“The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree, sing all a green willow: her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee, sing willow, willow, willow.
This compare-and-contrast resource presents two versions of the ‘Willow Song’ scene from Act IV Scene III of Othello. In this pivotal and prophetic moment, Desdemona shares with Emilia a sad song ‘of willow’ while the two women lament the loss of love and the cruelty of their husbands.
Performances date from 2015 to 2018 and include Kitty Archer in a contemporary production which highlighted the play’s religious themes and Joanna Vanderham for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Read our Compare and Contrast Guide for a list of questions and tasks to support your students as they watch multiple versions of key scenes and speeches available on DT+.