1. Shakespeare’s
OTHELLO

2. Othello – Moor of Venice
1622 – The Tragedy of Othello, Moor of Venice – takes place late 1400s-early 1500s
Moor – Northwest-African Muslims who conquered Spain in the 8th Century They were driven out of Spain in the th century.

3. Who’s Who:
Othello – General in the Venetian army
Desdemona – the young daughter of a Venetian Senator

4. Iago – the “bad guy” Othello’s third in command
Cassio – Othello’s second in command, a good man, Iago hates him
Roderigo –He is a sissy who is in love with Desdemona, Iago wants his money
Emilia – Iago’s wife
Bianca – Cassio’s mistress

6. Themes:
Jealousy – central issue
Reputation – big deal then
Revenge vs. Justice
Prejudice
Appearance vs. Reality

7. Motifs: Keep an eye out for these
Black/White
Eyes/Vision
Poison
Dirt/Filth
Animal
Imagery

8. L O C A T I N
Othello takes place in Venice (in northern Italy) and Cyprus (an island in the eastern Mediterranean about forty miles south of present-day Turkey). The time is between 1489 and 1571.

9. http://msp. westwood. wikispaces