What is the story of Othello by Shakespeare about?

What is the story of Othello by Shakespeare about?

Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his General; Othello, the Moor of Venice. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello’s jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.

What was Shakespeare’s purpose in Othello?

Shakespeare uses his play ”Othello” as an allegory for social commentary on Elizabethan England, including the roles of women and marriage in society. Explore how these themes are portrayed by the characters Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca.

What influenced Shakespeare writing Othello?

Shakespeare’s Sources for Othello. The story of Shakespeare’s Othello comes from the Hecatommithi, a collection of tales published in 1565 by Giraldi Cinthio. Cinthio in turn had been influenced by the Decameron by Giovanni Boccaccio.

Why is Othello important?

Othello is possibly the most famous literary exploration of the warping powers of jealousy and suspicion. At the same time, it’s among the earliest literary works dealing with race and racism. Othello—undeniably heroic even if ultimately flawed—is the most prominent black protagonist in early Western literature.

What type of tragedy is Othello?

Othello. Othello is a play that is a mainstream Shakespearean tragedy and therefore is an obvious text for Paper 1. It is a play capable of arousing deep emotions in audiences, exciting feelings of pity and terror (feelings that according to Plato ought to be kept in check).

What makes Othello a tragedy?

Othello is a tragedy because it tells the story of a noble, principled hero who makes a tragic error of judgment, leading to a devastating climax in which most of the characters end up either dead or seriously wounded. Othello, on the other hand, begins the play alienated from his community.

How is race presented in Othello?

Most characters in the play exhibit some type of racism toward Othello. His blackness “is not only a mark of his physical alienation but a symbol, to which every character in the play, himself included, must respond” ( Berry 318). Iago and Roderigo speak the most obvious racial slurs against Othello.

Was Othello based on a true story?

That Othello and Desdemona, whose real name was Palma, really existed, is clearly proved. Even the mad jealousy of Othello is historical. It is true that he did not murder his wife, but he often beat her cruelly.

How is power presented in Othello?

Power is used to create control and vice versa. This is very important as it allows Iago, who is lower ranking than Othello, to generate power through controlling Cassio and ultimately Othello. In act 2 scene 3, he displays his control over Cassio, when he tries to make him drink.

Why is tragedy important in Othello?

Why is Othello a tragic character?

Othello is a tragic hero because of his tragic flaw. There are many undesirable traits in Othello, like his jealousy and gullibility. However, the core of these problems and his main tragic flaw is his insecurities. Othello is the only black character and an outsider in Venice brings upon many insecurities.

How does Shakespeare present Othello in the play?

Othello In Othello, William Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background.

How is Desdemona presented in Othello?

In Othello, William Shakespeare creates powerful drama from a marriage between the exotic Moor Othello and the Venetian lady Desdemona that begins with elopement and mutual devotion and ends with jealous rage and death. Shakespeare builds many differences into his hero and heroine, including race, age, and cultural background.

Is Othello based on a true story?

Othello (The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. What is the play based on? It is based on the story Un Capitano Moro (“A Moorish Captain”) by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. Why is Othello referred to as a Moor?

What is the other name of Othello?

Alternative Titles: “Othello, the Moor of Venice”. Othello, in full Othello, the Moor of Venice, tragedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written in 1603–04 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a transcript of an authorial manuscript.