What is tragedy?

Shakespearean Tragedy Heroes are victims of their own excesses or self-deception Heroes are victims of their own excesses or self-deception Lack of understanding prevents them from seeing the truth Lack of understanding prevents them from seeing the truth Suffer from inner conflict Suffer from inner conflict Characters of high power of status Characters of high power of status

Tragedy Hubris – extreme pride, over- confidence Hubris – extreme pride, over- confidence Anagnorisis - realisation Anagnorisis - realisation Hamartia – error or fatal flaw Hamartia – error or fatal flaw Catharsis - acceptance and healing Catharsis - acceptance and healing

Othello Historical Background

Venice Venice was a city-state Venice was a city-state It was extremely wealthy due to trade – it was ideally positioned to trade with Western Europe, Greece, Africa and the rest of the world It was extremely wealthy due to trade – it was ideally positioned to trade with Western Europe, Greece, Africa and the rest of the world It was a republic ruled by the wealthiest families It was a republic ruled by the wealthiest families The wealth of Venice helped to fund the Renaissance, the building of impressive architecture The wealth of Venice helped to fund the Renaissance, the building of impressive architecture It was a centre of culture It was a centre of culture

The Renaissance Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ and refers to a time when great artistic, cultural and educational advances took place Renaissance means ‘rebirth’ and refers to a time when great artistic, cultural and educational advances took place Partly inspired by classical Greece and Rome. Partly inspired by classical Greece and Rome. Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci Michelangelo and Leonardo Da Vinci Titian and Tintoretto lived in Venice Titian and Tintoretto lived in Venice The wealth of Venice meant great artworks and buildings were commissioned The wealth of Venice meant great artworks and buildings were commissioned

The Renaissance in Venice Titian was the most Titian was the most famous artist Galileo made massive improvements to the telescope and made discoveries in astronomy and physics which are still vital today. Galileo made massive improvements to the telescope and made discoveries in astronomy and physics which are still vital today.

The ‘Renaissance Man’ The renaissance ideal was that a man would be educated in art, science, poetry, languages and philosophy. He should make decisions based on reason. The renaissance ideal was that a man would be educated in art, science, poetry, languages and philosophy. He should make decisions based on reason. “Some are numbered with the gods… And these are the men who… have become almost completely rational “ Pomponazzi. “Some are numbered with the gods… And these are the men who… have become almost completely rational “ Pomponazzi. This is what Othello aspires to be. This is what Othello aspires to be. However, reason fails him and he becomes ruled by passion However, reason fails him and he becomes ruled by passion

It protected its trade with strong military force It protected its trade with strong military force Venice was cosmopolitan – Jews, Arabs, Europeans came together Venice was cosmopolitan – Jews, Arabs, Europeans came together However it was also seen as a barrier defending Christian Europe from the Muslims of Turkey and the Middle East However it was also seen as a barrier defending Christian Europe from the Muslims of Turkey and the Middle East Cyprus was of extreme strategic importance Cyprus was of extreme strategic importance

Setting The play uses the comedy structure of old husband + young bride The play uses the comedy structure of old husband + young bride And the typical Shakespearean comic geography of dual locations (e.g. Midsummer Night’s Dream) And the typical Shakespearean comic geography of dual locations (e.g. Midsummer Night’s Dream) Venice is a city and place of reason Venice is a city and place of reason Cyprus is a wilderness and place of irrationality and emotion Cyprus is a wilderness and place of irrationality and emotion

Setting/Character How does Othello act in Venice? In Cyprus? How does Othello act in Venice? In Cyprus? In Venice Othello acts calmly In Venice Othello acts calmly He is concerned with honour and virtue He is concerned with honour and virtue He is content with his life He is content with his life In Cyprus he is emotional and irrational In Cyprus he is emotional and irrational

Shakespeare He never left England He never left England Which was a very different place Which was a very different place Venice would hold an exotic fascination for Shakespeare and his audience Venice would hold an exotic fascination for Shakespeare and his audience

The Moor The slave trade had just begun when Shakespeare was writing Othello The slave trade had just begun when Shakespeare was writing Othello He and his audience would have begun to see slaves being led through the streets in chains He and his audience would have begun to see slaves being led through the streets in chains Black people were often seen as primitive Black people were often seen as primitive The play depicts Othello as an outsider – object of fascination and suspicion and himself insecure The play depicts Othello as an outsider – object of fascination and suspicion and himself insecure

Turks These were Muslims These were Muslims The Ottoman Empire was extremely powerful The Ottoman Empire was extremely powerful They were seen as a threat to Christianity and Venetian prosperity They were seen as a threat to Christianity and Venetian prosperity map map map