+ 1-888-787-5890  
   + 1-302-351-4405  
 
 
 
 

Essay/Term paper: Comparing oedipus and othello

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Oedipus

Free essays available online are good but they will not follow the guidelines of your particular writing assignment. If you need a custom term paper on Oedipus: Comparing Oedipus And Othello, you can hire a professional writer here to write you a high quality authentic essay. While free essays can be traced by Turnitin (plagiarism detection program), our custom written essays will pass any plagiarism test. Our writing service will save you time and grade.















When comparing and contrasting the character's Oedipus and Othello by means
of the different theatrical practices, one must take in account that there have been
many interpretations, and productions of each of their respected plays. The differing
presentations of each may lead someone to think differently about the play than
another would. In comparing and contrasting the dramatic representation of the
protagonists Oedipus and Othello, theatrical presentation, costume design, and
character will lead the reader, and viewer, to have a greater insight into the theatrical
practices of their times and their approaches to the issue of verisimilitude.
The theatrical presentation of both plays are very similar. The two plays would
both be presented on a thrust stage, which is a platform surrounded on three sides by
the audience. Except for the backdrop which would have some element of scenery,
the stage itself would be bare apart from a few scenic elements and props. Othello,
like most of Shakespeare's plays, had what is called an abstract setting. That is a
setting in which the locale may change rapidly, it may not be indicated by the script
that it has changed, and was most likely suggested by a few props. Abstract settings
place more emphasis on the language and the performer, which causes the spectator
to use their imagination. It also places more emphasis on costuming. This type of

6

6

setting helped set up the style of representational theater, which places high emphasis
on the realistic. The style used in classical Greece was presentational which, because
of the use of the mask, gave no illusion that this story is happening before their eyes.
The audience is reminded that they are watching a play, and not merely observing
life. Thus, the use of the thrust stage is the only similarity of the two types of
presentation. Othello is a purely illusionistic play, whereas Oedipus Rex is one that
when watched, the viewer knows that they are watching a performance.
Costumes convey information about the character and aid in setting the tone or
mood of the production. Because most acting involves impersonation, most
costumes are essential to re-create historical or to the period in which the production
takes place. Costumes like that of William Shakespeare's Othello maybe abstract,
ever-changing, like it's setting. When using the costume design of the latest film
version of Othello, he is usually seen in a toga-like uniform which may have stemmed
from his moor background. Since costume elements were formalized in classical
Greek theater, the costumes would be that of everyday dress with slight additions of
colour, designs, all of which created a larger meaning in the context of the play. The
additions on the toga also contributed to accentuating the setting , which in Oedipus'
case was Thebes. His toga could have been coloured like the sand and have an
ornament like a Sphinx tooth, signifying his bravery for killing the beast. In the case
of Othello his toga-like uniform, may have had a general's insignia on the shoulders,
and much like in the film, the scars and tattoos showing the suffering he has gone
through. On the issue of verisimilitude, actors in Oedipus Rex would be required to
wear a mask bearing an expression that would stay throughout the place, making the
character's seem flat and general. Oedipus is a round character, but because of the
mask, he has a one dimensional projection to the audience. The costumes worn in

6

Othello would be that of clothing of that time. This is common in both plays, but the
absence of the mask in Othello, meant that the actor provided their own expressions.
Thus, the costumes worn in both plays would be life-like to the audience, but the use
of the mask in classical Greece robbed the viewer of a three dimensional projection
and withheld the expressions, by the actor.
When an actor acts, they impersonate to believably re-create a historical or
fictional character. The character's of Oedipus and Othello are developed into round
characters. Round characters are those that are well developed three dimensionally
with multiple meaning to their characters. Oedipus is a character who's fate cannot
be avoided, and which ever path he seems to take leads him to more trouble than
what he had to deal with before. Even though his character is well-rounded, he is
not believable. It would be highly unlikely that Oedipus would marry a woman who
looked as if she could be his mother without asking a few questions about her past
marriages and about her children. It could have caused some insight in their
characters, and questions could have arisen about the first child which was sent away
and thought of as dead. Othello on the other hand is a well-rounded character, and
he is believable. Othello is a man who is filled with jealousy and mistrust he learns
that his wife may be sleeping with another man. Anyone who has been in love has
had this feeling once and a while, and that feeling is being fed by the person of whom
they most trust it can be devastating for that person. As Iago continually feeds
Othello's suspicion, his hurt and mistrust grows for his wife, until he finally kills her.
This is seen in the news everyday...a jealous lover kills the other half because they
were seen with another man, or with their ex. Thus, the character of Oedipus is a
round characters, but cannot be believed due to the absurd circumstances of his
marriage

6

with Jocasta. Othello's round character can be believed, because jealousy invades all
of us at one time or another and for Othello, he chose to act upon it much like those
who act in our society today.
In conclusion, when comparing and contrasting the dramatic representation of the
protagonists Oedipus and Othello, the differences in their theatrical presentations ,with
regard to the styles of presentational and representational theater, the similarities in
approach to costume design, and their approaches to the validity of realistic characters,
gives great insight on these two different dramatic periods.
 

Other sample model essays:

Henry David Thoreau and Herman Melville focused their writings on how ...
The painting that I chose to compare to the novel Metamorphosis, by Franz Kafka, was painted in 1937 by Salvatore Dali. Dali is an established Surrealist painter, who, like Kafka, explored his own...
On reading Beloved by Toni Morrison and Don Quixote by Kathy Acker, there seem to be quite a few similarities in themes and characters contained in these texts, the most prevalent of which seems t...
Introduction (Innocence) Piping down the valleys wild, Piping songs of pleasant glee, On a cloud I saw a child, And he laughing said to me: "Pipe a song about a lamb!" So I piped wit...
The forthcoming of American literature proposes two distinct Realistic novels portraying characters which are tested with a plethora of adventures. In this essay, two great American novels are ...
In the real world there exist many different people, of different races and ages, each one unique. Some live secluded lives with few friends and others live very rich and complex lives surrounded...
Paul B. Campano These three works share numerous similarities. The most obvious of these is their character's desire and commitment to instructing and teaching youth. Miss Jean Brodie dedicat...
Legacies: In the ancient days, when culture, as well as civilizations were developing, many things came to be known as options for later cultures. Civilizations had different ways of doing thin...
Chris Phillips English 101N Dr. Whalen October 23, 1996 The Meaning of Suffering in Job and The Aeneid Throughout VirgilĀ¹s Aeneid and Job from the Old Testament, great obstacles block the...
Greek Mythology / Comparison Of Tragedy
A Comparison of Tragedy For a story to be a tragedy it has to follow the principles set by Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, or those of Arthur Miller who is a twentieth century pl...
Experience with Dream Essay - Reliable and great customer service. Quality of work - High quality of work.
, ,
Dream Essay - Very reliable and great customer service. Encourage other to try their service. Writer 91463 - Provided a well written Annotated Bibliography with great deal of detail per th
, ,
it is always perfect
, ,
The experience with Dream Essay is stress free. Service is excellent and forms various forms of communication all help with customer service. Dream Essay is customer oriented. Writer 17663
, ,
Only competent & proven writers
Original writing — no plagiarism
Our papers are never resold or reused, period
Satisfaction guarantee — free unlimited revisions
Client-friendly money back guarantee
Total confidentiality & privacy
Guaranteed deadlines
Live Chat & 24/7 customer support
All academic and professional subjects
All difficulty levels
12pt Times New Roman font, double spaced, 1 inch margins
The fastest turnaround in the industry
Fully documented research — free bibliography guaranteed
Fax (additional info): 866-332-0244
Fax (additional info): 866-308-7123
Live Chat Support
Need order related assistance?—Click here to submit a inquiry
© Dreamessays.com. All Rights Reserved.
Dreamessays.com is the property of MEDIATECH LTD