Cody Wilkinson -- Othello in the Seraglio

   Your analysis of the relations between Sanlikol opera and the Shakespeare
   play is excellent.  The "more peaceful and loving" angle is OK except for 
   the fact that Sumbul also ends up killing the woman he was in love with, in
   exactly the same way that Othello does.  The action is not presented on 
   stage in the same way, but the same tragic events conclude both stories.
   
   The only thing that I would add is that you could also say the underlying 
   "maneuver" is one of substitutions or reversals in the Venice-Turkey relationship, 
   or in the basic traits of characters or the relationships between characters, 
   that all have the effect of shining a light on those relationships "from the other 
   side," so to speak.  For instance:

      Shakespeare                                Sanlikol

      Venice's "colony" on Cyprus is             Turkey's "colony" on Cyprus
      potentially under attack by Turkey         is potentially under attack by Venice

      Othello is a black Moorish warrior         Sumbul is a black eunuch 
      for Venice                                 who tries to negotiate peace for 
                                                 Turkey
   
      Desdemona is daughter of a senator         Suzan is a slave
 
      Iago is motivated mostly by hate           Frenk Mustafa is motivated
      for Othello (and Cassio)                   mostly by love for Suzan   

   There are several other substitutions or reversals of this type too.     

   You basically say all of this, but without identifying the idea of "reversal" 
   as the basic way the opera's plot is constructed from the Shakespeare plot.

   Grade:  (92)  A-