William Shakespeare is considered the best poet and dramatist of all ages. His tragic drama Othello has been popular since its first perfor¬mance 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 upto 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.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction 2. Life and Works of William Shakespeare 3. Characters and Places 4. A Brief Synopsis of the Play 5. A Critical Analysis of the Play 6. Date of Composition 7. Sources of Othello 8. Othello: A Distinctive Shakespearian Tragedy 9. Othello: A Tragedy of Intrigue 10. Othello: A Domestic Tragedy 11. The Plot-Structure 12. Art of Characterization 13. Character-Sketches Major Characters: Othello Iago Cassio Desdemona Emilia Minor Characters: Brabantio Roderigo Lodovico Gratiano Mortano Duke of Venice Bianca 14. Role of Chance and Accident 15. Double-Time in Othello 16. Images and Symbols in Othello 17. Shakespeare’s Use of Prose and Verse 18. Othello: A Work of Art 19. Universal Appeal of Othello 20. A Summing-Up 21. Critical Reception of the Play Some Important Questions A Select Bibliography A Brief Glossary Index