Shakespeare’s
Othello
•
Othello is a
Moor.
•
Othello is a
Venetian
General.
•
Married to
Desdemona.

Moor- used to refer to North
Africans, West Africans or,
even more loosely, for nonwhites or Muslims of any
origin.

Read The History and Description of Africa by Leo
Africanus, a primary source that existed at the
time Shakespeare wrote Othello.

Identify passages that describe the traits,
behaviors, and perspectives of Africans,
specifically Moors.
Describe the tone the author uses, whether he is
objective in his descriptions.
Describe what his purpose in writing such a text
might be.
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Referred to as “devils” or
“villians”
Sexually overactive
Prone to jealousy
Magical powers
Animal like force
White skin = moral purity
Black skin= moral
corruption (sin)

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Moors helped England conquer Spain .
In 1601, Queen Elizabeth deported them,
citing concerns about their irregular behavior
and a fear that allowing them to stay in
England would lead to overpopulation.
Blacks were not typically associated with
slavery at that time, since the slave trade
would not be fully established until the late
17th century.

The first performance of
Othello was by the King's
Men on November 1,
1604, at the court of
James I.

James I had a keen
interest in the history of
the Turks and their
defeat by the Christians
in the Battle of
Lepantoin 1571.

According to Venetian
law, the Venetian
Republic's army general
was required to be a
foreigner.

Venetian society would
admire Othello for his
valor and leadership but
still recoil at the notion
of his marrying into its
families.
Desdemona
•
Othello’s
wife.
•
Venetian
Noblewoman.
Iago
•
Othello’s
Ensign (like
a sergeant)
•
His wife
Emilia
works for
Desdemona
Cassio
•
Othello’s
best friend
and
lieutenant.
The
Hierarchy
General:
Othello
 Lieutenant: Cassio
▪ Ensign (or Ancient): Iago
Roderigo
•
Venetian
Gentleman

Shakespeare's principal source for the plot
was a short story by the Italian writer Cinthio
Giambattista Giraldi (1504-1574), who
included it in a collection of 100 domestic
stories titled Hecatommithi, published in
Venice in 1566.

http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/art
icles.aspx?&id=83


http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/art
icles.aspx?&id=83
http://www.folger.edu/edulesplandtl.cfm?lpid
=577