1. William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Othello

2. Shakespearean Tragedy
5 Act Play
One central figure or tragic protagonist
Hamlet
Othello
Macbeth
King Lear
Protagonist has human characteristics.
Unlike Greek tragedy

3. Tragedy Cont’d
With death of protagonist, there is usually some redemption achieved.
Protagonist’s fall comes from personal weakness.

4. Themes Martial Prejudice Power of jealousy Appearance vs. reality
Othello is great during war
Not so good at other things
Prejudice
Race
Othello’s prejudice toward Desdemona
Power of jealousy
Appearance vs. reality

5. Othello the Play Considered Shakespeare’s most perfect play
Very straightforward play:
Not many characters (fewest characters in all of Shakespeare’s plays)
Not many subplots
Moves quickly from opening scene to resolution.

6. Background and Setting
Play initially takes place in Venice, Italy
Act I takes place here
Rest of the play is set in Cyprus
An island south of Turkey
Battleground between Turks and Venetians

7. Background Cont’d Venetians vs. Turks
Othello and the rest of the characters are either a part of the Venetian army or in alliance with it.
The Venetians won the Battle of Lepanto on Cyprus
Around 30,000 Turks were killed

8. -Othello and Iago The two most important characters
Characters in Othello

9. Othello

10. Othello The opposite of Iago Martially: Brilliant
Foreign, considered a barbarian
Black, or very dark-skinned
Watch/listen for his speech
An outsider who wants in
Has become successful in society by his martial skills
Martially: Brilliant

11. Othello Cont’d He is a moor Twice Desdemona’s age and a different race
A man from an Arabic region or
From North Africa or Africa
Most of Iago’s words refer to him as a black man
Twice Desdemona’s age and a different race
Iago finds his weakness and plays off of it.
Biggest fall of all Shakespearean characters

12. Iago

13. Iago Strongest and most evil of all Shakespearean villains
One of the most developed villains in all of literature
Handsome
Blond, fair-skinned
Appears a gentleman
What one would think of as a hero

14. Iago cont’d Italian Othello’s ancient/ensign
Passed up by Othello to be his lieutenant
Prey’s on Othello’s weakness
Watch his language.
Awesome!! So evil.

15. Excellent thinker/conspirator, manipulative
Othello vs. Iago
VS.
Advantage is using emotion/feeling, excellent in battle
Disadvantage: ???
Excellent thinker/conspirator, manipulative

16. Cassio Named Othello’s lieutenant over Iago.
This makes Iago very angry
Very smart, not experienced in war

17. Othello: General
Cassio: Lieutenant
Iago: Ensign/Ancient

18. Desdemona
Othello’s wife
- Daughter to Brabantio, a powerful senator

19. Other Characters Cont’d
Roderigo
In love with Desdemona
You’ll like him, but I won’t tell you why.
Bianca
A woman of “questionable morals”?
In love with Cassio

20. Emilia Brabantio Gratiano and Lodovico Iago’s wife Powerful senator
Father to Desdemona
Gratiano and Lodovico
Associated with Brabantio

21. Symbols Handkerchief Storm at sea “Willow” song Othello’s sword
Phallic symbol

22. Language
Animal Imagery
Infection
Light/dark
Heaven/hell

23. “But Mr. Bielec, Shakespeare is too hard!”

24. Write for 3-4 minutes…
about your experience with Romeo and Juliet last year. Did you enjoy it? Why or why not? What did you struggle with?
Like in the clip, be sure you address the language of Shakespeare in your response.

25. There are many reasons why students feel they can’t understand Shakespeare.
Archaic language
Inversions
Ex. “plots have I laid” instead of “I have laid plots.”
Word omissions
Think about when we say “Heard from him yet?”
Inversion and omission help keep rhythm in iambic pentameter.