Wednesday, Jan. 21 A little context A little context Character of Iago Character of Iago Character of Othello Character of Othello What Brabantio suspects What Brabantio suspects What Othello says What Othello says Character of Desdemona Character of Desdemona Break Break Tragedy and Great Chain of Being in Othello Tragedy and Great Chain of Being in Othello 2:45-3:00 Choose groups for acting!! 2:45-3:00 Choose groups for acting!! 3:00 Macbeth 3:00 Macbeth

Historical & Social Context What do you know already (since many of you have read Othello before)? What do you know already (since many of you have read Othello before)? Source book: Cinthio’s Hundred Stories Source book: Cinthio’s Hundred Stories “There once lived in Venice a Moor, who was a very valiant and handsome person.. “ “There once lived in Venice a Moor, who was a very valiant and handsome person.. “ Historical clash of Christian vs. Muslim (the Turk) Historical clash of Christian vs. Muslim (the Turk) Venice and its power -- East & West (route to Crusades) Venice and its power -- East & West (route to Crusades) Venice as named for Venus (prostitutes) Venice as named for Venus (prostitutes)

People of African descent in London People were so fascinated with Moors that Queen Elizabeth and her ladies had a party at which they all wore black make- up to be “Ethiopes” People were so fascinated with Moors that Queen Elizabeth and her ladies had a party at which they all wore black make- up to be “Ethiopes” Mistress (sonnets) dark-skinned woman of Venetian origin Mistress (sonnets) dark-skinned woman of Venetian origin Many people of African descent in London Many people of African descent in London Lucy Negro (dancer) Lucy Negro (dancer) Servants, musicians, dancers, entertainers Servants, musicians, dancers, entertainers

Dark Lady

Characters in Othello Iago Iago Othello and Othello and Desdemona Desdemona

Tragedy Shakespeare’s Four Greatest Tragedies: Shakespeare’s Four Greatest Tragedies: Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth Shakespeare was “on a roll” at this time, also writing Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night (plus several more) all within four years: Shakespeare was “on a roll” at this time, also writing Henry IV, Parts 1 & 2, As You Like It, Julius Caesar, Much Ado About Nothing, and Twelfth Night (plus several more) all within four years: The tragedies are amazingly different from each other, partly because he uses sources for each one, but the “amazingly” comes partly because it’s difficult to see repetition in character, lines, or even structure The tragedies are amazingly different from each other, partly because he uses sources for each one, but the “amazingly” comes partly because it’s difficult to see repetition in character, lines, or even structure Writers sometimes will put the plays into the category of the 7 Wonders of the World (the Pyramids of Egypt, the works of Shakespeare,... ) because we wonder: “Where did the language, the characters, the intricate patterning, come from?” Writers sometimes will put the plays into the category of the 7 Wonders of the World (the Pyramids of Egypt, the works of Shakespeare,... ) because we wonder: “Where did the language, the characters, the intricate patterning, come from?”

Apply Handout to Othello, Act 1 What elements of Act 1 are like a comedy? What elements of Act 1 are like a comedy? “It is particularly fearful to watch someone fall from a position of high rank or power.” “It is particularly fearful to watch someone fall from a position of high rank or power.” “The tragic hero is typically on top of the wheel of fortune, halfway between human society on the ground and the something greater in the sky.” “The tragic hero is typically on top of the wheel of fortune, halfway between human society on the ground and the something greater in the sky.” “Tragedy is much concerned with the breaking up of the family... “ “Tragedy is much concerned with the breaking up of the family... “ “Tragedy... supplies social and psychological explanations for catastrophe” “Tragedy... supplies social and psychological explanations for catastrophe”

For Monday, Jan. 26 Read Acts 2 and 3 Read Acts 2 and 3 Look for these themes: Look for these themes: Light and dark (sun and eclipse) Light and dark (sun and eclipse) Handkerchief Handkerchief Acting/ performance (meta-theater) Acting/ performance (meta-theater)