Marriage and Murder: Othello and Macbeth

About this course

The course compares the contrasting marriages at the centre of Othello and Macbeth, using both plays to explore characterisation, psychological insight, Elizabethan tragedy and themes including deceit, revenge and sexual relations. Participants will study Shakespeare’s poetry, ideas and imagery in detail. Teaching combines short lectures, whole-group and small-group discussion, in-class reading and extracts from screen adaptations, with opportunities to relate the plays to other literature.

What you'll learn

• Analyse characters, ideas and relationships in Othello and Macbeth
• Examine themes and conventions associated with Elizabethan tragedy
• Discuss Shakespeare’s poetic language and imagery
• Relate the plays to other similar works of literature

Is this course right for you?

Listed as suitable for all levels, the course is intended for learners who enjoy reading and discussing literature. Participation includes sharing ideas, listening to other perspectives and taking part in whole-group and small-group work. The source does not specify a required level of previous study.

Before you go

• Students need to buy or borrow a copy of Macbeth in the Penguin Classics edition with an introduction by Carol Rutter.
• Students need to buy or borrow a copy of Othello in the Penguin Classics edition with an introduction by Tom McAlindon.
• The selected texts should be read in the weeks before the class.
• Handouts and internet links will be provided.