Date post: | 17-Jan-2016 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | conrad-patrick |
View: | 218 times |
Download: | 0 times |
OthelloThe Moor of
Venice
Overview
• Historical perspective
• Geographic context
• An intro to the play itself
Historical Context
• The Crusades -Christians and Muslims
• The Moors• The Ottoman
Empire • Venice, Italy
The Crusades
• An attempt by European Christians to retake holy land occupied by Muslims
The Crusades
• Religious war begun in the 11th century and ended at the end of the 12th century
• still has a lasting impact
Ottoman Empire
• ended - 1918• “The Turks”• Muslim• Conflicts w/ Holy Roman Empire
(962-1806)
The Moors
• North Western Africans, modern Morocco
• Conquered and ruled Spain for 700 years
Moorish Spain
•Muslim Spain influenced the European Renaissance
Moorish Spain
• Uniquely tolerant, artistic, peaceful, and advanced era
• No central govt. established
Moorish Spain
•Brought Spain, and in some ways Europe, out of the dark ages
Moorish Spain
•One of the truly successful multicultural eras in history
Venetian- Turkish War
• Battle between
Venice and the
Ottoman Empire
1416-1573
Venetian Turkish Wars
• Battle of trade routes and land
• Venice defended Cyprus against invading Turks
Main Characters
• Iago - Othello’s trusted friend and “ancient” (commissioned officer)
Main Characters
• Along with Titus Andronicus’ Aaron, Iago is widely considered Shakespeare’s most purely evil character
Dramatic Irony
• Used extensively in Othello
• Iago is the central character who is alone in his thoughts
Why Hate?
• Anti-christ figure whose only real motivation is only to watch his “medicine work”
The Moor (Othello)
• Hired by Venetian authority to lead an army to battle invading Turks
• Tragic Hero
The Moor
• Falls in love with local girl, Desdemona, while directing Venetian defenses
Desdemona
• Young, innocent daughter of Venetian Senator
• Chooses Othello’s love over family
Cassio
• Innocent pawn in Iago’s plan
• Promoted to lieutenant over Iago by Othello
• Florentine (Florence Italy) known for flirtatious nature
Senator Brabantio
• Venetian Senator who initiated tragic events
• Father of Desdemona -symbolizes intolerance.
• Forces Desdemona to choose between family and husband.
The Play
• First performed Nov. 1 1604
• Written during W.S.’ Tragic Period
Tragic Period
• Other tragic period plays:
• Hamlet (1600), King Lear (1604), MacBeth (1606)
Contrast of Venice/Cyprus
• Venice is home to civility and control
• Cyprus is battle-scarred, ominous, and a place where passions rule
Historical Source
• The play is Based on Richard Knolles, the History of the Turks
Green Eyed Monster
• “...beware my lord of jealousy. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” - Iago
The End
Thanks to Richard Wagner for the music!