[Kim Yoonshik] Re-making project : ‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare

As you may already know, this drama is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare.

*Link to Entire Original Play of Othello, the Moore of Venice : (http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html)

Main characters in Othello :

Desdemona (Wife of Othello) / Iago / Othello / Michael Cassio / Bianca / Emilia (Maid)

Original Plot Summary

Othello is a highly esteemed general in the service of Venice. Iago is Othello’s ambitious friend. Othello promotes the Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is deadly jealous for that. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero. Othello elopes with Desdemona but Iago starts to plot against them. Othello becomes jealous and suspicious of his wife Desdemona. He confides in Iago that he plans to poison Desdemona. Plots and murders ensue and Othello returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. He eventually smothers her to death.

Emilia tells Othello the truth about the scheming Iago. Othello wounds Iago, then kills himself. Iago kills Emilia. The last scene is a trial of Cassio to Iago.

Re-make Plot Summary

In the sad dramas of Shakespeare, the most beautiful heroes are dead vainly. King Lear, Macbeth, and Hamlet… also Othello, who is fascinate and attractive main character died sadly in the play. The audiences feel sorrow deeply while watching the main characters become crazy, degraded, and finally meeting death.  Shakespeare seems to say like, ‘the undeniable irony and tragedy of human, even though for the greatest heroes.’ The beginning of irony and tragedy was the jealousy and distrust in this play. Distrust and Jealousy made Othello kill his wife and himself.

I know this play is a popular tragedy but I want to re-make this play to a drama with a brighter ending. Nobody will die. I will add one more character of virtue, ‘Treysta’ (‘trust’ in Icelandic) for an old friend of Othello, who gives good advice for him.

Iago, who is evil character in this play, used the distrust feeling of Othello. “What if I lost all of these happiness? What if my wife lied to me?” That is the reason of killing his wife Desdemona, and himself at the end. The greedy desire of fame of Othello also made the wrong decision. However, in the re-make play, Treysta, a good friend of Othello persuades him not to kill his wife and take some time for solve all the mess and then make a right decision. Othello finally realized that everything was a trap of Iago and Othello is awakened that the most important thing is not the fame or reputation but the trust and love.