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.
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.
Citation Used:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.davidrumsey.com/amica/amico1381149-106602.html
http://sfopera.com/SanFranciscoOpera/media/Education-Resource-Materials/Otello/Works_InspiredbyOthello.pdf