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Othello

Shakespeare’s. Othello. Othello. Othello is a Moor. Othello is a Venetian General. Married to Desdemona. Othello The Moor. Moor- used to refer to North Africans, West Africans or, even more loosely, for non-whites or Muslims of any origin. Elizabethan View of Africans.

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Othello

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  1. Shakespeare’s Othello

  2. Othello Othello is a Moor. Othello is a Venetian General. Married to Desdemona.

  3. Othello The Moor • Moor-used to refer to North Africans, West Africans or, even more loosely, for non-whites or Muslims of any origin.

  4. Elizabethan View of Africans • Read The History and Description of Africa by Leo Africanus, a primary source that existed at the time Shakespeare wrote Othello. • Identify passages that describe the traits, behaviors, and perspectives of Africans, specifically Moors. • Describe the tone the author uses, whether he is objective in his descriptions. • Describe what his purpose in writing such a text might be.

  5. Elizabethan Stereotypes • Referred to as “devils” or “villians” • Sexually overactive • Prone to jealousy • Magical powers • Animal like force • White skin = moral purity • Black skin= moral corruption (sin)

  6. Elizabethan Stereotypes • Moors helped England conquer Spain . • In 1601, Queen Elizabeth deported them, citing concerns about their irregular behavior and a fear that allowing them to stay in England would lead to overpopulation. • Blacks were not typically associated with slavery at that time, since the slave trade would not be fully established until the late 17th century.

  7. A Play for King James I • The first performance of Othello was by the King's Men on November 1, 1604, at the court of James I. • James I had a keen interest in the history of the Turks and their defeat by the Christians in the Battle of Lepantoin 1571.

  8. Setting for Act 1: Venice, Italy • According to Venetian law, the Venetian Republic's army general was required to be a foreigner. • Venetian society would admire Othello for his valor and leadership but still recoil at the notion of his marrying into its families.

  9. Desdemona Othello’s wife. Venetian Noble-woman.

  10. Iago Othello’s Ensign (like a sergeant) His wife Emilia works for Desdemona

  11. Cassio Othello’s best friend and lieutenant.

  12. The Hierarchy • General: Othello • Lieutenant: Cassio • Ensign (or Ancient): Iago

  13. Roderigo Venetian Gentleman

  14. Setting for Act 2-5: Cyprus

  15. The Primary Text & Source Material • Shakespeare's principal source for the plot was a short story by the Italian writer CinthioGiambattistaGiraldi (1504-1574), who included it in a collection of 100 domestic stories titled Hecatommithi, published in Venice in 1566.

  16. The Primary Text & Source Material • http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/articles.aspx?&id=83

  17. Bibliography • http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/articles.aspx?&id=83 • http://www.folger.edu/edulesplandtl.cfm?lpid=577

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