Shakespeare’s “Othello” ( )

Shakespeare Actor and playwright Actor and playwright Formed his own theatrical company Formed his own theatrical company Built the Globe Theatre Built the Globe Theatre Stockholder Stockholder Greatest plays produced here Greatest plays produced here Burned in 1613 Burned in 1613 During performance of Henry 8th - cannon went off During performance of Henry 8th - cannon went off

Globe Theatre Enclosed space with partial roof Enclosed space with partial roof Seated as many as 2500 Seated as many as galleries of seats around 3 sides 3 galleries of seats around 3 sides Platform stage extending from rear wall Platform stage extending from rear wall Groundlings Groundlings Intimate atmosphere Intimate atmosphere

The Old Globe Theatre replica, which opened in Balboa Park, Sandiego, 1935

Conventions of Elizabethan Drama Trapdoors Trapdoors Inner stage Inner stage Upper stage Upper stage Simple scenery Simple scenery Elaborate costumes Elaborate costumes Female roles by males Female roles by males Elaborate sound effects Elaborate sound effects

Shakespeare’s Greatness Deep understanding of human nature Deep understanding of human nature Knowledge in a wide variety of subjects Knowledge in a wide variety of subjects Influence on language Influence on language Freely experimented with grammar, vocabulary Freely experimented with grammar, vocabulary Created words: click this link to see some Created words: click this link to see some Originated phrases Originated phrases

A Note on Reading Shakespeare Keep track of characters from list Keep track of characters from list Poetic language - read slowly & carefully Poetic language - read slowly & carefully Pay attention to the annotations Pay attention to the annotations Listen to recording; read summary; view a video Listen to recording; read summary; view a video

Othello, the Moor of Venice (page 1263) (page 1263)

Plot: Identify which conflicts occur in the play and where. Person vs. person Person vs. person Person vs. self Person vs. self Person vs. environment Person vs. environment Person vs. God Person vs. God

Plot: Identify movement Exposition Exposition Complication Complication Climax Climax Denouement Denouement

Setting: Venice and Cyprus Is the setting natural or artificial? Is the setting natural or artificial? Is it hostile or friendly? Is it hostile or friendly? Is it limited to one place? Is it limited to one place? Shakespeare clearly breaks with Aristotle’s classical unities in this play: one plot, one location, over 24-hours. Shakespeare clearly breaks with Aristotle’s classical unities in this play: one plot, one location, over 24-hours.

Time of Play Othello elopes with Desdemona; same night takes ship for Cyprus Othello elopes with Desdemona; same night takes ship for Cyprus Cassio is disgraced 1st night after arrival in Cyprus Cassio is disgraced 1st night after arrival in Cyprus Desdemona is killed 2nd night in Cyprus Desdemona is killed 2nd night in Cyprus The play spans 3 days, two locations, and has multiple plots. The play spans 3 days, two locations, and has multiple plots.

Characterization Antagonist Antagonist = Iago = Iago Protagonist Protagonist = Othello = Othello

Characterization: Iago Ambitious Ambitious Envious of Cassio’s promotionSexually jealous of Othello and Cassio Envious of Cassio’s promotionSexually jealous of Othello and Cassio Greedy Greedy Deceitful Deceitful Lustful Lustful Laurence Olivier as Iago

Iago Iago Intelligent Intelligent Cunning Cunning Capable of tempting and controlling characters around him Capable of tempting and controlling characters around him Villain without conscience Villain without conscience Diabolically evil while appearing to be honest, trustworthy Diabolically evil while appearing to be honest, trustworthy

Iago Reduces human nature to its least attractive traits Reduces human nature to its least attractive traits Coarse, blunt Coarse, blunt Suspicious view of human nature - allows him to locate weakness in others and encourage its dominance of whole personality Suspicious view of human nature - allows him to locate weakness in others and encourage its dominance of whole personality

Iago’s Techniques for Deception Instigates others to act Instigates others to act Pretends to speak only out of the best motives Pretends to speak only out of the best motives Works through insinuation rather than through explicit lies Works through insinuation rather than through explicit lies

Othello Greatness Greatness Tragic hero Tragic hero Virtues carried to excess Virtues carried to excess Loves - “too well” Loves - “too well” Trusts - too much Trusts - too much Great sense of moral virtue - punishes sin Great sense of moral virtue - punishes sin Sensitive nature - vivid fantasies Sensitive nature - vivid fantasies

Othello “Free and open nature” “Free and open nature” “Constant, loving, noble nature” “Constant, loving, noble nature” Energetic Energetic Desire for perfection Desire for perfection Trusting Trusting

Othello’s Insecurities HIS BLACKNESS HIS BLACKNESS A Moor (North Africa) A Moor (North Africa) Negative stereotyping by other characters Negative stereotyping by other characters Lascivious Lascivious Unnatural mate for white woman Unnatural mate for white woman Practitioner of black magic Practitioner of black magic

Othello’s Insecurities HIS LACK OF SOPHISTICATION HIS LACK OF SOPHISTICATION Not a native of Venice Not a native of Venice At home on battlefield, not in sophisticated Venetian society At home on battlefield, not in sophisticated Venetian society Lacks self-confidence Lacks self-confidence Trusts Iago’s view Trusts Iago’s view

Othello’s Insecurities HIS AGE HIS AGE Older than Desdemona Older than Desdemona Iago plays on this insecurity Iago plays on this insecurity

Desdemona Admirable Admirable Self-contained Self-contained Speaks forcefully and to the point when she confronts her father Speaks forcefully and to the point when she confronts her father Speaks playfully with Iago while waiting for Othello’s ship Speaks playfully with Iago while waiting for Othello’s ship

Desdemona Is known for her innocence, purity Is known for her innocence, purity Can plead for Cassio - but not for herself Can plead for Cassio - but not for herself Dutiful, obedient Dutiful, obedient Can be regarded as model Elizabethan wife Can be regarded as model Elizabethan wife

Symbol: dramatic irony All the characters believe in Iago’s honesty. All the characters believe in Iago’s honesty. Othello believes in Desdemona’s guilt. Othello believes in Desdemona’s guilt.

Confidant(e) - serves a major character as a friend Emilia is confidante to Desdemona Emilia is confidante to Desdemona Iago is confidant to Roderigo Iago is confidant to Roderigo

Foil - illuminates a more important character Emilia and Bianca are foils to Desdemona Emilia and Bianca are foils to Desdemona Cassio and Iago are foils to Othello Cassio and Iago are foils to Othello

Theme Human nature is easily manipulated. Jealousy is like a disease. Humans can have a terribly dark and cunning side. Human nature is easily manipulated. Jealousy is like a disease. Humans can have a terribly dark and cunning side.