Gulfs of Liquid Fire
The Mystical Meaning of Othello
Othello is Shakespeare’s masterful psychological study on the genesis of malice and the creation of evil. While the play informs us how Iago, the arch-villain himself, reached his horrible level of depravity, the main focus is on Othello, a man who appears noble and just, with no inclination towards evil. In demonstrating how even Othello can be misled to the gruesome act of murder, Shakespeare delivers a sage message of critical importance to humanity.
Gulfs of Liquid Fire is the fifth book by the author that explains how Shakespeare meticulously crafts every scene of his plays to each convey the play’s central message, using three unique Shakespearean techniques: cohesive unity, thematic resonance, and focused allegorical scenes. They reveal that Shakespeare’s plays are not only poetical masterpieces that mesmerize us with their lyrical beauty, but are also profoundly meaningful.
This book is written as a running commentary of Othello so readers can follow the narrative like reading a novel. The increased understanding from the commentary intensifies the drama and reflects how Shakespeare conveys his message through our emotional involvement. It is akin to learning by direct experience—the initiatic quality that makes Shakespeare’s plays an invaluable gift to mankind.
Gulfs of Liquid Fire: The Mystical Meaning of Othello (Amazon site)
See also Quintessence of Dust: The Mystical Meaning of Hamlet ; The Mystical Art of Shakespeare Volume I: The Meaning of Much Ado About Nothing & The Comedy of Errors ; The Mystical Art of Shakespeare Volume II: The Meaning of The Taming of the Shrew & Romeo and Juliet, and The Mystical Art of Shakespeare Volume III: The Meaning of Twelfth Night & Macbeth.
Sample Chapter
The Mystical Art of Shakespeare
The transcendent light that burns within the text of a Shakespearean play is conveyed to us, in true mystical fashion, by absorbing our very being into the enactment of its meaning. The message of the play is not conveyed intellectually; it is experienced. The mystical art of Shakespeare is thus the art of initiation. Shakespeare conveys his meaning by making us live through it.
This chapter also presents the three unique techniques that Shakespeare employs to convey his meaning: Cohesive Unity, Thematic Resonance and Focused Allegorical Scenes. Read more …