Othello: The Moor of

Venice

Background Notes

Introduction to the Play– Written after Hamlet (1600-1601)– One of Shakespeare’s four great

tragedies:• Hamlet• Othello• King Lear• Macbeth

Focuses on issues of both national and personal importance

•Explores domestic issues–Tale of passion –Fidelity, honor, justice, and personal struggle

In the opening act...…– Venetians are searching for

the “valiant Othello” to lead its army to fight off the advancing Turks

– Othello was called away from his honeymoon to go to war

• By the opening of Act II, the war is over, the Turks are defeated, and the victors are ready to land in Cypress.

– War takes place offstage• Othello is about times of peace,

times of domesticity, and the battles that fill domestic life.

Sources for the Play

• Although he stands out as one of the finest Western dramatists ever, none of Shakespeare’s stories were entirely original.

Sources for the Play– Othello: The Moor of Venice finds its

roots in Giraldi Cinthio’s Hecatommithi (1565)• His work is built around short stories, most

centering on the theme of marriage• Two sections revolve around marital

infidelity and how a husband seeks revenge on his wife for “supposed” infidelity, culminating in her “accidental” death.

Setting–Venice

•For Elizabethans, Italians were a wicked people, living lives of treachery, murder, and loose morals.

Setting Shakespeare gives his most evil

character (Iago) a Spanish name because Spain was England’s worst enemy.

ThemesAppearance versus realitySociety’s treatment of the outsider

• The problem is to make a hero an outsider, one who doesn’t quite belong in the society in which he lives.

– Othello is a Moor (North African)

Jealousy

Characters in Othello

Othello• Protagonist• Born a Moor – Black man from Northern

Africa (Arab)• Looked upon with suspicion

– Pagan- not converted to Christianity– Descended from “men of royal siege”

or rank

Othello• Well-liked by his soldiers

– Comes to Venice as a soldier of fortune to help Venice win their war against the Turks

Othello• Tragic Flaw: Believes that others are honest

and sincere until he has proof they are not

– Lives by a code of honor (military and private)

– When a man’s honor is lost, he must win it back

– Passionate man with a fiery temper

– Allows jealousy to prevail over common sense

*Always considered a stranger*

Iago• Antagonist• Othello’s ensign- low ranked

commissioned officer • Married to Emilia

– They seem to tolerate each other

Iago• Very complex character

– Loves evil for evil’s sake– Motivated by jealousy– Seeks revenge– A wonderful actor– Amoral – he has no standards at all– Highly intelligent– Egotist: His opinion of everyone EXCEPT

himself is very low

Iago– Amoral – he has no standards at all– Highly intelligent– Egotist: His opinion of everyone

EXCEPT himself is very low– Cynic: Shows contempt for all

convential standards of decency – Extremely proud

Desdemona• Young Venetian woman • Sheltered her entire life

by her father• Portrait of a lovely,

courageous, gentlewoman

• May represent the good that evel often destroys

• Is guilty only of loving her husband too much

Cassio• Attractive, likeable young man• Othello’s lieutenant• Innocent victim of Iago’s

treachery

Emilia• Iago’s wife• Desdemona’s lady-

in-waiting• Low opinion of men

Brabantio

• Desdemona’s father• Venetian senator• Feels as if he OWNS his daughter• Not well-regarded by others in the

government/society (silly man)

Roderigo• Venetian nobleman in love with

Desdemona• Has more money than sense – pays Iago

to help woo her for him• Roderigo’s gullibility and trust of Iago

gets him killed.