Life — January 25, 1923 — page 10: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis of "Let's Make Othello Glad" This satirical piece mocks theatrical censorship of Shakespeare's *Othello*. The cartoon depicts a street market scene where two women converse; the accompanying dialogue suggests casual, mundane social interaction has replaced dramatic performance. The title's wordplay—"Make Othello Glad" (a foolish whim)—suggests that removing *Othello* from the stage would please no one of taste. The sketch appears to reference contemporary debates about performing Shakespeare's tragedy, likely due to its themes involving a Black protagonist and interracial marriage, which proved controversial in early 20th-century American society. The subsequent script excerpt shows characters named Primm, Bill, Dowsy, and Wyss debating theatrical merit versus propriety, satirizing the tension between artistic freedom and social censorship of classic works.