What is tragedy?

Shakespearean tragedy First performed by the King’s Men on November 1, 1604 (about midway through Shakespeare’s career) Set in Venice and Cyprus but influenced by events in Shakespeare’s native England The story of Othello, the Moor and a Venetian general, who marries Desdemona, a Venetian senator’s (Brabantio’s) daughter, and is destroyed by Iago, Othello’s jealous ensign.

Othello’s intended ethnicity is debated… During Shakespeare’s time a Moor was a synonym for “African”—not necessarily negative in connotation Originally meant a “native of Mauritania,” a country in northern Africa Also applied to the Arab or Berber peoples of northern Africa who were Muslim and lived in Spain; not always dark-skinned Most commonly refers to a Muslim of mixed Arab and Berber (Northern African) descent …but no matter how you slice it, he was an outsider in Venetian culture based on his culture and appearance.

Racism was accepted as part of public life in 17 th century England Non-white peoples were widely considered to be savage The white characters often say racist things which contrasts with the fact that Othello is anything but inferior (very Huckleberry Finn-esque) Guiding Question: How does inferiority and racism ultimately lead to Othello’s downfall?

Set in Venice For the Elizabethans, Italians were wicked, murderous, and of loose morals Italian characters=evil; Italy as a setting=romantic, exotic, sinful Venetian stereotypes: Women: sexually promiscuous Men: hot-tempered, aggressive, easily jealous Spain=England’s worst enemy Iago=Spanish name=EVIL VILLAIN!!!

Thematic Ideas Appearance vs. reality and manipulation Society’s treatment of the outsider The causes and effects of jealousy The causes and effects of hatred Love and the military The danger of isolation Race Gender Motifs Sight/blindness Animals Plants Hell/demons/monsters Symbols The handkerchief The song “Willow”

Drama Plot Tragedy Tragic Hero Tragic Flaw