Iago's attempt to undo Othello is not some freewheeling intellectual exercise, but a disciplined competition."

More papers on Kenneth Branagh's "Othello":

• Term Paper # 148561 : "Translating Shakespeare"
• Comparison Essay # 21892 : "Mary Shelley's Frankenstein" ( Kenneth Branagh ) and "Frankenstein" by Mary Shelley"
• Comparison Essay # 18620 : "Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V"

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