Othello by William Shakespeare
presentation by MArtinelli Federica
The Shakespearean Tragedy
"Tragedy is a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures.”
1. The tragic hero2. Good vs. Evil 3. Hamartia 4. Tragic Waste 5. Conflict 6. Catharsis 7. Supernatural Events 8. Absence of Poetic Justice 9. Comic Relief
Othello - The Setting
Time· Late sixteenth century, during the wars between Venice and Turkey
Place:· Venice in Act I; the island of Cyprus thereafter
Othello - The Plot
The story revolves around two characters, Othello and Iago. Othello is a Moorish general in the Venetian army charged with the generalship of Venice on the eve of war with the Ottoman Turks over the island of Cyprus. He has just married Desdemona, a beautiful and wealthy Venetian, much younger than him, against the wishes of her father. Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his General. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello's jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.
Othello - The Characters
Othello The play’s protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. He possesses a “free and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy. Desdemona Is also determined and self-possessed. She is equally capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago, and responding with dignity to Othello’s incomprehensible jealousy. Iago Othello’s ensign, and the villain of the play. Iago is twenty-eight years old. While his ostensible reason for desiring Othello’s demise is that he has been passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive delight in manipulation and destruction.
Othello - The Characters
Emilia Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical, worldly woman, she is deeply attached to her mistress and distrustful of her husband. Roderigo A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish, he is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand. Bianca A courtesan, or prostitute, in Cyprus. Bianca’s favorite customer is Cassio, who teases her with promises of marriage.
Othello - Summary of the Tragedy
Othello - Act V, Scene II
Othello says he will kill Desdemona so that she does not betray other men - Othello asks Desdemona if she said the prayers and if by chance she did not ask immediately for forgiveness for all sins - Othello says he will kill Desdemona but she does not understand why anyone he never died for loving his husband - Othello asks Desdemona if she betrayed him since Cassio had his handkerchief. She says she never betrayed him and that Cassius accidentally found the handkerchief. But Othello says that Cassio confessed and was killed; then it suffocates her. - Enter Emilia who tells the master that Roderigo died that night but Cassio is still alive. Then Emilia hears the voice of the mistress who says to die faithful.
Othello - The Handkerchief
The handkerchief symbolizes different things to different characters. Since the handkerchief was the first gift Desdemona received from Othello, she keeps it about her constantly as a symbol of Othello’s love. Iago manipulates the handkerchief so that Othello comes to see it as a symbol of Desdemona herself. By taking possession of it, he is able to convert it into evidence of her infidelity. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity. The pattern of strawberries (dyed with virgins’ blood) on a white background strongly suggests the bloodstains left on the sheets on a virgin’s wedding night, so the handkerchief implicitly suggests a guarantee of virginity as well as fidelity.
Othello - Act V, Scene II
Othello - William Shakespeare
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Transcript
Othello by William Shakespeare
presentation by MArtinelli Federica
The Shakespearean Tragedy
"Tragedy is a serious play or drama typically dealing with the problems of a central character, leading to an unhappy or disastrous ending brought on, as in ancient drama, by fate and a tragic flaw in this character, or, in modern drama, usually by moral weakness, psychological maladjustment, or social pressures.”
1. The tragic hero2. Good vs. Evil 3. Hamartia 4. Tragic Waste 5. Conflict 6. Catharsis 7. Supernatural Events 8. Absence of Poetic Justice 9. Comic Relief
Othello - The Setting
Time· Late sixteenth century, during the wars between Venice and Turkey
Place:· Venice in Act I; the island of Cyprus thereafter
Othello - The Plot
The story revolves around two characters, Othello and Iago. Othello is a Moorish general in the Venetian army charged with the generalship of Venice on the eve of war with the Ottoman Turks over the island of Cyprus. He has just married Desdemona, a beautiful and wealthy Venetian, much younger than him, against the wishes of her father. Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his General. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello's jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.
Othello - The Characters
Othello The play’s protagonist and hero. A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. He possesses a “free and open nature,” which his ensign Iago uses to twist his love for his wife, Desdemona, into a powerful and destructive jealousy. Desdemona Is also determined and self-possessed. She is equally capable of defending her marriage, jesting bawdily with Iago, and responding with dignity to Othello’s incomprehensible jealousy. Iago Othello’s ensign, and the villain of the play. Iago is twenty-eight years old. While his ostensible reason for desiring Othello’s demise is that he has been passed over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago’s motivations are never very clearly expressed and seem to originate in an obsessive delight in manipulation and destruction.
Othello - The Characters
Emilia Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical, worldly woman, she is deeply attached to her mistress and distrustful of her husband. Roderigo A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish, he is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand. Bianca A courtesan, or prostitute, in Cyprus. Bianca’s favorite customer is Cassio, who teases her with promises of marriage.
Othello - Summary of the Tragedy
Othello - Act V, Scene II
Othello says he will kill Desdemona so that she does not betray other men - Othello asks Desdemona if she said the prayers and if by chance she did not ask immediately for forgiveness for all sins - Othello says he will kill Desdemona but she does not understand why anyone he never died for loving his husband - Othello asks Desdemona if she betrayed him since Cassio had his handkerchief. She says she never betrayed him and that Cassius accidentally found the handkerchief. But Othello says that Cassio confessed and was killed; then it suffocates her. - Enter Emilia who tells the master that Roderigo died that night but Cassio is still alive. Then Emilia hears the voice of the mistress who says to die faithful.
Othello - The Handkerchief
The handkerchief symbolizes different things to different characters. Since the handkerchief was the first gift Desdemona received from Othello, she keeps it about her constantly as a symbol of Othello’s love. Iago manipulates the handkerchief so that Othello comes to see it as a symbol of Desdemona herself. By taking possession of it, he is able to convert it into evidence of her infidelity. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity. The pattern of strawberries (dyed with virgins’ blood) on a white background strongly suggests the bloodstains left on the sheets on a virgin’s wedding night, so the handkerchief implicitly suggests a guarantee of virginity as well as fidelity.
Othello - Act V, Scene II