William Shakespeares Othello Essay -- William Shakespeare Othello Ess

William Shakespeares OthelloEvery artist needs a subject to draw inspiration froman idea to develop into a masterpiece. Leonardo da Vinci had Madame Lisa to give in paint. The Beach Boys had Rhonda to render in rhyme. And William Shakespeare had one of one hundred stories written by Giraldi Cinthio to help him create his masterpiece, Othello. Each artist creates his own interlingual rendition from his source. Shakespeare transformed the core of Cinthios story into a tragedy. A tragedy is drama which depicts a public struggle between larger-than-life protagonists and universal forces (Glossary 175). A tragedy also involves a heros suffering and his consequent moments of sad insight or knowledge (McJannet 1). Each subtle change, which Shakespeare adapts from his source, serves to turn an indifferent tale into an extraordinary tragedy.The changes Shakespeare makes create a larger-than-life protagonist. In Cinthios work, the Ensign falls in eff with Disdemona. The Ensign t ries every means lendable to woo her, yet he fails in every attempt. The Ensign imagined that the cause of his ill success was that Disdemona loved the Captain of the troop (Cinthio 137). As a result, the love which the Ensign had borne the lady now changed into the bitterest hate, andhe devoted all his thought to plot the death of the Captain of the troop and to divert the affection of the Moor from Disdemona (Cinthio 137). Cinthios plot does not center on Othello, it is powered by Disdemona. Shakespeare makes a key change when creating his play. Shakespeare makes Othello the clear protagonist. Iagos plotting revolves around Othello. Not only does Othello pass Iago everyplace for a rightly deserved position, but it is thought a... ...Michelangelo did with a chisel, so Shakespeare does with a pen. Shakespeare took Cinthios idea of a Moor. Shakespeare chipped away parts, and patched them back together, in a reconfiguration from his own minds eye. Shakespeare creates a t ragic flaw, and from this a tragic error occurs. Shakespeare creates an impressive protagonist amid a fateful world. Within this tragic world, the fatal manipulation of Othello is brought to light. In short, Shakespeare turns a tale into a tragedy and a story into a masterpiece.Works CitedCinthio, Giraldi. Hecatommithi. Trans. J. E. Taylor. Ed. Alvin Kernan. New York New American Library, 1998. (134-146). Glossary. (170-175).McJannet, Dr. Linda. bypass Paper Shakespeare and Cinthio. Spring, 2006. (1-2).Shakespeare, William. Othello. Ed. Alvin Kernan. New York New American Library, 1998. (2-128).