OthelloOthello

Historical BackgroundHistorical Background

VeniceVenice Venice was a city-stateVenice was a city-state It was extremely wealthy due to trade – It was extremely wealthy due to trade –

it was ideally positioned to trade with it was ideally positioned to trade with Western Europe, Greece, Africa and the Western Europe, Greece, Africa and the rest of the worldrest of the world

It was a republic ruled by the wealthiest It was a republic ruled by the wealthiest familiesfamilies

The wealth of Venice helped to fund the The wealth of Venice helped to fund the Renaissance, the building of impressive Renaissance, the building of impressive architecturearchitecture

It was a centre of cultureIt was a centre of culture

The RenaissanceThe Renaissance

Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ and Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ and refers to a time when great artistic, refers to a time when great artistic, cultural and educational advances cultural and educational advances took placetook place

Partly inspired by classical Greece Partly inspired by classical Greece and Rome.and Rome.

Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci Titian and Tintoretto lived in VeniceTitian and Tintoretto lived in Venice The wealth of Venice meant great The wealth of Venice meant great

artworks and buildings were artworks and buildings were commissioned commissioned

It protected its trade with strong It protected its trade with strong military forcemilitary force

Venice was cosmopolitan – Jews, Venice was cosmopolitan – Jews, Arabs, Europeans came togetherArabs, Europeans came together

However it was also seen as a However it was also seen as a barrier defending Christian barrier defending Christian Europe from the Muslims of Europe from the Muslims of Turkey and the Middle EastTurkey and the Middle East

Cyprus was of extreme strategic Cyprus was of extreme strategic importanceimportance

SettingSetting

The play uses the comedy structure The play uses the comedy structure of old husband + young bride of old husband + young bride

And theAnd the typical Shakespearean typical Shakespearean comic geography of dual locations comic geography of dual locations (e.g. (e.g. Midsummer Night’s DreamMidsummer Night’s Dream))

Venice is a city and place of reasonVenice is a city and place of reason Cyprus is a wilderness and place of Cyprus is a wilderness and place of

irrationality and emotion irrationality and emotion

Setting/CharacterSetting/Character

How does Othello act in Venice? In How does Othello act in Venice? In Cyprus?Cyprus?

In Venice Othello acts calmlyIn Venice Othello acts calmly He is concerned with honour and He is concerned with honour and

virtuevirtue He is content with his lifeHe is content with his life In Cyprus he is emotional and In Cyprus he is emotional and

irrationalirrational

ShakespeareShakespeare

He never left EnglandHe never left England Which was a very different placeWhich was a very different place Venice would hold an exotic Venice would hold an exotic

fascination for Shakespeare and his fascination for Shakespeare and his audienceaudience

The MoorThe Moor

The slave trade had just begun when The slave trade had just begun when Shakespeare was writing OthelloShakespeare was writing Othello

He and his audience would have begun He and his audience would have begun to see slaves being led through the to see slaves being led through the streets in chainsstreets in chains

Black people were often seen as Black people were often seen as primitiveprimitive

The play depicts Othello as an outsider The play depicts Othello as an outsider – object of fascination and suspicion – object of fascination and suspicion and himself insecureand himself insecure

TurksTurks

These were MuslimsThese were Muslims They were seen as a threat to They were seen as a threat to

Christianity and Venetian Christianity and Venetian prosperityprosperity

mapmap

TragedyTragedy

Hubris – extreme pride, over-Hubris – extreme pride, over-confidenceconfidence

Anagnorisis - realisationAnagnorisis - realisation Hamartia – error or fatal flawHamartia – error or fatal flaw Catharsis - acceptance and Catharsis - acceptance and

healinghealing

Shakespearean Shakespearean TragedyTragedy Heroes are victims of their own Heroes are victims of their own

excesses or self-deceptionexcesses or self-deception Lack of understanding prevents Lack of understanding prevents

them from seeing the truththem from seeing the truth Suffer from inner conflictSuffer from inner conflict Characters of high power of Characters of high power of

statusstatus