Iago is determined to get revenge.

2. Background
to Othello

3. Othello
Jealousy…
Hypocrisy… Passion…
Prejudice…
Revenge…

4. Othello isageneral, amilitary leader, in Venicehundredsof
yearsago.
But heisan outsider becauseheisfrom another country—and
of another race.

5. When Othello secretly marries the young,
beautiful and noble Desdemona,
her father, Brabantio, wants
Othello to be arrested.
But Desdemona loves Othello and doesn’t care
that he is an outsider.

6. At the same time, the men in the army under Othello can’t be
trusted.
Cassio means
well but is open
to bad influences.
Iago pretends to be
Othello’s friend, but
secretly resents
him for passing him
over for promotion.

7. Iago is
determined to
get revenge.He decides to
attack Othello
in his most
vulnerable
spot…
his love forDesdemona.
IAGO

8. Will Othello beableto seethrough Iago’s
schemes?
Or will jealousy and revengeturn to
murder?

9. Important Dramatic
Terms
Tragedy—a drama of a solemn
and dignified quality that typically
depicts the development of a
conflict between the protagonist
and a superior force, such as
fate, circumstance, or society,
and reaches a mournful or

10. OthelloOthello – A– A
ShakespeareanShakespearean
TragedyTragedy O the lloO the llo is a Shakespearean Tragedyis a Shakespearean Tragedy
 It encompasses elements of tragedies such as:It encompasses elements of tragedies such as:
 It ends with the death of numerous charactersIt ends with the death of numerous characters
including the title characterincluding the title character
 The protagonist is admirable, but flawed, withThe protagonist is admirable, but flawed, with
the audience able to understand and sympathisethe audience able to understand and sympathise
with the character.with the character.
 The protagonist is capable of both good and evilThe protagonist is capable of both good and evil
 Free will is insisted upon – the protagonist mustFree will is insisted upon – the protagonist must
always be able to back out of a situation or toalways be able to back out of a situation or to
redeem themselves – but always towards theirredeem themselves – but always towards their
inevitable doom.inevitable doom.

11. TRAGIC
Tragic flaw— a defect in the protagonist that brings about
his or her downfall.
Hubris: derived from the Greek word hybris, means
“excessive pride.” In Greek tragedy, hubris is often
viewed as the flaw that leads to the downfall of the tragic
hero.

12. Tragic hero: the main character of great importance to his
state or culture and who is conventionally of noble birth
and high social station, the ruler or an important leader in
his society.
The moral health of the state is identified with, and dependent
on, that of its ruler, and so the tragic hero’s story is also
that of his state.

13. Important Dramatic Terms
Such heroesaremixed characters, neither
thoroughly good or thoroughly evil, yet
“better” or “greater” than therest of usin the
sensethat they areof higher than ordinary
moral worth and social significance.

14. Types of People in Othello
Venetians
Most are noblemen and women (Brabantio,
Desdemona, Roderigo)
Also, there are the nobles’ servants (Emilia)
Some are soldiers (Cassio, Iago)
Others are part of Venetian government (the Duke)

15. The Wife’s sTaTusThe Wife’s sTaTus
A typical wife receivingA typical wife receiving
her instructionher instruction
The husband, in theThe husband, in the
accepted role as headaccepted role as head
of the household,of the household,
gives moral directiongives moral direction
to his wife andto his wife and
children--who sitchildren--who sit
obediently listeningobediently listening..

16. JealousyJealousy
 Jealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked toJealousy was viewed as something irrational and linked to
the deadly sin of envy.the deadly sin of envy.
 It was viewed as a sudden infection against which there wasIt was viewed as a sudden infection against which there was
no prevention or cure.no prevention or cure.
 It was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bondsIt was thought of as eroding trust and it dissolved the bonds
holding together marriages, families and social frameworksholding together marriages, families and social frameworks..
 Being jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a stateBeing jealous could let in evil and chaos and it was a state
greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.greatly feared by Shakespeare’s audiences.

17. Thank youThank youThank youThank youThank youThank you