Othello

Vidal

Introduction copyright © 2007, 2009 by The Royal Shakespeare Company

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Modern Library, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

“Royal Shakespeare Company,” “RSC,” and the RSC logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of The Royal Shakespeare Company.

The version of Othello and the corresponding footnotes that appear in this volume were originally published in William Shakespeare Complete Works, edited by Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, published in 2007 by Modern Library, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc.

eISBN: 978-1-58836-832-4

www.modernlibrary.com

v3.0

¹ Never tell me! expression of disbelief much unkindly with great resentment/dissatisfaction³ this i.e. Desdemona and Othello’s elopement⁷ him i.e. Othello⁹ great ones i.e. noble, influential men/official dignitaries¹⁰ suit formal request, entreaty¹¹ Off-capped removed their hats (a mark of respect)¹⁴ bombast circumstance elaborate evasive talk, wordy circumlocution¹⁵ epithets of war military terms¹⁶ Nonsuits my mediators thwarts the request of my intermediaries (from the legal term “nonsuit” meaning the withdrawal of a lawsuit)‘Certes’ certainly¹⁹ Forsooth in truth arithmetician i.e. mere theorist (in military matters)/mathematician (Florence was known for its bankers)²⁰ Florentine person from Florence (then a city-state in northern Italy)²¹ almost…wife a man with a beautiful wife was damned because he was bound to be cuckolded; perhaps Shakespeare originally intended Cassio to be married, or else the line refers to an imminent or a narrowly avoided wedding (Bianca later claims that Cassio is going to marry her); but editors have struggled to make sense of the line, and a printer’s error is possible; the most satisfactory emendation would be limned (depicted, portrayed), which fits with Iago’s emphasis on Cassio’s effeminacy, as he compares him first to a wife and then to a spinster²² squadron group of soldiers in a square formation/small detachment of soldiers²³ division…battle disposition of a battalion²⁴ spinster woman who stays at home spinning unless except for theoric theory²⁵ toga’d consuls toga-wearing councillors toga garment worn by citizens of ancient Rome propose discourse, hold forth²⁶ prattle idle talk²⁷ had th’election was chosen²⁸ his i.e. Othello’s²⁹ Rhodes island in the Mediterranean Sea, between Cyprus and Greece Cyprus Mediterranean island to the south of Turkey³⁰ Christened converted to Christianity beleed unable to move, as a ship is without wind (the nautical metaphor continues with calmed)³¹ debitor and creditor i.e. bookkeeping/a bookkeeper (another dig at the arithmetician Cassio)counter-caster one who employs counters in making calculations, an accountant³² in good time opportunely (sarcastic)³³ bless the mark apologetic expression used to excuse the mention of something unpleasant or profane his Moorship a contemptuous reference to Othello, varying “his worship” or “his lordship”; the term “moor” could be applied to a person of either African or Middle Eastern origin, and was often used to refer to someone from Barbary in north Africa; it was also used to mean “Muslim”ancient ensign (i.e. soldier who carries the military banner)³⁵ service being a servant/military duty³⁶ Preferment promotion letter and affection personal recommendation and favoritism³⁷ old gradation the traditional way of advancing steadily up the ranks³⁹ term manner, way affined bound⁴¹ follow serve⁴³ serve my turn serve my own purposes (serve plays on the notion of being a servant)⁴⁵ truly loyally mark note, observe⁴⁶ knee-crooking bowing⁴⁸ time lifetime/time as a servant⁴⁹ provender food cashiered (he’s) dismissed/discarded⁵⁰ Whip me whip (me is emphatic)⁵¹ trimmed dressed up, adorned visages outward appearances⁵² attending on waiting on, serving⁵⁵ lined their coats i.e. got all they can/lined their purses⁵⁶ Do themselves homage serve their own interests exclusively⁵⁹ Were…Iago if I were Othello I would not wish to be a servant like me/if I were in Othello’s position I would not be fooled by a self-seeking servant⁶¹ not I for I am not one for, I do not serve out of⁶² peculiar personal⁶³ demonstrate display, manifest⁶⁴ native innate, natural figure form/appearance⁶⁵ compliment extern external show⁶⁷ daws jackdaws (small birds of the crow family, proverbially foolish)/fools⁶⁸ full perfect, complete owe own⁶⁹ carry’t carry it off, manage it⁷¹ make after pursue⁷² Proclaim denounce⁷³ though even though⁷⁴ though that although⁷⁵ chances possibilities⁷⁶ As it may that may cause it to⁷⁸ like timorous accent such terrifying tones⁸³ bags moneybags85 Above i.e. on the upper staging level or gallery⁸⁹ Wherefore why⁹⁰ gown coat/senator’s robes⁹² ram a proverbially lustful beast⁹³ tupping mounting sexually; the ram was proverbially lusty, hence slang for “lecher”⁹⁴ snorting snoring (also picks up on the bestial imagery of the previous lines) bell alarm bell⁹⁵