Part+4-+Othello

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

 * ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::{ **

= Othello – Background Information =

= Author = William Shakespeare = Performed/Published = 1601-4/1622 = Genre = Tragedy = Length = 3323 lines = Form = Blank Verse & Prose = Source/ Inspiration = Hecatommithi (specifically Un Capitano Moro (A Moorish Captain)) by Cinthio (1565) = Influenced by... = Visiting Moorish delegations from Morocco A Geographical History of Africa – Leo Africanus

= =

= Historical Context = Patriarchal society and concept of marriage as political move England beginning to be involved with slave trade – awareness of other races Belief that dark skin was a punishment for sin Dark skin = more sexually predatory and therefore volatile and dangerous Wars between Venice and Turkey

= Religious Context = The country is Christian, as is the world of Venice. The Turks are portrayed as heathen enemies; their religion would not be understood – it would be perceived as unholy and dangerous.

= Dramatic Context = Othello is the first black hero on the English stage, though it was hundreds of years until Ira Aldridge got to be the first black man playing the part. Shakespeare had written about Aaron the Moor (Titus Andronicus) and Shylock (Merchant of Venice), but Othello marks a break away from these more stereotypical portrayals. Iago is a villain whose fate is left slightly ambiguous – the usual structure of a tragedy would allow for his punishment and death to be shown before the close of the play.

= Themes = Prejudice, Appearance vs. Reality, Jealousy, Manhood, Honour (Respect, Reputation), Deceit, Justice, Self-esteem, Desire, Misogyny, Womanhood and sexuality

= Critics =

= =

Estelle Taylor
The ironic equation is that all the characters mistake illusion for reality

Virginia Mason Vaughn
‘The Irreconcilable Popularity of Othello’ Race isn’t mentioned as much in earliest criticism – racial issues became more important over time. Shakespeare isn’t emphasising Othello’s blackness, later interpretations do.

Ben Okri
‘Othello didn’t begin as a play about race, history has made it one.’

Ernest Jones
The play is about the homosexual jealousy of a spurned lover (Freudian interpretation)

G K Hunter
‘Othello and Colour Prejudice’ “Iago is represented as the white man with the black soul, whilst Othello is the black man with a white soul.” Othello’s blackness makes the audience work harder to believe in his heroism, but achieving this is a greater success than if he were white.

Arthur Eastman
Ironist – withholding information to increase power – Othello and Iago both do this.

T S Eliot
‘Bovarysme’ - a tendency toward escapist daydreaming in which the dreamer imagines himself to be a hero in a romance, whilst ignoring the everyday realities of the situation. Othello’s final speeches are an example of this. ‘then must you speak of one who loved not wisely but too well’

Hugh Quarshie (Ric Griffin in Holby City)
Actively refused to play Othello because he finds the role demeaning ‘when black actors play a role written for white actors in black make-up predominantly for a white audience does he not encourage the white way or the wrong way of looking at black men? Namely that black men or moors are over emotional, excitable and unstable, thereby vindicating Iago’s statement that moors are changeable in their wills.’

Paul Prescott (Warwick University)
Iago is not as subtle or clever as we are led to believe – his actions and words are incredibly simplistic.

Samuel Taylor Coleridge
The motive-hunting of motiveless Malignity – Iago is without a cause, but consumed by hate.

= Portrayal of Othello on the stage and screen =

**Peter Sellars** (Director) – People abandon their whole belief system – Othello does this because of his pride.
=A detailed look at Othello- Courtesy of www.litcharts.com= ==







===The above guide will give you insight into Shakespeare's talents as a //Wordsmith// and enable you to decipher the complex use of the English language that examines the profound inner depths of the human experience. ===  -- Act 1

Act 2



Act 3 

Act 4 

Act 5 