1. Othello
William Shakespeare
1603

2. Setting&Significance Basic Conflicts
Setting: The island of Cyprus. During the late sixteenth century wars between Venice and Turkey
Conflict: Othello and Desdemona marry and try to build a life together.. Their marriage is sabotaged by Iago.

3. Themes
Racism
Love
Jealousy
Betrayal

4. Major Characters Othello, the Moor: A general in the Venetian military
Desdemona: Othello’s wife and daughter of Brabantio
Iago: Othello’s ensign and Emilia’s husband
Cassio: Othello’s lieutenant
Roderigo: A dissolute Venetian, in love with Desdemona
Brabantio: A Venetian senator, Gratiano’s brother and Desdemona’s father
Bianca: Cassio’s lover
Emilia: Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maidservant

5. Minor Characters Dukee of Venace: the Doge
Gratiano: Brabantio’s brother
Lodovico: Brabantio’s kinsman and Desdemona’s cousin
Montano: Othello’s Venetian predecessor in the government of Cyprus
Clown: a servant

6. Major Symbols and Motifs
The Song “Willow”- Men and women are unfaithful to each other
Hankerchief- Means something different to every character, but to Desdemona it symbolizes a token of Othello’s love

7. Protagonist, Delimma, & Significance
Othello: He faces the dilemma of believing what Iago is telling him about his love, Desdemona, and believing what’s in his heart.
Instead of listening to his heart Othello listens to Iago, who hints to him of the person he really is with “I am not what I am” and ends up killing the love of his life.

8. Significance of Beginning and Ending

9. Quotes
“Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit and lost without deserving.”- Iago
Reputation is not always earned or deserved. A rumor can destroy someone's reputation unnecessarily.
“I am not what I am” – Iago
I am not what I seem. Iago has the qualities of the Devil. He is a liar, he tells fancy stories in order to trap people and lead them to their destruction, and he sees other’s greatest vulnerabilities and uses these to destroy them. Iago does all this not for any good reason, but for love of evil.