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Othello: The Moor of
Venice
Background Notes
Introduction to the Play– Written after Hamlet (1600-1601)– One of Shakespeare’s four great
tragedies:• Hamlet• Othello• King Lear• Macbeth
Focuses on issues of both national and personal importance
•Explores domestic issues–Tale of passion –Fidelity, honor, justice, and personal struggle
In the opening act...…– Venetians are searching for
the “valiant Othello” to lead its army to fight off the advancing Turks
– Othello was called away from his honeymoon to go to war
• By the opening of Act II, the war is over, the Turks are defeated, and the victors are ready to land in Cypress.
– War takes place offstage• Othello is about times of peace,
times of domesticity, and the battles that fill domestic life.
Sources for the Play
• Although he stands out as one of the finest Western dramatists ever, none of Shakespeare’s stories were entirely original.
Sources for the Play– Othello: The Moor of Venice finds its
roots in Giraldi Cinthio’s Hecatommithi (1565)• His work is built around short stories, most
centering on the theme of marriage• Two sections revolve around marital
infidelity and how a husband seeks revenge on his wife for “supposed” infidelity, culminating in her “accidental” death.
Setting–Venice
•For Elizabethans, Italians were a wicked people, living lives of treachery, murder, and loose morals.
Setting Shakespeare gives his most evil
character (Iago) a Spanish name because Spain was England’s worst enemy.
ThemesAppearance versus realitySociety’s treatment of the outsider
• The problem is to make a hero an outsider, one who doesn’t quite belong in the society in which he lives.
– Othello is a Moor (North African)
Jealousy
Characters in Othello
Othello• Protagonist• Born a Moor – Black man from Northern
Africa (Arab)• Looked upon with suspicion
– Pagan- not converted to Christianity– Descended from “men of royal siege”
or rank
Othello• Well-liked by his soldiers
– Comes to Venice as a soldier of fortune to help Venice win their war against the Turks
Othello• Tragic Flaw: Believes that others are honest
and sincere until he has proof they are not
– Lives by a code of honor (military and private)
– When a man’s honor is lost, he must win it back
– Passionate man with a fiery temper
– Allows jealousy to prevail over common sense
*Always considered a stranger*
Iago• Antagonist• Othello’s ensign- low ranked
commissioned officer • Married to Emilia
– They seem to tolerate each other
Iago• Very complex character
– Loves evil for evil’s sake– Motivated by jealousy– Seeks revenge– A wonderful actor– Amoral – he has no standards at all– Highly intelligent– Egotist: His opinion of everyone EXCEPT
himself is very low
Iago– Amoral – he has no standards at all– Highly intelligent– Egotist: His opinion of everyone
EXCEPT himself is very low– Cynic: Shows contempt for all
convential standards of decency – Extremely proud
Desdemona• Young Venetian woman • Sheltered her entire life
by her father• Portrait of a lovely,
courageous, gentlewoman
• May represent the good that evel often destroys
• Is guilty only of loving her husband too much
Cassio• Attractive, likeable young man• Othello’s lieutenant• Innocent victim of Iago’s
treachery
Emilia• Iago’s wife• Desdemona’s lady-
in-waiting• Low opinion of men
Brabantio
• Desdemona’s father• Venetian senator• Feels as if he OWNS his daughter• Not well-regarded by others in the
government/society (silly man)
Roderigo• Venetian nobleman in love with
Desdemona• Has more money than sense – pays Iago
to help woo her for him• Roderigo’s gullibility and trust of Iago
gets him killed.