Holding the Attention of the Audience in Othello

Topic 4: The playwright’s primary task is to hold the audience’s interest. Consider how this is achieved in Othello.

The common aim of playwrights of any time or location is to capture and hold the attention of their audience. It is an irrefutable fact that in order for a play to be successful, the playwright must maintain the interest of the audience. The tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, is one of Shakespeare’s most renowned plays, and has been capturing the interest of its audiences for many hundreds of years. The success of Othello is largely due to Shakespeare’s phenomenal ability to secure the unwavering attention of an audience. Various techniques were employed by Shakespeare in order to achieve this crucial feat. Through construction of intriguing characters, exploration of universal themes, use of comic relief and a well-written script featuring a compelling plot, Shakespeare ensured the tragedy of Othello would hold the interest of the audience.

The plot of a play is defined by Aristotle to be “the arrangement of incidents,” and it is therefore logical that the events of Othello perform an integral part in sustaining the interest of the audience. Shakespeare was clearly well aware of the importance of a good script and captivating plot, as the tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, features twists, turns and revelations, each grasping and holding the attention of the audience. For example, within only one scene of the tragedy, Act IV Scene I, the readers and viewers of Othello witness Othello’s emotional breakdown, the continued manipulation of characters by Iago and the arrival of Lodovico to Cyprus. The intriguing plot maintains it's momentum throughout the play, never giving the audience a chance to focus their attention elsewhere, and thus holding their interest until the final line.

Essential to the success of Othello is the fact that the issues and themes explored in this tragedy, written by Shakespeare in about 1604, are still relevant to the modern audience. The interest of an audience is held by themes that are fundamental to the human condition, as these reflect our world and examine human nature. Othello explores the issues of racism, gender, domestic violence, the supernatural and the pathology of the entirely evil person, which are all remarkably relevant to our time. Thus the interest of the audience is held, as issues that affect the viewers and readers of the play spark individual opinions, reflection and thought. For example, in Act IV Scene I, Othello strikes Desdemona, instantly raising the issue of spousal abuse, and thus also prompting a reaction in the audience. By discussing themes that are relevant to people of any time, place and culture, Shakespeare has been successful in ensuring his play will hold the interest of audiences all over the world, for hundreds of years.

Othello is the play’s protagonist and hero, and thus has certain qualities that Shakespeare created in order to hold the interest of the audience. Othello, the tragic hero, was carefully constructed by Shakespeare to be a character whom the audience could all relate to, despite his elevated status. This was achieved by creating a protagonist with a flaw, as all humans can empathise with the mistakes of another. The audience’s interest is sustained as they relate to Othello, because they become fearful of his misfortune, as they too have felt like an outsider, or been fooled by someone close. By enabling the audience to relate to Othello, they are intrigued by their own fear, because as Aristotle explained, "fear is aroused by the misfortunate of a man like ourselves."

Shakespeare ensures he shall hold the audience’s interest by creating a colourful cast of characters for the audience to observe and become acquainted with. There is the malignant Iago, who seems to delight in his own wickedness, acknowledging himself as a villain without remorse. In Act II Scene III he asserts, “When devils will the blackest sins put on, they do suggest at first with heavenly shows as I do now.” Other characters are also used as devices for holding the attention of the audience. For example, the readers and viewers of Othello would groan as Cassio is led into drunken behaviour, nod at the words of the perceptive Emilia and cringe at the machinations of Iago. By creating a wide range of characters, Shakespeare ensured they would evoke emotion in the audience and thus maintain their interest.

Staging elements of Othello were also important in engaging the audience. In Act IV Scene I, Othello made many comments “aside”, as he eavesdropped on the conversation between Cassio and Iago. For example, Othello murmurs, “Look,