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Introduction to Othello

Introduction to Othello. What is tragedy?. At a glance …. Shakespearean tragedy First performed by the King’s Men on November 1, 1604 (about midway through Shakespeare’s career) Set in Venice and Cyprus but influenced by events in Shakespeare’s native England

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Introduction to Othello

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  1. Introduction to Othello What is tragedy?

  2. At a glance… • Shakespearean tragedy • First performed by the King’s Men on November 1, 1604 (about midway through Shakespeare’s career) • Set in Venice and Cyprus but influenced by events in Shakespeare’s native England • The story of Othello, the Moor and a Venetian general, who marries Desdemona, a Venetian senator’s (Brabantio’s) daughter, and is destroyed by Iago, Othello’s jealous ensign.

  3. What is a Moor? • Othello’s intended ethnicity is debated… • During Shakespeare’s time a Moor was a synonym for “African”—not necessarily negative in connotation • Originally meant a “native of Mauritania,” a country in northern Africa • Also applied to the Arab or Berber peoples of northern Africa who were Muslim and lived in Spain; not always dark-skinned • Most commonly refers to a Muslim of mixed Arab and Berber (Northern African) descent • …but no matter how you slice it, he was an outsider in Venetian culture based on his culture and appearance.

  4. Racism in Shakespeare's Time • Racism was accepted as part of public life in 17th century England • Non-white peoples were widely considered to be savage • The white characters often say racist things which contrasts with the fact that Othello is anything but inferior (very Huckleberry Finn-esque) • Guiding Question: How does inferiority and racism ultimately lead to Othello’s downfall?

  5. And some MORE racism… • Set in Venice • For the Elizabethans, Italians were wicked, murderous, and of loose morals • Italian characters=evil; Italy as a setting=romantic, exotic, sinful • Venetian stereotypes: • Women: sexually promiscuous • Men: hot-tempered, aggressive, easily jealous • Spain=England’s worst enemy • Iago=Spanish name=EVIL VILLAIN!!!

  6. Thematic Ideas and Motifs • Thematic Ideas • Appearance vs. reality and manipulation • Society’s treatment of the outsider • The causes and effects of jealousy • The causes and effects of hatred • Love and the military • The danger of isolation • Race • Gender • Motifs • Sight/blindness • Animals • Plants • Hell/demons/monsters • Symbols • The handkerchief • The song “Willow”

  7. Literary Term Review • Drama • Plot • Tragedy • Tragic Hero • Tragic Flaw

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