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 Facts

a tragedie by shakespeare in five a tragedie by shakespeare in five acts 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 Desdemona to plead in his favour with Othello, which she warmly does.with Othello, which she warmly does.

PlotPlot At the same time he At the same time he

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

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This presentation published by Sara Sahari and Theresa Wolke

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