OthelloOthello

The moor of veniceThe moor of venice

StructureStructure

General FactsGeneral Facts CharactersCharacters PlotPlot Comparison to a few other playsComparison to a few other plays

General FactsGeneral Factsa tragedie by shakespeare in five acts a tragedie by shakespeare in five acts written between 1602 – 1604; and written between 1602 – 1604; and

also performed at Whitehall, first also performed at Whitehall, first printed in quarto in 1622printed in quarto in 1622

the story is taken from an Italien the story is taken from an Italien novella by Giraldi Cinthio (written in novella by Giraldi Cinthio (written in 1566) which Shakespeare could have 1566) which Shakespeare could have read in Italian or Frenchread in Italian or French

CharactersCharacters Othello, the moor Othello, the moor

of Venice, in of Venice, in service of the stateservice of the state

Brabantio, a Brabantio, a venetian senatorvenetian senator

CharactersCharacters Desdemona, Desdemona,

Brabantio’s Brabantio’s daughter, Othello’s daughter, Othello’s wifewife

Cassio, a young Cassio, a young Florentine, who Florentine, who helped Othello court helped Othello court Desdemona and Desdemona and whom Othello has whom Othello has now promoted to be now promoted to be his lieutenanthis lieutenant

CharactersCharacters Iago, an older Iago, an older

soldier, bitterly soldier, bitterly resentful of being resentful of being passed over for passed over for promotion, who promotion, who now plans his now plans his revengerevenge

Roderigo, in love Roderigo, in love with Desdemonawith Desdemona

CharactersCharacters Emilia, Iago’s wife Emilia, Iago’s wife

and Desdemona’s and Desdemona’s waiting-womanwaiting-woman

PlotPlot The play’s first act The play’s first act

is set in Venice. is set in Venice. Desdemona has Desdemona has secretly married secretly married Othello.Othello.

Accused before the duke and senators of having stolen Brabantio’s daughter, Othello explains and justifies his conduct and is asked by the senate to lead the Venitian forces against the Turks who are about to attack Cyprus.

PlotPlot In the middle of a storm which In the middle of a storm which

disperses the Turkish fleet, Othello disperses the Turkish fleet, Othello lands on Cyprus with Desdemona, lands on Cyprus with Desdemona, Cassio and Iago.Cassio and Iago.

Iago uses Roderigo to fight with Cassio Iago uses Roderigo to fight with Cassio after he has got him drunk, so that after he has got him drunk, so that Othello deprives him of his new rank.Othello deprives him of his new rank.

He then persuades Cassio to ask He then persuades Cassio to ask Desdemona to plead in his favour with Desdemona to plead in his favour with Othello, which she warmly does.Othello, which she warmly does.

PlotPlot At the same time he At the same time he

suggests to Othello that suggests to Othello that Cassio is and has been Cassio is and has been Desdemona´s lover, Desdemona´s lover, finally arranging finally arranging through his wife Emilia, through his wife Emilia, that Othello should see that Othello should see Cassio in possession of Cassio in possession of a handkerchief which a handkerchief which he had given to his he had given to his bride.bride.

Othello is taken in by Iago’s promptings and in frenzied jealousy smothers Desdemona in her bed.Iago set Roderigo to murder Cassio but when Roderigo fails to do this Iago kills him and Emilia aswell, after she has proved Desdemona´s innocence to Othello.Emilia evidence and letters found on Roderigo prove Iago‘s guiltHe is arrested, and Othello having tried to stab him , kills himself.

Comparison to a few other plays Comparison to a few other plays by Shakespeareby Shakespeare

Shakespeare returns in many ways Shakespeare returns in many ways to techniques he used in “Romeo and to techniques he used in “Romeo and Juliet”. In both plays the audience is Juliet”. In both plays the audience is forced to watch the main characters forced to watch the main characters making tragic decisions.making tragic decisions.

The result is an element of suspense The result is an element of suspense and horror unlike anything felt while and horror unlike anything felt while watching “Hamlet” or “King Lear”.watching “Hamlet” or “King Lear”.

The EndThe End

Thank you for you‘re attentionThank you for you‘re attention

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