Othello: Similarities Between The Play And Movie O

The play “Othello” by Shakespeare goes in-depth on topics like manipulation, loyalty, jealousy, and race. It could be seen as a literary classic, so much so it has inspired films. One of these films is “O”, which while it's fairly similar, has its differences as well. This can be seen by how the main antagonists are presented; Iago in Othello & Hugo in O. They’re both presented as manipulative characters, but their actions & motives are sometimes different. Some analogies may connect the play and movie, one of those being the black hawk. These connections all show that even though these are two different pieces of media, they can relate to each other in different ways.

Iago from the play Othello & Hugo from the film O both have similarities,

(Zounds) sir, you’re robbed. For shame, put on your gown!

Your heart is a burst. You have lost half of your soul.

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram

Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! (Shakespeare 1.1.94-98)

In the movie O, Hugo told Desi’s father about her and Odin’s relationship in a similar manner but called him outside of their house instead. Another example of their similarities is their endings. In both Othello and O, the antagonist masters a plan to kill Cassio/Micheal & Desdemona/Desi, which eventually backfires in both circumstances. In Othello, Roderigo ends up getting stabbed by Cassio, whom Roderigo was instructed to kill:

RODERIGO. I know his gait. ‘Tis he!-Villain, thou diest!

CASSIO. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed

But that my coat is better than thou

Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.

For I mine own gained knowledge should profane

If I would time expend with such a snipe

But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor,

And it is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as if for surety (Shakespeare 1.3.426-433) In O, however, Hugo is mad that Odin and Michael are being recognized and favored more by their basketball coach, Coach Duke, who also happens to be his father.

In the film “O”, a common factor seen throughout is a black hawk. This hawk can be related to Odin and the themes of jealousy, power, and corruption as seen in the film. Throughout the film, the black hawk is seen in scenes alongside those featuring Odin. This can be seen as a metaphor for Odin, as how his mental state deteriorates throughout the film, seemingly making him more aggressive and having a lack of self-control. An example of this from the film is in the scene in which Odin kills Desi, his girlfriend, as the Black Hawk is seen in a tree nearby. This can also be seen in how the scenes are filmed, with scenes losing lighting throughout the film, which can be seen as the plot seemingly gets darker, to the point of the death spree that happened during the final