The most striking difference between "Othello" and Shakespeare's other tragedies is its more intimate scale. Since the play focuses on personal rather than public life, Othello's private descent into jealous obsession is especially chilling to behold. This invaluable study guide to one of Shakespeare's greatest plays contains a selection of the finest criticism through the centuries on "Othello". Students will also benefit from the additional features included in this volume, such as an introduction by Harold Bloom, an accessible summary, analysis of key passages, a comprehensive list of characters, a biography of Shakespeare, and more.