1. Character Introduction
Othello
Character Introduction

2. Othello The Moor General of the Venetian Army
This is the name given to the medieval Muslim inhabitants of Morocco, western Algeria, Western Sahara, Mauritania, the Iberian Peninsula, etc.
Term has also been used in Europe in a broader sense to refer to anyone of Arab or African descent, whether living in Spain or North Africa
Not a distinct or self-defined people
General of the Venetian Army
Secretly married to Desdemona

3. Desdemona Married to Othello
Wealthy daughter of Brabantio, a Venetian senator
Disappoints her father by marrying Othello

4. Brabantio Venetian senator Father of Desdemona
Is not happy that Othello secretly married his daughter

5. Roderigo The man on the left Is in love with Desdemona
Hires Iago, the man on the right, to help him get together with Desdemona
Will do anything to be with Desdemona

6. Iago The man on the right Fought beside Othello for several years
Has become a trusted advisor
Upset that he was not promoted to lieutenant
Hates Othello and uses Roderigo in a plot against Othello

7. Emilia
Iago’s wife
Desdemona’s servant and confidant

8. Michael Cassio The man on the left Othello’s trusted lieutenant
Will do anything out of honor and reputation

9. Bianca
A woman in Cyprus
Is in love with Cassio

10. Othello and tragedy Definition of tragedy…
A type of drama where the major character undergoes a morally significant struggle that ends disastrously
Developed by Greeks but perfected by Shakespeare
Greek tragic hero lived, but suffered terribly as a result of his flaws and mistakes
Shakespeare preferred to kill off all his heroes

11. Tragedy’s central character: the Tragic Hero
Greater than average man
Falls short of perfection
Tragic flaw
Causes hero to make mistakes
Catharsis (a moment of realization that he caused his own difficulties)
Downfall

12. Aristotle’s Poetics
Aristotle wrote that the purpose of tragedy was to…
Arouse the emotions of pity and fear in the audience, which relied on our ability to relate to the character’s flaws and mistakes.
Produce for the audience a catharsis of its own, where we experience the character’s pain, but safely.
This means that…
Through tragedy, we are able to experience great emotions with no threat to ourselves.
Hopefully through watching a tragedy we can learn from the mistakes of the hero and avoid a similar fate.

13. Othello
Regarding Iago and Roderigo, who seems to be in control?
What has just happened?
Who is Brabantio?
What sort of person do you think the Moor is?
Why are neither Othello or Desdemona mentioned by name in this scene?
What sort of language does Iago use to tell Brabantio that his daughter has eloped?
On what sort of fears and prejudices does Iago play?

14. Subtext: It’s not what you say, but HOW you say it!
Text = surface meaning
Subtext = the real meaning
Subtext is conveyed by the following:
Intonation (tone)
Stress
Pause
Body language: stance, gesture, eye contact or eye avoidance

15. Radio performances — who is the best???
Instructions:
Do a round robin read through
Discuss the speeches — make sure everyone understands every line
Assign parts — divide as necessary to make sure everyone has lines to speak.
Run through your scene and practice to ensure an accurate interpretive reading.
Use intonation, stress and pauses to convey the subtext accurately!