Textual Integrity of Shakespeare’s

OTHELLO

What the…?

What does “textual integrity” even mean??

• Why is OTHELLO still performed?… studied?… appropriated?... discussed?....???

• Are the events in the play even relevant in today’s world?

• How do the characters sustain their ‘timeless’ appeal?

• Have the values, attitudes and beliefs (explored in the play) changed during the last 400 years?

http://coolstuffschool.com

The syllabus defines textual integrity as:

O The unity of a text; its coherent use of form and language to produce an integrated whole in terms of meaning and value. (p 100)

• Agreement• Harmony• The way it

“fits” together

• Clear • Rational• Consistent• Reasonable• Believable• relevant

• Method• Play • Script• Structure• construction

• Language features• Literary devices• Dramatic techniques• Style• Register

• Believable• Realistic • No inconsistent actions

or reactions• Complete narrative• Everything “fits” and

makes sense – even the ambiguous bits

• Ideas and their importance

• Worthiness of knowing the characters

• Relevance of the actions and consequences

• Merit• usefulness

http://coolstuffschool.com

Evaluating a text… in terms of its textual integrity… requires you to CAREFULLY consider:

O the features and elements of a text =O Language featuresO Poetic devicesO StructureO Social/cultural values, beliefs and attitudesO Religious vs secular lawsO The symbolism of the handkerchiefO Elizabethan (religious conflict) values and contextO Contrasting images / charactersO CharacterisationO Dramatic techniques

O the extent to which it may possess an overall unity =

In other words… “evaluating a text in terms of its textual integrity” means…

• Language features• Poetic devices• Structure• Themes / events /

settings• Values, beliefs and

attitudes• Religious symbolism

and laws• Elizabethan (religious

conflict) values and context

• The symbolism of the handeerchief

• contrasting images / characters

• Characterisation• Dramatic techniques…

– when they’re all put

together.. How

important are all these things… …in

giving the play

its…

• Consistent and “realistic & human” characters

• Believable sequence (and consequences) of events

• Relevant & “timeless” values, attitudes, beliefs and issues

• Valid, interesting, controversial and ongoing appeal to different audiences, directors and actorshttp://coolstuffschool.com

Ok… so… ????So…

O Literary students and academics – people who are educated and “cultured” – people who like to go to the theatre – English teachers – historians – play and film directors – actors – and, other people who like to argue over what things (texts) “really” mean – all these people - they all……LUUUUUURRRRVE TO ARGUE… (and sound very intelligent)

ABOUT WHAT THEY EACH THINK ABOUT THE “REAL”, TRUE NATURE OF

THE CHARACTERS AND EVENTS IN OTHELLO!!!

In other words…In simple 21st-Century-teenage, non-board-of-studies, non-English-syllabus-jargon and plain-English-terms…

Think of Shakespeare’s OTHELLO as being the cause

of arguments between readers (-- audiences –

directors – and, actors) in the same way that 21st

Century texts cause you to “argue” with a friend (or

frenemy) about things like:

http://coolstuffschool.com

that 21st Century texts…eg:

The Hunger Games…Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like:

O The book is so much more “believable” and powerful than the film

O The film is not consistent with the book!

O Katniss seems like a total b*%@ in the film – whereas, in the book, that’s not her character at all!

O Team Peter!!!… tots http://coolstuffschool.com

that 21st Century texts…eg:

Twilight…Sparks “discussions” / arguments / debates about things like:

O Kristen Stewart is a hopeless actress and is nothing like

how Bella should be portrayed!

O Team Edward!

O All the characters are so superficial and one-dimensional!!

None of them are believable at all!

O I hate how all the supporting characters (especially the

teenagers) are so stereotyped and “predictable”…

http://coolstuffschool.com

OTHELLO… ???

• The characters: their “true” natures and individual agendas;

• the MOTIVATIONS of the events;

• the consequences of the events;

• the conflict between values and the human “flaws”;

• The social and cultural divisions

• the sexual desires, relationships and conflicts among the characters;

• Etc… etc… etc…

It would seem that Shakespeare has

deliberately and carefully

written the play

so that the “truth” is ambiguous…

this ambiguity is the thing that ensures that

you – and other readers - actors – directors –

artists – students…

…will continue to “argue” about the play for a

long time to come!

This is the thing… that ensures its lasting

appeal!

Shakespeare uses dramatic and language techniques to make responders develop and form their own opinions, reactions and conclusions about the “true” nature (interpretation) of:

http://coolstuffschool.com

A writer needs to have DEEP INSIGHT AND HIGHLY-DEVELOPED SKILL in:

O language O narrative structure O characterisation O motifs O lexical chains O imagery O irony – juxtaposition – connotation – metaphor and symbolism…

etc…to be able to successfully develop numerous of levels of ambiguity (and certainty of “truth”) in the characters and their relationships. If a composer is NOT highly skilled in this aspects of writing– the text will have NO textual integrity!

The text will just be undeveloped, confusing, and/or un-believable! Which means no-one would even bother discussing it…