Textual Integrity of Shakespeare’s OTHELLO

1. Textual Integrity of Shakespeare’s OTHELLO What the…? What does “textual integrity” even mean??

3. Why is OTHELLO still performed?… studied?… appropriated?... discussed?....??? • Are the events in the play even relevant in today’s world? • How do the characters sustain their ‘timeless’ appeal? • Have the values, attitudes and beliefs (explored in the play) changed during the last 400 years? http://coolstuffschool.com

4. The syllabus defines textual integrity as: • Clear • Rational • Consistent • Reasonable • Believable • relevant • Method • Play • Script • Structure • construction • Agreement • Harmony • The way it “fits” together • The unity of a text; its coherent use of form and language to produce an integrated whole in terms of meaning and value. (p 100) • Ideas and their importance • Worthiness of knowing the characters • Relevance of the actions and consequences • Merit • usefulness • Language features • Literary devices • Dramatic techniques • Style • Register • Believable • Realistic • No inconsistent actions or reactions • Complete narrative • Everything “fits” and makes sense – even the ambiguous bits  http://coolstuffschool.com

5. Evaluating a text… in terms of its textual integrity… requires youto CAREFULLY consider: • the features and elements of a text = • Language features • Poetic devices • Structure • Social/cultural values, beliefs and attitudes • Religious vs secularlaws • The symbolism of the handkerchief • Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and context • Contrasting images / characters • Characterisation • Dramatic techniques

6. In other words… “evaluating a text in terms of its textual integrity” means… • Consistent and “realistic & human” characters • Believable sequence (and consequences) of events • Relevant & “timeless” values, attitudes, beliefsand issues • Valid, interesting, controversial and ongoing appeal to different audiences, directors and actors • the extent to which it may possess an overall unity= • – when they’re all put together.. • How important are all these things… • Language features • Poetic devices • Structure • Themes / events / settings • Values, beliefs and attitudes • Religious symbolism and laws • Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and context • The symbolism of the handeerchief • contrasting images / characters • Characterisation • Dramatic techniques… …in giving the play its… http://coolstuffschool.com

8. Ok… so… ???? So… • Literary students and academics – people who are educated and “cultured” – people who like to go to the theatre – English teachers – historians – play and film directors – actors – and, other people who like to argue over what things (texts) “really” mean – all these people - they all… …LUUUUUURRRRVE TO ARGUE… (and sound very intelligent) ABOUT WHAT THEY EACH THINK ABOUT THE “REAL”, TRUE NATURE OF THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS IN OTHELLO!!!

10. In other words… In simple 21st-Century-teenage, non-board-of-studies, non-English-syllabus-jargon and plain-English-terms… Think of Shakespeare’s OTHELLOas being the cause of arguments between readers (-- audiences – directors – and, actors) in the same way that 21st Century texts cause you to “argue” with a friend (or frenemy) about things like: http://coolstuffschool.com

11. that 21st Century texts…eg:The Hunger Games… Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like: • The book is so much more “believable” and powerful than the film • The film is not consistent with the book! • Katniss seems like a total b*%@ in the film – whereas, in the book, that’s not her character at all! • Team Peter!!!… tots  http://coolstuffschool.com

12. that 21st Century texts…eg: Twilight… Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like: • Kristen Stewart is a hopeless actress and is nothing like how Bella should be portrayed! • Team Edward! • All the characters are so superficial and one-dimensional!! None of them are believable at all! • I hate how all the supporting characters (especially the teenagers) are so stereotyped and “predictable”… http://coolstuffschool.com

13. Shakespeare uses dramatic and language techniques to make responders develop and form their own opinions, reactions and conclusions about the “true” nature (interpretation) of: OTHELLO… ??? • It would seem that Shakespeare has deliberately and carefully written the play • so that the “truth” is ambiguous…this ambiguity is the thing that ensures that you – and other readers - actors – directors – artists – students… • …will continue to “argue” about the play for a long time to come! • This is the thing… that ensures its lasting appeal! • The characters: their “true” natures and individual agendas; • the MOTIVATIONS of the events; • the consequences of the events; • the conflict between values and the human “flaws”; • The social and cultural divisions • the sexual desires, relationships and conflicts among the characters; • Etc… etc… etc…

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15. A writer needs to have DEEP INSIGHT AND HIGHLY-DEVELOPED SKILL in: • language • narrative structure • characterisation • motifs • lexical chains • imagery • irony – juxtaposition – connotation – metaphor and symbolism… etc… to be able to successfully develop numerousof levels of ambiguity (and certainty of “truth”) in the characters and their relationships. If a composer is NOT highly skilled in this aspects of writing– the text will have NO textual integrity! The text will just be undeveloped, confusing, and/or un-believable! Which means no-one would even bother discussing it…

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