Includes Bibliography and index.

William Shakespeare is considered the best poet and dramatist of all ages. His tragic drama Othello has been popular since its first performance at the beginning of the seventeenth century, with both the audience and the readers. The play is still performed and several film versions have also appeared. The play generated much controversy and at the same time created some genuine interest in it. It is, however, in the theatre that we can fully appreciate the genius of Shakespeare as a dramatist. But in order to have a proper assessment of a play by Shakespeare, we must also be ready to study it as literature, welcoming the observations of the critics and scholars, as they help us come closer to the proper meaning of the play.
An attempt has been made in this critical study to provide the readers of Othello with that clear insight which may help them comprehend the play properly, enhancing their enjoyment of the play. Besides discussing the various problems connected with the play, this study provides a detailed critical analysis of the play, scene by scene, and various critical approaches to the play from the seventeenth century up to the modern times. The debates about the real identity of the dramatist, continuing from the beginning right up to the present time, have been discussed and the curious may find in them enough food for thought. A select bibliography has also been provided for the discerning readers who want to know more about the play. A number of questions have been given at the end to stimulate the readers’ interest in the drama. As an aid to the smooth reading of the play, a glossary of difficult and obscure words and terms has been appended to the book.
It is hoped that the present book will prove highly useful to both students and researchers of English literature. Even those engaged in teaching Shakespearian plays will find it informative and valuable.