I’ve started my “50 Classic books in 5 years” challenge with Shakespeare’s Othello (chosen by the Classics Club Spin for August). Since it’s nice and short, I’ve finished it already, so it’s good to start with something quick to get started.

I’m familiar with the plot of Othello, but I’m not sure if I’ve ever seen it performed, so I’ll have to add it to my list.

The downside of reading a Shakespeare play is wading through the dense and often unfamiliar language and risking missing some of what’s going on. The upside is recognizing some Shakespeare-coined phrases (“O! beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.”).

I enjoyed reading about the adventures and misadventures of the characters and rolled my eyes at everyone calling Iago “honest” and “trustworthy.” I forgot how he played everyone the whole time. That guy really held a grudge!

Also, the story wrapped up quickly there at the end with lots of stabbing and a little strangling. Those people really just took Iago’s word for it that they needed to kill with no other proof and got to the killing.

Two great comedy takes (fair warning: there’s some not-safe-for-work language here): Key & Peele on Othello and If Desdemona Had a Sassy Gay Friend

A brief review can’t do this great play justice, but I definitely recommend re-reading Othello, and I hope I can get to a production sometime soon!

“I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.”

★ ★ ★ ★

Photo by Sammie Vasquez on Unsplash