A Comparison of Shakespeare’s Plays: Othello, Hamlet and Midsummer Night’s Dream
Introduction
Shakespeare is one of the greatest play writers in history. His plays are recognizable to real-life situations that people find themselves into such as marriage, love, guilt, death, life dilemmas, among others. These plays are meant to teach a lesson as well as entertain the audience while showcasing how the characters dealt with their situations. In his lifetime, Shakespeare wrote a total of thirty-eight plays between 1590 and 1612. This text discusses there of Shakespeare’s plays; Hamlet, midsummer night’s dream and Othello. It compares the similarities and differences portrayed in each play. The text will conclude with a summary of a theme that is similar in all the three plays.
- Othello
This is a love story between Othello, a generals and Desdemona, whose love is put to the test by Lago, Othello’s ensign and Roderigo who is a local rich man in Venice. Roderigo wants to marry Desdemona but learns through Lago that she is already married to Othello. Lago serves Roderigo and also Othello, although he does not like Othello. For this reason, he plans on how Roderigo will end up with Desdemona and at the same time destroying Othello. At first, Lago tries to frame Othello that he woos Desdemona to marriage through witchcraft. However, Othello defends himself before the assembled senate that he won Desdemona’s heart through stories of his lifetime adventure’s and travels. The senate choses to believe his side of the story over the accusations presentenced against Othello.
Later, Lago decides to frame Desdemona of infidelity. Through this, he aims at making Othello jealous so that he abandons his wife before consummating their marriage. He uses Cassio who is Othello’s lieutenant and manages to convince Othello that Cassio has an affair with his wife. Blinded by jealousy and rage, Othello ends up demoting Cassio. Lago seizes the opportunity to put Cassio in a position that will confirm the allegations against him. In the end, Othello fails to believe his wife’s innocence despite her pleads and he kills her. Lago’s schemes on the other hand are discovered and he is executed. The major theme showcased in the story is about love and jealousy.