MacbethWilliam Shakespeare vs
OthelloWilliam Shakespeare
Both plays show a strong man destroyed by a single whispered idea working on a fatal flaw. In Macbeth the whisperers are the witches and his ambition; in Othello it is Iago and his jealousy.
| Macbeth | Othello | |
|---|---|---|
| Author | William Shakespeare | William Shakespeare |
| Year | 1606 | 1603 |
| Reading time | 17 min | 17 min |
| Themes | Ambition, Guilt, Fate, Power and politics | Jealousy, Betrayal and loyalty, Love, Revenge |
- Macbeth's ruin comes from wanting more (ambition); Othello's from fearing loss (jealousy).
- Macbeth knows his crimes are evil and does them anyway; Othello believes he is doing justice, deceived into it by Iago.
- Macbeth is a public tragedy of a kingdom; Othello is an intimate tragedy of a marriage.
If you're reading both, start with Othello (1603). Then move to Macbeth and watch how the same questions get a different answer.