Introduction to Shakespeares Othello Then must you speak

Introduction to Shakespeare’s Othello Then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well…

Shakespeare Vocabulary o o o o Verse vs. Prose Meter Foot Iambic Pentameter Blank Verse vs. Free Verse Sonnet Quatrain Couplet o o o o Aside Monologue Soliloquy Allusion Foil Tragedy Tragic Hero Tragic Flaw

Verse vs. Prose Verse: Poetic language that includes meter and sometimes rhyme; organized in lines with a consistent number of syllables Prose: Ordinary written language with no meter or rhyme; organized in sentences

Prose “Sir, he’s rash and very sudden in choler, and haply may strike at you. Provoke him that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny, whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but by the displanting of Cassio” (2. 1. 294 -298). Verse “Most potent, grave, and reverend signoirs, My very noble and approved good masters: That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter, It is most true; true I have married her” (1. 3. 91 -94).

Verse vs. Prose: Usage o o Poetic style of verse used for high status characters, great affairs of war and state, and tragic moments. Prose used for low status characters (servants, clowns, drunks, villains), proclamations, written challenges, accusations, letters, comedic moments, and to express madness.

Verse vs. Prose o In Othello, pay careful attention to the situations in which Iago switches between speaking in verse and speaking in prose. o What importance does his choice of verse or prose seem to have?

Meter o Meter: the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables. o Meter is responsible for creating the rhythm of a line.

Meter and Foot o Foot: a group of syllables that forms one complete unit of a metrical pattern. o Meter is described in terms of the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables AND the total number of metrical feet in a line of verse. o Iambic pentameter is the most common metrical pattern in Shakespeare.

Iambic Pentameter Iamb: unstressed syllable, stressed syllable ˘ / Pentameter: Lines of five iambic feet; 10 syllables Example: ˘ / ˘ /˘ / But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

Blank Verse vs. Free Verse Blank Verse: Unrhymed iambic pentameter One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Free Verse: No regular meter One’s-Self I sing, a simple separate person, Yet utter the word Democratic, the word En- Masse.

Aside, Monologue, and Soliloquy Aside: Monologue: Soliloquy: a character’s remark, either to the audience or another character, that other characters on stage are not supposed to hear an extended speech by a single character that is uninterrupted by others a speech a character gives when s/he is alone on stage

Foil A character whose personality or attitudes are in sharp contrast to those of another character in the same work

Allusion o Allusion: reference to an event, person, place, or another work of literature o Shakespeare’s work contains numerous allusions to Greek and Roman mythology.

Allusion: Janus o o Roman god of gates and doors, beginnings and endings Depicted with a double-faced head, each looking in opposite directions Worshipped at the beginning of the harvest time, planting, marriage, birth, and other types of beginnings Also represents the transition between primitive life and civilization, between the countryside and the city, peace and war, and the growing-up of young people

Tragedy o o A serious play representing the disastrous downfall of the hero Achieves a catharsis by arousing pity and terror in the audience Hero is led into fatal calamity by hamartia (tragic flaw or error) which often takes the form of hubris (excessive pride leading to divine retribution Tragic effect depends upon audience’s awareness of the admirable qualities of the hero which are wasted in the disaster

Classical Tragic Hero o o The tragic hero is a good man, important to society The hero suffers a fall brought about by something in his nature The fall provokes the emotions of pity and fear in the reader The tragic character comes to some kind of understanding or new recognition of what has happened

Tragic Flaw Defect of character that leads to the hero’s disastrous downfall

What is a Moor? o o o In Shakespeare’s time, a Moor was equivalent to “African” and was not necessarily a negative word. Originally the word “Moor” meant “native of Mauritania” a country in North Africa. However, Othello’s intended ethnicity is in some dispute. “Moor” is also a name applied to the Arab or Berber peoples of North Africa, who were Muslim, and lived in Spain. These people were not always dark-skinned.

So Othello the character was… o o He was certainly an outsider and different from other Venetian men. It can be assumed that Othello is dark-skinned. o He is also a Christian, not a Muslim, and shows this throughout the play.

The Moor in Shakespeare's time o o In the 17 th century, English attitudes towards non-Europeans were not always empathetic. Any person who was “different” was usually quite visible due to their exotic dress and customs. o o Moors were commonly referred to as “devils” or “villains” and were thought to be sexually overactive. They were also thought to be prone to jealousy and generally wicked.

The Moor in England cont… o o o The public associated “blackness” with moral corruption citing examples from Christian theology that whiteness was the sign of purity. Queen Elizabeth did grant the Moors “full diplomatic recognition” out of thanks for their help in conquering Spain in 1601 but then she deported them citing concerns of over-population. Moors were not associated with slavery, since the slave trade would not be established until the late 17 th century. Please don’t ever call Othello an African-American

While these attitudes most certainly connected to Shakespeare’s motivation and desire to write Othello, the play itself actually starts in Venice and then moves to Cyprus.

The Wife’s Status o A typical wife receiving her instruction The husband, in the accepted role as head of the household, gives moral direction to his wife and children--who sit obediently listening.

Evil Women! In the Elizabethan times there was a long and well established tradition in the Church of what we would now call misogyny – women were distrusted simply because they were women. At the time it was assumed that women would cheat – it was part of their nature! The men in “Othello” have differing views of women – from Othello who idolizes his wife (Desdemona) to Iago who sees love as "merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will“. The attitudes of the audience at the time are likely to have been varied too.

Othello Terminology: Cuckold o o a man whose wife is unfaithful to him Represented with horns growing out of his forehead “That cuckold lives in bliss Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger; But O, what damned minutes tells he o’er Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves!” (3. 3. 197 -200) “I have a pain upon my forehead, here” (326).

Othello: A Tragedy o o Written in 1604 One of the major tragedies -- after Hamlet and before King Lear and Macbeth Fascination with evil Study the devastating effects of the deadly sins of the spirit: ambitious pride, ingratitude, wrath, jealousy and vengeful hate

Othello: Setting o Journey from Venice, Italy to Cyprus o Venice = order, rule of reason ? o Cyprus = disorder, rule of passion ?

Setting Background o o o Venice is in northern Italy and Cyprus is a small island in the eastern Mediterranean. The time is 1570 -1571 when the Ottoman Turks attacked Cyprus, a Venetian possession and Venice vows to defend Cyprus. Possessing Cyprus gave Venice trade and position power. Eventually the Venetians were forced to give Cyprus to the Turks.

About Venetians in 1570 o o o Venice was an oligarchic city-state of much wealth. Because of its location on the route to the holy land, it was actually quite diverse. Venice provides an environment for Othello to be both revered and despised. According to Venetian law, the army general was required to be a foreigner. Therefore, Othello would be admired for his valor and leadership but feared for his “otherness”. The idea of him marrying a white woman of a high position would make him despised. Othello also “tames” his otherness by being a Christian…not a Muslim.

Othello: Poetic Images o o Focused on the natural world Most important pattern – contrast of light and dark, black and white One cluster is domestic and animal: goats, monkeys, wolves, baboons, guinea hens, wildcats, spiders, flies, asses, dogs, horses, sheep, serpents, and toads Other images include green-eyed monsters, devils, poisons, money purses, tarnished jewels, music untuned, and light extinguished

Othello: the Villain o o Delights in evil for its own sake Conscienceless, sinister, and amused by his own cunning Related to Vice, the figure of personified evil, from the medieval morality play whose role is to win Humankind away from virtue and corrupt him with worldly enticements Takes audience into his confidence, boasts in soliloquy of his cleverness, exults in the triumph of evil, and improvises plans with daring and resourcefulness

Othello: Thematic Ideas o o o Nature of love and marriage Nature of jealousy Nature and use of language Male mistrust of women Deception / Honesty Importance of reputation

The Plot o The plot is simple. A man, disappointed of promotion which he thought he had a right to expect, determines on revenge and in part secures it. By a series of careful moves he persuaded the General (Othello) of the adultery of the General's wife (Desdemona) with the lieutenant (Cassio) who has been promoted ahead of him. As a result, the general first kills his wife then himself, but the ensign (Iago) fails in the second part of his design, since the plot is disclosed. Cassio receives yet a further promotion and Iago is left facing trial and torture. The plot "scheme" is concerned with one of the strangest and most distressing of human emotions - jealousy - and this is what makes the plot powerful.

Famous Jealous people

Famous Jealous people

Quotes about Jealousy n Jealousy is indeed a poor medium to secure love, but it is a secure medium to destroy one's selfrespect. For jealous people, like dope-fiends, stoop to the lowest level and in the end inspire only disgust and loathing. Emma Goldman

Quotes about Jealousy n Love may be blind but jealousy has 20 -20 vision. Anonymous

Quotes about Jealousy n Jealousy is the jaundice of the soul. John Dryden

Jealousy o o Jealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked to the deadly sin of envy. It was viewed as a sudden infection against which there was no prevention or cure. It was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bonds holding together marriages, families and social frameworks. Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a state greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.

Task o On the following slide are some lines spoken by, or about, various characters in the play – consider what you think each quotation reveals about the person speaking/being spoken about and what they are like as a character.

1) 2) 3) 4) 5) Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and purposes” Iago - speaking about his relationship with Othello: “I follow him to serve my turn upon him” Iago - speaking about himself: “I am not what I am”. Othello - speaking about himself: “My parts, my title and my perfect soul shall manifest me rightly” Othello - about Iago: “A man he is of honesty and trust”.

Quotations on Deception – Do you agree? “We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves. ” “Deception is a cruel act. . . It often has many players on different stages that corrode the soul. ” “It's better to get something worthwhile done using deception than to fail to get something worthwhile done using truth. ” “Truth lives on in the midst of deception”

Today’s society - TASK Think about the cultural rules that you live by. Look at the questions opposite and discuss/make notes. o o What rules dictate the behaviour of young men and women in relationships today? What are things “nice girls” just don’t do? What are things “nice boys” just don’t do? What do you think the consequences are of breaking these rules?

Where did Shakespeare get his inspiration for Othello? o The principle source for the play is a story by an Italian author, Giovanni Battista Giraldi, who is also known as Cinthio. In Cinthio’s story only one character was given a name “Disdemona” meaning “unlucky”

Themes o The play’s central theme is love n n o o destruction of love = hate love and hate together arouse jealousy. The central conflict is between men and women and this is presented through a series of parallel and contrasting couples. Desdemona/Othello, Emilia/Iago, Bianca/Cassio and a number of fantasy couples: n Roderigo/Desdemona, Cassio/Desdemona, Othello/Emilia.

Othello Hypocrisy… Passion… Prejudice… Jealousy… Revenge…

THE PLOT

Othello is a general, a military leader, in Venice hundreds of years ago. But he is an outsider because he is from another country—and of another race.

When Othello secretly marries the young, beautiful and noble Desdemona, her father, Brabantio, wants Othello to be arrested. But Desdemona loves Othello and doesn’t care that he is an outsider.

At the same time, the men in the army under Othello can’t be trusted. Cassio means well but is open to bad influences. Iago pretends to be Othello’s friend, but secretly resents him for passing him over for promotion.

Iago is determined to get revenge. He decides to attack Othello in his most vulnerable spot… his love for Desdemona.

Will Othello be able to see through Iago’s schemes? Or will jealousy and revenge turn to murder?

Iago o Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most sinister villains, often considered so because of the unique trust Othello puts in him, which he betrays while maintaining his reputation of honesty and dedication. Shakespeare contrasts Iago with Othello’s nobility and integrity. Iago is a malcontent – he has a bitter and cyncial view of the world around him. o o The name Iago is a shortened version of the Spanish name “Santiago” or “St James”. Saint James of Spain was also known as “St James the Moor Killer” which seems appropriate within the play.

CHOOSE ANOTHER CENTRAL CHARACTER FROM THE PLAY AND RESEARCH AND CREATE A PRESENTATION ON THEM.

Shakespeare added suffixes and prefixes, changed nouns to verbs, verbs to nouns, and verbs to adjectives. Below are some words that he created: o o o o academe accused addiction advertising Amazement arouse assassination backing bandit bedroom beached besmirch birthplace blanket bloodstained barefaced blushing bet bump buzzer caked cater champion circumstantial cold-blooded compromise courtship countless critic dauntless http: //www. op 97. k 12. il. us/LAB/shakespeare/words/shakewords. html