Othello (2 of 3)

[@davidgamble955]

Paul Cantor is a gift❤❤❤❤❤

[@TheZakia16]

Professor Paul.A.Cantor reminds me of my teacher Prof Nassem Riaz Butt when he taught us Shakespeare. It is a treat to watch his lectures. He seem to enjoy every moment and every dialogue in the play.

[@solomonmohammad6189]

I realize I'm kinda off topic but does anybody know a good place to stream new series online?

[@jonroland6780]

@Solomon Mohammad try flixzone. Just search on google for it :)

[@davianforest2595]

@Jon Roland yup, been watching on Flixzone for since march myself :D

[@lyleelias8595]

@Jon Roland Yup, I have been watching on Flixzone for months myself :)

[@ignaciotitus8410]

@Jon Roland yup, been using flixzone for since march myself :)

[@paulbali9998]

what a fantastic lecture series.

[@scottanderson8167]

The age-old tale. “He’s perfect! I can change him.”

[@toddcameron5618]

Professor Cantor brings up an excellent point about Othello's "perfect soul" meaning "soul" and not "clear conscience" as the Signet editor would have it. OED does not list "conscience" as a definition of soul--closest it comes: "The seat of a person's emotions, feelings, or thoughts; the moral or emotional part of a person's nature; the central or inmost part of a person's being."

[@TheWhitehiker]

the OED definition IS in fact close to 'clear conscience.'

[@judithm.2399]

Thank you, thank you! I felt like I was losing my mind reading analysis after analysis that bought Othello's story about the magical handkerchief. Though I must disagree about Desdemona's response To me she is clearly saying she doesn't buy it.

[@xenogearssoundanddrama2378]

i disagree that you need to see the play performed to fully appreciate it! I read this play in 12th grade and it was the only Shakespeare play I loved immediately.

[@judithm.2399]

Brabantio's dream arises out of his repressed awareness that there is chemistry between his daughter and Othello. And on that particular night he has repressed his awareness she has abandoned him for Othello. True to the culture of Venetian nobility he can defend against this awareness with rationalization and racism until it all blows up in his face.

[@SleepingDogVideo]

Yes, I would second Professor Cantor's opinion that the BBC Othello with Anthony Hopkins is quite bad, but in it Bob Hoskins as Iago is very good. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Television_Shakespeare#Othello

[@jamesduggan7200]

It's a play that seems to work better on the stage (the language is rich and evocative) but not so well in the movies. idk there is a definitive movie version; all of them have problems, tho as usual the Branagh version was great.

[@hikemastersomg]

the marriage was far too in its infancy to declare that it would not have worked out even without iago's interference........have to disagree with the professor on this aspect of the play-----they both liked the oppositeness of each other

[@touche3225]

I think it could have gone either way honestly. The professor’s right in pointing out the cracks in the relationships but whether or not they were willing to compromise for each other gets thrown out the window the moment Iago comes along lol

[@katerinabountouri9856]

desdemona....of bad luck....also echoes demon δαίμων in the greek sense of the word....maybe also dyo....the double of othello....the union of two that split.....(what an enjoyable lecture).....

[@bellringer929]

I beg to differ: Othello rebels against Desdemona matrimonial pity not because the hero within him feels smothered, it's presumably because of Iago's pouring pestilence into his ear. You can't write off Iago, not even for a second.

[@TheWhitehiker]

Iago exploits what's hidden in Othello already.

[@Tolstoy111]

Tolstoy thought the source story of Othello was superior to Shakespeare's play!

[@GuessTheFondMachine]

Tolstoy disliked Shakespeare because there weren't enough peasants in his plays

[@jamesduggan7200]

In part 1 the Professor complains about being hillaried for his views on Desdemona. That doesn't surprise me bc WS doesn't provide a backstory on her. In the pc climate it's best to avoid opinions on what women want.

[@hikemastersomg]

Cantor does not cite any evidence backing up his assertion that there was any discord in the marriage prior to iago planting the seed of possible infidelity in the marriage........as such, his assertion falls flat upon its face.

[@ajzach7424]

What I believe he was trying to say comes from Shakespeare's Politics by A.Bloom. Namely a marriage built upon illusions won't work out. Didn't heard about any real discords that happened before, it would be little absurd as every day of their marriage is covered in the play. ;)