Othello
One of 4 great Shakespearean tragedies
Focuses on personal, not public life
Probably first presented in 1604
Jealousy
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The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull
spirit at the same time. Johann Kaspar Lavater
Jealousy had a taste, all right. A bitter and tonguestinging flavor, like a peach pit.-- Dolores Hitchens
Pure love and suspicion cannot dwell together:
at the door where the latter enters, the former makes
its exit. Alexandre Dumas
Lack of trust
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Trust—cement that holds relationships
together.
Jealousy is a virulent form of interpersonal
distrust/
Lack of trust is implicit in Othello’s situation
from outset of play.
Othello is isolated from the world.
Othello
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Story of great man’s
fall into the barbarism
of human nature
Alteration from a noble
lover to a raving killer.
Based on Italian
novella.
Major themes
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Love, jealousy, lack of trust, and revenge.
Struggle between good/evil within the human
soul
Need for self-control
Need for ocular proof
Racism
Reality/Illusion
Othello
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Moorish general--Arab
Exotic, from a foreign
land
Racially different from
English.
Earliest black character
in English literature
with a sympathetic
personality
Othello
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Romantic and heroic
warrior
Frank and honest
Magnanimous soldier
Dedicated to
unquestioned code of
conduct
Reputation as great
military leader
A complete man
Othello
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Self-controlled
Sure of himself
Exotic
From a fascinating and
mysterious land
Weakness is his
jealousy/inability to trust
Easily deceived—why does
he believe Iago? Why is he
deceived?
Othello
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Importance of being
an outsider
Naïve
Soldier who cannot
understand world
outside military
Tragic hero
(handout)
Desdemona
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Daughter of Brabantio,
a senator in Venice
Idealistic, romantic
Younger than Othello
Loves Othello
completely and is loyal
to him
Touchstone—each
character can be judged
by his attitude toward
her
Iago
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Modern devil
Truly evil man
Villain of play
Sees others as victims
or tools
Malcontent
Jealous of Cassio
Destroys Othello
Iago
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Classic Renaissance atheist—an intelligent man who
finds pleasure in the corruption of the virtuous and
the abuse of the pliable.
He believes all can be duped and destroyed.
Othello, a good man out of his cultural element, is
his perfect target.
Iago is the stage manager of the whole action.
Proceeds by plot and innuendo; creates web of
circumstantial evidence.
Setting--Venice
Venice
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Venice was seen as a place known for its
cultured, sophisticated society. Supercivilized.
Had a reputation for intrigue and connivance.
Duke had control of Venice.
Fairness in Venice
Place of trade/business. Known for its wealth
and power.
Change in setting
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Venice—Cyprus
War as a setting (Iliad)
Change in cities affects character how?
Plot
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Double time. Could the events of the play
occur in time given? Intense concentration of
events.
Considered to be Shakespeare’s most unified
play. No subplots.