1. Background for Othello

2. Different from other Shakespearean tragedies
In Shakespearean tragedy there is usually a subplot to the main tragic plot
In Othello, there is just a primary plot - it is tightly written
The villain (Iago) is responsible for the downfall of our tragic hero (Othello)
There is also a difference in timeline
Most of the action takes place over the course of 3 or 4 days
But there is a lot mentioned about previous events
These events have a direct impact on present day timing in the play
What this means?  Characters’ back stories affect them greatly

3. A brief history of the Moors Othello: the Moor of Venice
Moor: comes from Mauri; the name of an old tribe in the area of present-day Morocco in Northern Africa
Kingdom once known as Mauretania
Descendents of the Mauri became Muslims in very early Islamic history
In 711, the Moors conquered Spain
They ruled lands in Northern Africa, Spain, and Portugal for over seven 700 years
In 1492 (only 100 years prior to the fame of Shakespeare) the Moors were driven out of Spain by Christian armies
The Moorish people were forced to leave, expelled to Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia;
Some became pirates
Some migrated to other European countries

4. Records of Othello
Between the years , all remaining Moors were hunted down and expelled from any European nation
The first recorded performance:
1604
Christian-European tolerance of Muslims was greatly strained
Shakespeare’s title character, and tragic hero, is a Moor
Establishes that Othello is a descendent of these North African/Spanish Muslims
Remember, Othello is the tragic hero NOT THE VILLAIN