I thought it would be interesting to compare the murder scene from a modern day adaptation of the play with the actual scene from “Othello”. In this scene in the movie we see O get close to Desi by placing a hand on her shoulder and apologizing for his anger and misunderstanding of the whole handkerchief situation. Only things are not what they seem as the next thing he does is bring her in for a kiss only to start to strangle her to death. He starts to explain to her that he had no choice but to murder their mutual friend that Hugo(Iago), convinced O that Desi was cheating on him with. He is hysterical, and explains that he wishes he could just let her go but that he was so in love there is no other way to put an end to the situation than to take her life.

 Desdemona: O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

 Othello: Down, strumpet!

Desdemona:Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!

Othello: Nay, if you strive—

Desdemona: But half an hour

Othello: Being done, there is no pause.

Othello: It is too late.

Desdemona: But while I say one prayer!

[He stifles her] 

We watched the adaptation unfold a little differently than the text from the original play, which can be seen above. In the play Othello and Desdemona are having a direct conversation about the fact that he is going to take her life. He lays everything that has happened out on the line and ignores her pleading and begging. She openly begs Othello to let her live a little longer. Asking for a day, then a half an hour, then a single prayer. Othello will have none of it though and “stifles” her to death at once. In the movie it was much more of a surprise to Desi when O starts to strangle her.

I thought watching the movie was a lot more powerful than reading the scene in the book. In the movie, O seems to not be out of his mind, as he is explaining his actions while they are taking place. There is no room to argue temporary insanity. In the play you can’t see and feel the emotion as we watch in unfold in a movie. When reading the play a part of me wants to argue that Othello must have been crazy and lost touch with reality, in the movie there is no wiggle room like that. It is more opened and closed case.

How did you guys feel about the difference in the two scenes? Would you agree that in the movie Othello is making a conscious decision to murder her? Which scene did you prefer as a viewer/reader ?