Othello by Nabil Kanso (1985)

Othello is a series of paintings done in 1985 by Nabil Kanso. The subjects of the paintings are loosely based on Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. The series comprises 60 paintings dealing with themes of love, race, jealousy, betrayal, and evil. The paintings are chaotic and seem to reflect the dramatic and tense relationship between Othello and Desdemona and uneasy and strained relationship between Othello, Desdemona and Iago. 

This painting in particular shows what is perceived to be Othello and Desdemona in the midst of a romantic embrace while chaos surrounds them, and is within them. 

All Night Long (1963)

Basil Dearden’s 1963 film sets Othello in the London jazz scene of the 1960s. It is is an updated version of Shakespeare's Othello. The black and white film is notable for featuring performances by a number of prominent British and American jazz musicians, including Dave Brubeck and Charles Mingus.

Paul Harris is the Othello counterpart in the movie, a bandleader happily married to Desdemona (Marti Stevens). Patrick McGoohan plays the film's Iago character, who wants to have Harris' job. McGoohan hopes to unnerve Harris by spreading rumors that Stevens has been unfaithful.

It relates to the original Othello because because McGoohan is planting the same seeds in Harris about Stevens being unfaithful that Iago planted in Othello about Desdemona.

All Night Long (1963)

O (2000)

This film sets the story of Othello in a east coast private school where "O" is the only African-American student. He is a star basketball player with a white girlfriend, he then prompts the jealousy of fellow team mate Hugo, who is the son of the head basketball coach. Hugo is bested on court by Odin, and his father says he thinks of Odin as another son. Hugo's jealousy and feelings of neglect lead him to construct a plot to make Odin doubt Desi's love for him. 


"O" relates to the main themes in Othello of love, race, jealousy, betrayal, and evil. Hugo and Iago both create ploys to make O and Othello doubt their other half, Desi and Desdemona.

A Double Life (1947)

Anthony John (Ronald Coleman) is an actor who is often influenced by the characters that he plays in various productions. When he is in a comedy, he can be a enjoyable person. However, when he is in a drama, he can be horrendous to be around.  For that very reason of mood swings, his wife Brita (Signe Hasso) divorced him. Though she still loved him, and loved working with him, she couldn't live with him anymore. When Anthony accepted the role of Othello, he becomes overwhelmed by the part and his mind becomes filled with the murderous jealousy that had filled Othello's. Thoughout the production, he has trouble separating reality from illusion and illusion, his own life from Othello's. 

Othello (2002)

Othello is a  21st century rendition based on the play by Shakespeare. It is a modern retelling taking place in the Scotland Yard in a time of race riots, neo-Nazis, and political upheaval. A main theme of the movie is that racial tension in the police force diverge with jealousy.

Othello and Desdemona by Eugène Delacroix (1847-1849)

Oil on canvas, 50.8 x 62.2 cm, National Gallery of Canada.

The painting is inspired by Act 5, Scene 2 when Othello is entering Desdemona's room to murder her. The color scheme, of dark colors and reds, shows the turmoil of emotion that Othello was feeling for thinking that his wife was unfaithful to him. In the beginning of the scene, Othello says:

It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul.
Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars.
It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood,
Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow,
And smooth as monumental alabaster.
Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men. (5.2.1-6)

Othello was manipulated by Iago into hating his wife, and I believe that this painting accurately portrays what was going on in the play. 

Willow, Willow, Willow by Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848-1918

The "Willow Scene" is a scene in which it is proven how different of women Desdemona and Emilia are in personality. During the scene, Desdemona and Emilia are talking about how some women may abuse their husbands, and their stances on such an idea. Desdemona is a pure-hearted being and thinks it is horrendous to cheat on your husband. Emilia, however, doesn't share the same idea. 


The Willow song is a song that Desdemona' s mother's maid, Barbary, would sing. Barbary was in love, but her love forsook her. In the scene, Desdemona was feeling the same way about Othello, because she had no idea why he was acting the way he was towards her. 


The lyrics of the song are:


The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow.
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur’d her moans,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Her salt tears fell from her, and soften’d the stones;
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Sing all a green willow must be my garland.


Later, Sir Charles Hubert Hastings Parry  composed music to go with the song.