0
The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare's play "The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice," considered one of his four great tragedies. Othello is a black general who is manipulated by his jealous ensign Iago, ultimately driving the noble Moor insane.
663 Questions
Why didnt brabantio want Desdemona to marry Othello?
Well, Othello was a bit of an outsider. He was not originally from Venice, he did not come from a well-known or important or rich family, and his skin was a funny colour. Although he might be a fine fellow in his own right, he is not the kind of person that a Venetian aristocrat like Brabantio would pick as a husband for his daughter. What is more, he did not ask Brabantio first before discussing marriage with Desdemona.
Why does the Duke send for Othello?
The Duke decides that the Turks will attack Cyprus so he sends for Othello to go to Cyprus, to defend it and become the new governor.
What attracts Othello to Desdemona?
Desdemona is in many ways the opposite of Othello: of an old established Venetian family, white, inexperienced and very young. Othello is middle-aged, black, widely experienced and a man without any pedigree at all in Venetian society. Her differentness may have attracted him to her at the outset, but he must also have noticed her wonderful openness, clarity of vision, unshakeable fidelity, courage and kindness. These characteristics would win him for longer than just her novelty.
The idea of being attracted to someone different as a novelty is used by Iago to undermine Othello's self-confidence. Iago tells Othello that once the novelty wears off, Desdemona will turn from Othello to other men, and Othello, who is a very humble man, is tempted to believe this because he does not see the many virtues which Desdemona really loves him for: his wisdom, experience, humility, equanimity, courage, fair-mindedness and his deep and genuine devotion to her.
What advice does Brabantio give Othello about Desdemona?
He points out that Desdemona deceived her father in eloping with Othello, and so is capable of deceiving Othello too.
Why is the handkerchief so important to Othello?
Iago offers the handkerchief as the supposed proof of Desdemona's infidelity.
Is Iago in Othello a great manipulator?
Iago is Shakespeare's unique creation of a character infused with human vices and villany as a manipulator who poisons Othello's mind.
Why is Iago unwilling to be present when he is talking about Othello's marriage to Desdemona?
I am addicted to Allegra. My doctor says I should stop.
A great many films have been made of Othello. At this moment DVD copies of about eleven of them are two feet from my left shoulder.
Why does Bianca appear in Othello?
Her role is very important as it is used to ruin the marriage of Othello and desdemona.
In Othello why was Bianca angry with Cassio?
At the end of Act 3 she thinks Cassio has slept with another woman because he's spent so much time away from her and she thinks his other woman must have given her the handkerchief he has.
How does Othello and Romeo compare as characters?
Othello loves himself unlike romeo kills himself to be with Juliet.
What are some facts about Othello?
He was a character in a play called Othello by William Shakespeare
Was Othello a lieutenant or was Iago?
Neither. Othello was the captain, Cassio the lieutenant and Iago the ensign.
What was expected of a wife in Shakespeare's Othello?
the wives of this time era had all the same expectations as women in general. they were to be submissive, gentle, obediant, subordinant, etc. . they were to live for their husbands and do anything to please him. wives and women were viewed as possesions, not humans.
Why does Iago speak to Cassio about Bianca?
He knows Othello is looking on and thinks that they are talking about Desdemona. The kinds of things Cassio is likely to say about Bianca drive Othello wild when they appear to be about Desdemona.
Why is Desdemona worried about Othello in the book Othello?
Othello is a play, so you should not think of it as a book. Go and watch it, either at a theatre or on film, if you want to understand it. Learning how to understand plays by just reading the script is like learning how to understand music by just reading a score. If you have experience you can imagine a performance; otherwise you can only understand the work by seeing or hearing it.
Desdemona becomes worried by a change in behaviour in her husband. He has become suspicious and bad-tempered. She doesn't know that iago is systematically manipulating him into believing that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.
What was the clown in Othello about?
The clown in Othello is a minor character that only appears in two scenes in Act III. His character provides comic relief in the play. Despite his small appearance, he is quite significant as he is illustrated as the only one that sees Iago as dishonest and double faced. He also plays with puns in conversations between Cassio and Desdemona.
What time period did Othello take place?
Venice and the Ottoman Empire had a long and drawn-out conflict over the centuries. The Ottomans were able to capture Cyprus in 1570 which the Venetians had previously held for eighty years. So we can imagine the events taking place between 1490 and 1570 sometime.
