Othello

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Othello The Moor of Venice
by William Shakespeare
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one that loved not wiselybut too well
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Historical Background

• The first recorded performance of Othello was
  for King James VI/I at Whitehall in 1604, with
  Richard Burbage in the title role
• Elizabethans would have viewed a Moor as an
  exotic, fascinating foreigner perhaps somewhat
  frightening
• Elizabethan society was known for its conniving
  and intrigue
• In 1826 Ira Aldridge was the first black man to
  play Othello in England

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Source of Othello
Shakespeare often borrowed stories and, adding
his own twists and changes, made them his own. He
based Othello on a story in a collection of
tales, called Hecatonimithi, written in 1565 by
Giraldi Cinthio, an Italian.  
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Whats a Moor?
In Shakespeare's time, Moor was equivalent to
"African." "Moor" was not a negative or
derogatory word. Originally, it meant "native of
Mauretania," a country in north Africa, but its
meaning had become generalized by the 17th
century.
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Setting

• Venice
• play opens in Venice
• all major characters except Othello and Cassio
  are Venetians
• peaceful, sophisticated, law-abiding city
• Cyprus -an island near Turkey and Syria
• setting moves to Cyprus in Act 2
• As in all Shakespeare, islands are the sight of
  strange happenings

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She loved me for the dangers I had passd, And
I loved her that she did pity them
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Themes

• APPEARANCE AND REALITY
• all things are not what they seem  
• SOCIETY'S TREATMENT OF THE OUTSIDER 
• Racial prejudice is a crucial issue in the play
  
• SOLDIER AND CIVILIAN
• Can a soldier survive in a civilian world?

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more themes

• JEALOUSY
• Jealousy has the power to destroy
• LOVE

O, beware, my lord, of jealousy  It is the
green-eyed monster which doth mock  The meat it
feeds on. . . . .  (3.3.165-167)
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Motifs

• water
• black and white
• sight and blindness
• plants (notice particularly in Iagos language)
• animals
• hunting
• entrapment
• witchcraft
• time
• devils/monsters

One motif is used over 30 times which one???
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Symbols

• Desdemonas handkerchief
• Desdemonas Willow Song

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Characters
Othello - a professional soldier currently
employed by Venice as general of its forces. He
holds a high position and is greatly respected
Desdemona -a lady, a member of the gentry from
Venice
Iago - not of the gentry class or wealthy. He has
been a foot-soldier and has only now achieved
promotion.
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more characters
Cassio - a member of the gentry from Florence, a
city known for its high culture - well educated,
fine manners Othello names Cassio as his
lieutenant
Emilia -not a member of the gentry, acts as
Desdemona's personal attendant wife of Iago 
Roderigo - a gentleman from Venice who owns land
and is affluent loves Desdemona
Brabantio Desdemonas father
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Iago
The name Iago is Spanish. (The Italian form is
Giacomo.) Shakespeare gave his most evil
character a Spanish name, probably because Spain
was England's worst enemy. True evil, according
to the Elizabethans, came from Spain! 
I am not what I am
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Othello on stage
Few of Shakespeare's plays have stirred such
conflicting emotions. For example,
During a performance in Baltimore in 1822, a
soldier drew his gun and fired at the stage,
breaking the arm of the actor playing Othello.
During a production in Americas Old West, a
member of the audience shot and killed the actor
playing Iago. On his tombstone were written the
words, Here lies a great actor.
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then must you speakof one whose handthrew a
pearl away richer than all his tribe
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Productions
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" I kissed thee ere I killed thee.. no way but
this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss."   
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As you read

• notice Iagos use of language
• what is it that causes Othellos downfall?
• which characters are jealous? (Its not just
  Othello!)

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Look back at the photos what do you notice
about Desdemona in each one?