OTHELLOThe Tragedy by

William Shakespeare

Dr. Neighbours

The Tragedy of Othello

Venice, Italy – the Setting of Othello

Othello – A Shakespearean Tragedy

Othello is a Shakespearean Tragedy It encompasses elements of tragedies such as:

It ends with the death of numerous characters including the title character

It encompasses historical and military details The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the

audience able to understand and sympathise with the character.

The protagonist is capable of both good and evil Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must always be

able to back out of a situation or to redeem themselves – but always towards their inevitable doom.

The world’s greatest… By the time he’d written Othello (around 1604), Shakespeare

was considered the greatest playwright of his day. Many feel that Shakespeare's later plays show a darker, more

pessimistic view of the world than his early plays. Under King James I (his rule is referred to as the Jacobean

period), England lost some of its power and prosperity. Conflicts between Catholics and Protestants led to civil

strife. Shakespeare's earlier plays reflected Elizabeth's golden

reign. By 1604, when Othello was first produced, the glory of the Elizabethan period was recent history.

This is reflected in the fact that, unlike his other tragedies, there is no resolution to the conflict caused at the end of the play.

Othello: Themes

Jealousy…

Hypocrisy… Passion…

Prejudice…

Revenge…

Principal Characters: Othello: A Moorish general in the service of

Venice Iago: Othello’s ensign from Florence Michael Cassio: Othello’s lieutenant Roderigo: A Venetian suitor of Desdemona Brabantio: Desdemona’s father Gratiano: Brabantio’s brother Montano: Former Governor of Cyprus Desdemona: Brabantio's daughter, Othello’s wife Emilia: Iago’s wife Bianca: A Courtesan in Venice, friend and lady in

waiting to Desdemona

Plot Elements

Genre: Romantic Tragedy Time: Shakespeare probably

intended the time to be early 1500’sSetting: Venice, Italy and Cyprus Year Produced: 1604

About the Plot The plot for Othello was developed from a story in the Italian

author Cinthio's collection, The Hecatommithi, which it follows closely (1565).

The only named character in Cinthio's story is "Disdemona", which means "unfortunate" in Greek

The other characters are identified only as "the standard-bearer", "the captain", and "the Moor".

The first known performance of the play occurred on November 1, 1604 at Whitehall Palace in London.

Cyprus was off the coast of Syria and Turkey. Venice is up

the Adriatic Sea.

The Venetian coastline looks vastly different from that of Cyprus.

Cyprus coastline

Venice was known for its wealth and prosperity during the Renaissance.

Cyprus was not.

Othello – a moorOthello is described in the play

as a moor, and a general in the Venetian Army.

The origin of the word “moor” comes from the word “mauri” which was used to describe a group of people called the Berbers, who came from North Africa.

It can also be supposed that he was from Morocco, although Libya is sometimes referred to as “Moorish”

What does it mean to be Moorish? Moors were characterized in

Elizabethan England as being alternately or simultaneously noble or monstrous, civil or savage.

It was often the case (in literature) that a moor was presented as someone accepted by society to a certain point, but then rejected due to other factors. The majority of Moors were

Islamic; whereas Venice would have been Christian

Traditional “Moorish,” Moroccan PeopleMoorish skin tone varies, but most definitely stood apart from the

traditionally Romanesque feature of northern Italians from Venice.

The Great Villain – Iago Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most sinister villains, often considered so

because of the unique trust Othello puts in him, which he betrays while maintaining his reputation of honesty and dedication.

Shakespeare contrasts Iago with Othello’s nobility and integrity. Iago is a malcontent – he has a bitter and cyncial view of the world around

him.

The name Iago is a shortened version of the Spanish name “Santiago” or “St James”.

Saint James of Spain was also known as “St James the Moor Killer” which seems appropriate within the play.

Othello: Plot

Othello is a general, a military leader, in Venice hundreds of years ago.

But he is an outsider because he is from another country—and of another race.

Othello: PlotWhen Othello secretly marries the young, beautiful and noble Desdemona,

Her father, Brabantio, wants Othello to be arrested.

But Desdemona loves Othello and doesn’t care that he is an outsider.

Othello: Plot

At the same time, the men in the army under Othello can’t be trusted.

Cassio means well but is open to bad influences.

Iago pretends to be Othello’s friend, but secretly resents him for passing him over for promotion.

Othello: Plot

Iago is determined to get revenge.

He decides to attack Othello in his most vulnerable spot…

his love for Desdemona.

Othello: Plot

Will Othello be able to see through Iago’s schemes?

Or will jealousy and revenge turn to murder?

Othello: Plot

Othello is from North Africa, while Desdemona is from Venice, in Italy.

Their marriage is a meeting of cultures and races.

Othello: Plot

Shakespeare included Moorish characters in other plays: The Merchant of Venice and Titus Andronicus. He used them to represent outsiders.

Othello, again, is sometimes referred to as “the Moor.” Moors are people with mixed Berber and Arab groups living in northwestern Africa.

Othello: PlotRacism is an important concept in Othello,

As is the idea of judging others on the basis of their appearance rather than what’s in their hearts.

Desdemona often speaks about her faith.

Othello: Plot

Othello often uses animal imagery.

The way a character speaks in Shakespeare’s plays signals the way his or her mind is working. It can also tell you what kind of person the character is.

Othello: Discussion Starters• What groups are sometimes treated as outsiders

in the United States today? • Why are they seen by others as outsiders?• How do others react to them?

Othello: Discussion Starters

• Othello depicts many problems that arise from jealousy and greed.

• Do these emotions still cause problems today?• If so, what problems have you seen them create?

Other Interesting Themes and Issues in OthelloControversial in Elizabethan times, but still hold true today……

Winning a fair lady… Men were expected to go through distinct stages of courtly

love in order to woo a woman. It was thought that love wasn’t entirely platonic, but that it

was based on sexual attraction. As the etiquette of courtly love became more complicated,

the knight might wear the colours of his lady: blue or black were the colors of faithfulness; green was a sign of unfaithfulness.

The stages of courtly love: Attraction to the lady, usually via

eyes/glance Worship of the lady from afar Declaration of passionate

devotion Virtuous rejection by the lady Renewed wooing with oaths of

virtue and eternal fealty Moans of approaching death

from unsatisfied desire (and other physical manifestations of lovesickness)

Heroic deeds of valor which win the lady's heart

Consummation of the secret love Endless adventures and

subterfuges avoiding detection

The Wife’s Status

A typical wife receiving her instruction

The husband, in the accepted role as head of the household, gives moral direction to his wife and children--who sit obediently listening.

“Ye women, submit your selves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the wife's head, even as Christ is the head of the Church, and he is the saviour of the whole body. Therefore as the Church in congregation is subject unto Christ: so likewise let the wives be in subjection unto their own husbands in all things” (“The Book of Common Prayer”)

Evil Women! The men in Othello have

differing views of women: Othello who idolizes his wife

(Desdemona) to Iago who sees love as "merely

a lust of the blood and a permission of the will“.

The attitudes of the audience at the time are likely to have been varied too.

In the Elizabethan times there was a long and well established tradition in the Church of what we would now call misogyny Women were distrusted

simply because they were women. At the time it was assumed that women would cheat – it was part of their nature!

The Cuckold Any man whose wife cheated on him (without his knowledge) was

known as a cuckold. The word derives from “cuckoo” – the bird known for laying their

eggs in another’s nest.

It was highly undesirable to be considered a cuckold. All of the community would find out about it and it was

considered a public humiliation. Cuckolds were often described as having horns – a hangover

from the days when a cuckold was forced to parade around his town wearing antlers as a sign of his wife’s infidelity.

Jealousy Jealousy was viewed as

something irrational and linked to the deadly sin of envy.

It was viewed as a sudden infection against which there was no prevention or cure.

It was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bonds holding together marriages, families and social frameworks.

Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a state greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.

Task

On the following slide are some lines spoken by, or about, various characters in the play – consider what you think each quotation reveals about the person speaking/being spoken about and what they are like as a character.

1) Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and purposes”

2) Iago - speaking about his relationship with Othello: “I follow him to serve my turn upon him”

3) Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not what I am”.4) Iago - speaking about Othello: “The state cannot with safety

cast him; for he’s embarked with such loud reason to the Cyprus wars”

5) Othello - speaking about himself: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly”

6) Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of honesty and trust”.7) Othello – to an angry Brabantio: “Hold your hands, were it

my cue to fight , I should have known it”.

Today’s Culture/Othello’s Culture

Think about the cultural rules that you live by. Think about the cultural rules that were lived by in the day and age of Othello.

Consider these questions rhetorically…..

What rules dictate the behaviour of young men and women in relationships today?

What are the things “nice girls” just don’t do? What are the things “nice boys” just don’t do? What do you think the consequences are of breaking these

rules?