1. Othello
A brief introduction…
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2. The Tragedy…
A Tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or…
suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.
Usually, as a consequence of the hero’s downfall, he learns something about himself.
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3. Themes…
Jealousy
Race
Marriage
Friendship
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4. The Moors The World of Othello Characters
Intro to Othello
The Moors
The World of Othello
Characters
Sources: Bradley, A.C. “Othello”, Shakesperean Tragedy, 1904; Bevington, David , Shakespeare: Four Tragedies, 1988; Modern Critical Interpretations (1987); Neely, Carol “women and Men in Othello; English 303; Shakesperean Tragedy, University of New Mexico
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5. The Moors
When the Arab armies swept across Northern Africa in the 7th century, they found indigenous tribespeople called Berbers.
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6. The Moors
There, they intermarried with the Spanish. Their descendants came to be called Moors.
The name Moor comes from the Latin Mauri, the name of the inhabitants of an old Roman province (now covered by Morocco and part of Algeria).
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7. The Moors
The Moors reached the height of their power in Spain and controlled most of Spain from 711 to 1031.
By 1212, the Moorish power was broken in central Spain, but it would take until 1492 for the final expulsion from Spain.
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8. The Moors
The Moors were actually one victory away from crushing the Europeans, but, like the Romans, condemned their future by internal squabbles.
Some adopted Christianity and remained (such as Othello), and were called Moriscos.
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9. What do Moors believe?
Because of their Arab descent, the Moorish culture is very structured when it comes to women. Women in Arab culture are absolutely, positively not allowed to commit adultery. To do so meant instant death.
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10. What do the Moors Believe?
In the European culture of the time, many women were simply banished from the town, forced into prostitution, or killed by upset men. However, the chance for survival for women was much better in a European culture than the Arab culture.
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11. Othello’s Background (for the play)
Othello is of royal lineage. He was captured, turned into a slave by the Spanish and Italians, then later won his freedom and became a tremendous general.
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12. Othello’s Background
Othello knows nothing but violence. He has little formal education. Everything he knows involves the battlefield.
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13. Othello’s Background
Othello is not simply a Moor, but a Christian (a Morisco). This play abounds with imagery of Christian salvation and damnation.
Moriscos were regarded without much trust by the Christian community at the time.
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14. Othello’s Background
Moors were treated much like the Jews who became new Christians, “regarded with suspicion as a false Christian” (Hecht 127).
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15. THE CHARACTERS OF OTHELLO
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16. Desdemona
Othello’s wife and also the daughter of an Italian nobleman. Desdemona is fair, apparently quite pure, and apparently quite innocent. There is a debate whether she is naïve.
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17. Iago
Quite possibly one of the most dangerous, evil characters in major literature, yet throughout the play no one but the reader knows his intentions. In appearance, he is Othello’s confidant; in reality, he is Othello’s nightmare.
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18. Cassio
Othello’s lieutenant, and the one Iago (apparently) is angry with because Othello picked Cassio over him. He is a young flirt who is very preoccupied with advancement.
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19. Emilia
Iago’s wife. Emilia is basically an abused spouse, but she may know more about her husband than anyone else.
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20. Roderigo
Iago’s lackey, a man that Iago can use without any worry of his intentions being misinterpreted. Roderigo is basically a weak mind that can be easily manipulated.
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21. Bianca
A woman of loose morals who is another pawn in Iago’s game. She is Cassio’s mistress and, because she is of low social status, is an easy target.

22. Brabantio
Desdemona’s father, who actually was friends with Othello until he gets a big surprise. Brabantio is essentially a failed politician that the military has little use for.
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23. Queen Elizabeth
In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, verbal eloquence was honored above all other accomplishments.
She began a renaissance in England.
Many govt. establishments disliked the theater…it spread the plague, allowed pick pockets and prostitutes a venue.
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24. Elizabeth Continued…
In Shakespeare’s time only men were allowed to act.
The Elizabethans were amused and fascinated by language especially by puns. They also loved insults.
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25. Puns
A Pun is play on words based on the similarity of sound between two different words with different meanings.
Puns are as common a source of jokes today. Othello contains many puns.
Iago is a master of puns.
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26. Some Shakespearian Insults…
You puppet
You cold porridge
You living dead man
You untutored churl
You painted Maypole
You cream-faced loon
You worshiper of idiots
You dwarf, you minimus
You bloody, bawdy villain
You injurious, tedious wasp
You base, fawning spaniel
You infectious pestilence
You botcher’s apprentice
You ugly, venomous toad
You base, ignoble wretch
You old, wi thered crab tree
You lunatic, lean-witted fool
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27. Theater in the time of Shakespeare
· The theater building was open air.
· Performances started at 2:00 to make the most of daylight.
· The stage was usually bare.
· Elizabethan theaters held people
· There was a balcony, called the "inner above" to be used if needed, but most of the action took place downstage.
· When Shakespeare moved to London, he met with actor/manager Richard Burbage and became a prompter, then he became an actor, and later he became Burbage's star writer.
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28. Theater Continued…
· Acting was not a well-respected profession at this time.
· Women were not allowed to perform on stage, so boys would perform all female parts, including Desdemona and Emilia in Othello. Boys were apprenticed to the acting companies between the ages of 6 and 14.
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