1. The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice
Historical Context and Background

2. A Tragedy: Common Characteristics
Hubris – extreme pride, over-confidence
Anagnorisis - realisation
Hamartia – error or character flaw
Catharsis - acceptance and healing
Heroes are victims of their own excesses or self-deception
Lack of understanding prevents them from seeing the truth
Suffer from inner conflict
Characters of high power or status

3. Setting
The play uses the comedy structure of old husband + young bride
And the typical Shakespearean comic geography of dual locations (e.g. Midsummer Night’s Dream)
Venice is a city and place of reason
Cyprus is a wilderness and place of irrationality and emotion

5. Setting of Venice:
Venice was a city-state; a republic ruled by the wealthy
It was extremely wealthy due to trade – it was ideally positioned to trade with Western Europe, Greece, Africa and the rest of the world
The wealth of Venice helped fund the Renaissance, the building of impressive architecture
It was a centre of culture
At the time, English considered Italians to be wicked, murderous, and have loose morals

6. Venice and the Renaissance
Partly inspired by classical Greece and Rome
The wealth of Venice meant great artworks and buildings were commissioned
It protected its trade with strong military force
Venice was cosmopolitan – Jews, Arabs, and Europeans came together
However, it was also seen as a barrier defending Christian Europe from the Muslims of Turkey and the Middle East
Therefore, Cyprus was of extreme strategic importance

7. Geography and Control
Venice controlled the island of Cyprus from
The island was a place for commerce and a good location for the Venetian fleet in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea.
Cyprus was lost to the Turks in 1571.

8. Setting of Cyprus: 1570-1571 Island 40 mi. south of Turkey
Birthplace of Goddess Aphrodite, the Goddess of love, beauty and procreation
During , the Turks attacked Cyprus, while under Venetian Possession
Strategically located island but vulnerable to attack

9. Shifting Setting
Othello is asked to help defend Cyprus against the Ottoman Turks.
Desdemona accompanies Othello to Cyprus.
It is unusual that a woman would go with her husband on military business.

10. Setting and Character Othello in Venice Othello in Cyprus
In Venice, Othello acts calmly and employs reason with decision making
He is concerned with honour and virtue
He is content with his life
In Cyprus, he is emotional and irrational
He becomes paranoid, especially in regard to Desdemona
He is susceptible to Iago’s manipulation

11. Background on Moors
More recently, a Moor is used to refer to a Muslim of Mixed Arab and Berber (North African-Sudanese) descent
In Shakespeare’s time, it also may have referred to anyone of African descent
Comes from “Mauritania”—Northwest African country
Invaded Spain in 711 and dominated until the 11th century
Had great dynasties up until 1492 when the last of their cities was conquered by Spain
Virtually exterminated by Spain during the Inquisition (late 1400s-1820)

12. Moors during Shakespeare’s Time
The slave trade had just begun when Shakespeare was writing Othello
He and his audience would have begun to see slaves being led through the streets in chains
Black people were often seen as primitive
The play depicts Othello as an outsider – an object of fascination and suspicion and himself insecure

13. Othello: A Moor Discriminated against because of his race
He has been accepted in some ways because he is a Christian and a military genius
His marriage to Desdemona reflects the prevailing view toward interracial marriage

14. Thematic Aspects Jealousy Appearance versus Reality Love
Brotherly love
Race/Prejudice
Betrayal versus Loyalty
Gender roles
The danger of isolation

15. Motifs, Imagery, & Symbols
Animals
Darkness
Black & white
Evil/devil
Handkerchief
Water
The candle
Music
Plants
Sight/blindness

16. Essential Questions: In what ways are language and power inseparable?
Is humankind inherently good or evil?
In the face of adversity, what causes some people to prevail while others fail?
What kind of trust and loyalty is healthy for Othello?
How are women in “Othello” portrayed as compared to men?
What kind of affect does jealousy have on the characters in “Othello?”
How does Othello’s change in loyalties affect the progression of the play?
What is a tragic hero, and how does Othello fit that description?
How can pride be seen as both an asset and a detriment?