OTHELLO OTHELLO Passion Race Discrimination Hypocrisy Prejudice Jealousy

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OTHELLO

OTHELLO

OTHELLO Passion… Race/ Discrimination Hypocrisy… Prejudice… Jealousy… Revenge… Gender Roles

OTHELLO Passion… Race/ Discrimination Hypocrisy… Prejudice… Jealousy… Revenge… Gender Roles

WHY DO SOME STORIES STAND THE TEST OF TIME?

WHY DO SOME STORIES STAND THE TEST OF TIME?

STAR WARS- WHY IS THIS A STORY THAT STAYS WITH US?

STAR WARS- WHY IS THIS A STORY THAT STAYS WITH US?

BECHDEL TEST

BECHDEL TEST

ANTICIPATION QUESTIONS: AGREE/ DISAGREE 1. Inter-racial relationships are problematic. (Can they be overcome) 2.

ANTICIPATION QUESTIONS: AGREE/ DISAGREE 1. Inter-racial relationships are problematic. (Can they be overcome) 2. Sometimes parents know what is best. 3. Protecting reputation is worth anything. 4. Minority races have to work harder to fit in. 5. Females need protecting. (they are vulnerable) 6. It is easier for men to recover from a stained reputation. 7. Promiscuity threatens genders equally.

CONTEXT

CONTEXT

GEOGRAPHY • Othello takes place in two countries: –Venice –Cyprus • The Republic of

GEOGRAPHY • Othello takes place in two countries: –Venice –Cyprus • The Republic of Venice existed from 727 -1797. –It is located in present-day Italy.

http: //geography. about. com/library/cia/blcitaly. htm

http: //geography. about. com/library/cia/blcitaly. htm

GEOGRAPHY (CONT’D) • Venice controlled the island of Cyprus from 1489 -1570. –The island

GEOGRAPHY (CONT’D) • Venice controlled the island of Cyprus from 1489 -1570. –The island was a place for commerce and a good location for the Venetian fleet in the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea. • Cyprus was lost to the Turks in 1571.

Cyprus is located east of Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is just south

Cyprus is located east of Italy, in the Mediterranean Sea. It is just south of Turkey. http: //geography. about. com/library/cia/nccyprus. htm

h http: //www. worldatlas. com/webimage/countrys/eu. htm

h http: //www. worldatlas. com/webimage/countrys/eu. htm

THE PEOPL E OF THE PLAY

THE PEOPL E OF THE PLAY

HOW IMPORTANT WAS CLASS AND STATUS IN ANIMAL FARM?

HOW IMPORTANT WAS CLASS AND STATUS IN ANIMAL FARM?

Venetia ns Moors

Venetia ns Moors

TYPES OF PEOPLE IN OTHELLO • Venetians – Most are noblemen and women (Brabantio,

TYPES OF PEOPLE IN OTHELLO • Venetians – Most are noblemen and women (Brabantio, Desdemona, Roderigo) – Nobles’ servants (Emilia) – Some are soldiers (Othello, Cassio, Iago) – Others are part of Venetian government (the Duke)

 • Moors – Black nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa. –

• Moors – Black nomadic people of the northern shores of Africa. – Converted to Islam in the 8 th century – Invaded Spain in 711 and dominated until the 11 th century – had great dynasties up until 1492, when the last of their cities was conquered by Spain – virtually exterminated by Spain during the Inquisition (late 1400 s 1820)

MOORS • Othello is a Moor – Discriminated against because of his race (black)

MOORS • Othello is a Moor – Discriminated against because of his race (black) – Othello has been accepted in some ways because he is a Christian and a military genius – Yet his marriage to Desdemona reflects the prevailing view toward interracial marriage.

THE CULTURE OF THE TIME

THE CULTURE OF THE TIME

THE WIFE’S STATUS • The husband, in the accepted role as head of the

THE WIFE’S STATUS • The husband, in the accepted role as head of the household, gives moral direction to his wife and children--who sit obediently listening. A typical wife receiving her instruction

EVIL WOMEN! In the Elizabethan times there was a long and well established tradition

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.

THE CUCKOLD Any man whose wife cheated on him (without his knowledge) was known

THE CUCKOLD Any man whose wife cheated on him (without his knowledge) was known as a cuckold. The word derives from “cuckoo” – the bird known for laying their eggs in another’s nest. It was highly undesirable to be considered a cuckold. All of the community would find out about it and it was considered a public humiliation. Cuckolds were often described as having horns – a hangover from the days when a cuckold was forced to parade around his town wearing antlers as a sign of his wife’s infidelity.

THE BREAKDOWN • Othello is a talented military leader and is moving up the

THE BREAKDOWN • Othello is a talented military leader and is moving up the ranks faster than Iago (our villain in the play). • Iago is jealous of Othello and it doesn’t get any better when Othello falls in love with and marries Desdemona (a beautiful Nobel woman) • Iago decides to destroy Othello by forcing him to doubt everyone that he trusts and manipulate him into making terrible decisions.

Othello is a general, a military leader, in Venice hundreds of years ago. But

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

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.

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

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

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

TERMS TO KNOW

TERMS TO KNOW

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS Tragedy—a drama of a solemn and dignified quality that typically depicts

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS Tragedy—a drama of a solemn and dignified quality that typically depicts the development of a conflict between the protagonist and a superior force, such as fate, circumstance, or society, and reaches a mournful or ruinous conclusion.

OTHELLO – A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY • Othello is a Shakespearean Tragedy • It encompasses

OTHELLO – A SHAKESPEAREAN TRAGEDY • Othello is a Shakespearean Tragedy • It encompasses elements of tragedies such as: – It ends with the death of numerous characters including the title character – The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with the audience able to understand sympathise with the character. – The protagonist is capable of both good and evil – Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist must always be able to back out of a situation or to redeem themselves – but always towards their inevitable doom.

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS Tragic flaw—a defect in the protagonist that brings about his or

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS Tragic flaw—a defect in the protagonist that brings about his or her downfall. Hubris: derived from the Greek word hybris, means “excessive pride. ” In Greek tragedy, hubris is often viewed as the flaw that leads to the downfall of the tragic hero.

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS • Tragic hero: the main character of great importance to his

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS • Tragic hero: the main character of great importance to his state or culture and who is conventionally of noble birth and high social station, the ruler or an important leader in his society. • The moral health of the state is identified with, and dependent on, that of its ruler, and so the tragic hero’s story is also that of his state.

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS • Such heroes are mixed characters, neither thoroughly good or thoroughly

IMPORTANT DRAMATIC TERMS • Such heroes are mixed characters, neither thoroughly good or thoroughly evil, yet “better” or “greater” than the rest of us in the sense that they are of higher than ordinary moral worth and social significance.

IAGO • Iago is one of Shakespeare’s most sinister villains, often considered so because

IAGO • 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. • 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.

LE T’S TALK ABOU T IT

LE T’S TALK ABOU T IT

JEALOUSY • Jealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked to the deadly sin

JEALOUSY • 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 • On the following slide are some lines spoken by, or about, various

TASK • 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) Iago - describing Othello: “loving his own pride and purposes” 2) Iago -

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

QUOTATIONS ON DECEPTION – DO YOU AGREE? “We are never deceived; we deceive ourselves.

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

TODAY’S SOCIETY - TASK Think about the cultural rules that you live by. Look at the questions opposite and discuss/make notes. • 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?