Othello One of 4 great Shakespearean tragedies Focuses on personal, not public life Probably first presented in 1604

Jealousy  The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time. Johann Kaspar Lavater Jealousy had a taste, all right. A bitter and tongue- stinging flavor, like a peach pit.-- Dolores Hitchens Pure love and suspicion cannot dwell together: at the door where the latter enters, the former makes its exit. Alexandre Dumas

Lack of trust  Trust—cement that holds relationships together.  Jealousy is a virulent form of interpersonal distrust/  Lack of trust is implicit in Othello’s situation from outset of play.  Othello is isolated from the world.

Othello  Story of great man’s fall into the barbarism of human nature  Alteration from a noble lover to a raving killer.  Based on Italian novella.

Major themes  Love, jealousy, lack of trust, and revenge.  Struggle between good/evil within the human soul  Need for self-control  Need for ocular proof  Racism  Reality/Illusion

Othello  Moorish general--Arab  Exotic, from a foreign land  Racially different from English.  Earliest black character in English literature with a sympathetic personality

Othello  Romantic and heroic warrior  Frank and honest  Magnanimous soldier  Dedicated to unquestioned code of conduct  Reputation as great military leader  A complete man

Othello  Self-controlled  Sure of himself  Exotic  From a fascinating and mysterious land  Weakness is his jealousy/inability to trust  Easily deceived—why does he believe Iago? Why is he deceived?

Othello  Importance of being an outsider  Naïve  Soldier who cannot understand world outside military  Tragic hero (handout)

Desdemona  Daughter of Brabantio, a senator in Venice  Idealistic, romantic  Younger than Othello  Loves Othello completely and is loyal to him  Touchstone—each character can be judged by his attitude toward her

Iago  Modern devil  Truly evil man  Villain of play  Sees others as victims or tools  Malcontent  Jealous of Cassio  Destroys Othello

Iago  Classic Renaissance atheist—an intelligent man who finds pleasure in the corruption of the virtuous and the abuse of the pliable.  He believes all can be duped and destroyed.  Othello, a good man out of his cultural element, is his perfect target.  Iago is the stage manager of the whole action.  Proceeds by plot and innuendo; creates web of circumstantial evidence.

Setting--Venice

Venice  Venice was seen as a place known for its cultured, sophisticated society. Super- civilized.  Had a reputation for intrigue and connivance.  Duke had control of Venice.  Fairness in Venice  Place of trade/business. Known for its wealth and power.

Change in setting  Venice—Cyprus  War as a setting (Iliad)  Change in cities affects character how?

Plot  Double time. Could the events of the play occur in time given? Intense concentration of events.  Considered to be Shakespeare’s most unified play. No subplots.