othello, the moor of venice by william shakespeare
TRANSCRIPT
Othello, the Moor of Venice
byWilliam Shakespeare
Shakespeare’s Othello
• The play’s first performance by the King's Men (Shakespeare’s acting company) was on November 1, 1604.
The World of Othello
Venice
North Africa
The Setting:
Venice
The Setting:
Cypress
The Moors in Shakespeare’s Time
• Moors were seen as exotic and strange; they were almost considered something other than human.
• It was a status symbol among the nobility and upper class to have a Moorish servant or page.
• The origin of the word Moor comes from the word mauri. Mauri refers to the Berbers who lived in the Roman province of Mauritania, in North Africa.
The Main Characters:
OthelloOthello• Othello is a Moor from North
Africa.• He has been promoted to the
rank of general in the Venetian army.
• He has the respect and admiration of the Duke and council of Venice.
• He loves Desdemona, the daughter of a senator.
The Main Characters:
IagoIago• Iago is Othello’s second in
command.• He’s angry because Othello
gave the promotion of lieutenant to Cassio.
• Iago tells us that his mission in life is to ruin Othello.
• He is an enemy who pretends to be a friend to Othello.
The Main Characters:
DesdemonaDesdemona• Desdemona is seriously in love with
Othello, and he loves her.• Her father is a high ranking senator
who, although he admires Othello, would never allow his daughter to marry a man of another race.
• Desdemona defies her father by eloping with Othello although he is older than she.
The Main Characters:
RoderigoRoderigo• Roderigo, poor sap, is head
over heels in love with Desdemona.
• He finds out about her elopement and falls apart.
• Iago, who is only using Roderigo for his money, talks him into telling Desdemona’s father about her marriage. Roderigo
The Main Characters: CassioCassio• Cassio is a “ladies’ man” who
is Othello’s best friend and helped him win Desdemona’s love.
• Cassio and Desdemona flirt in a friendly way, and Othello knows it.
• Cassio got the promotion Iago thought should be his, so Iago turns into Cassio’s “frenemy” too. Cassio