Othello Analysis:
Cultural Context of “Othello”:
Venice was a prosperous Italian city and a symbol of law and civilization. Italian settings
were often used for plays about intrigue, love and revenge; Foreign courts were stereotyped
as being full of villainy and sexual perversion. Venice had a reputation as a city of wealth and
sophistication but also a place of great decadence. Renowned for its courtesans
(prostitutes).
As a setting, Venice serves Shakespeare’s need of a place where a non European, and
potentially non-Christian man could hold both significant authority but still be distrusted, as
Venice boasted a much greater diversity of ethnicities and religions among its inhabitants
while still maintaining traditional views regarding racial prejudice and misogyny.
Plot Summary:
- Begins in Venice during an argument between Roderigo and Iago, Roderigo paying
Iago to win Desdemona’s marriage, Desdemona has just married Othello. Iago
dislikes Othello too, with Cassio’s recent promotion to Lieutenant.
- The two visit Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, claiming that his daughter has been
“robbed by thieves”. They all follow Roderigo to Othello.
- Meanwhile Othello is informed by the Duke of Venice and his council that the Turks
are planning to invade Cyprus, and they need Othello to lead the Venetian army
against them.
- Brabantio confronts Othello about his marriage, however Othello calmly stops him.
- Cassio arrives in Cyprus, followed by Iago, Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia and finally,
Othello. However, they soon discover the Turkish fleet has been wrecked in a storm
at sea.
- Iago gets Cassio drunk that evening, and starts a fight with Roderigo. The commotion
accumulates and Othello arrives to learn of the fight and strips Cassio of his position.
- In a soliloquy, Iago tells us he will frame Cassio and Desdemona as lovers to make
Othello jealous.
- After speaking to Cassio and promising to do everything she can to make Othello
forgive his former Lieutenant, Desdemona finds Othello upset and moody. She offers
him her handkerchief, however it is “too little” and he knocks it out of her hand and
onto the floor.
- Emilia picks up the handkerchief, as Iago has always wanted her to steal it for him.
- Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s room as “evidence” of his affair with
Desdemona. Iago later explains to Othello that he saw Cassio wipe his beard with
the handkerchief.
- That evening, Othello demands the handkerchief of Desdemona, however she
explains that it is not on her and attempts to change the subject, driving Othello into
further rage.
, - Othello falls into a trance as a result of his growing jealousy. His suspicions of the
affair are confirmed when Cassio laughs at the mention of Bianca, who comes into
the room herself with Desdemona’s handkerchief.
- Othello is sent into another fit of rage after Lodovico hands him a letter calling him
home and instating Cassio as replacement.
- Desdemona continues to plead innocent, seconded by Emilia, however her ask of
Cassio’s forgiveness only solidifies Othello’s proof that she has feelings for Cassio.
- Iago instructs Roderigo to ambush Cassio, but Roderigo misses his mark and is
wounded by Cassio instead. However, when Othello hears Cassio’s cry, he assumes
Iago has killed Cassio as he said he would. Roderigo is then murdered by Iago and
Cassio is sent off to get his wounds healed.
- Othello stands over his sleeping wife preparing to kill. Desdemona wakes and once
again attempts to plead with Othello, asserting her innocence, however Othello
brutally smothers her.
- Emilia comes in with news of Roderigo’s death, however Othello is mortified when he
hears that Cassio’s alive.
- In her dying breath, Desdemona claims she has in fact committed suicide.
- Iago attempts to silence Emilia, who has just realised what Iago has done after
Othello’s mention of the handkerchief. Othello starts to weep when he finds out the
truth, that Emilia found the handkerchief and handed it to her husband.
- Emilia is killed by Iago, who then tries to escape but is caught by Lodovico and
Montano.
- Lodovico tells Othello that he must come back to
Venice to be tried, but Othello Kills himself as Iago
is arrested.
- Cassio is given command of Cyprus.
Key Themes in Othello:
1. Racial Prejudice:
Throughout, Othello is portrayed as an outsider to white
Venetian society, described as an animal or beast,
therefore less deserving of respect. Othello has
internalised this prejudice, describing himself in similarly
unflattering racial terms multiple times. Venice was insular
and unaccepting of other races, therefore it is not at all surprising that aspects of racism are
so deeply ingrained in Shakespeare’s depiction of a Venetian society. Othello is a victim of
racial bias and abuse, despite Shakespeare’s seemingly forward thinking statement of
casting a Moor as his protagonist. It is indicated that the perception of Moors within this
society contributes to Othello’s tragic downfall.
Othello & Desdemona’s relationship is of illicit nature. The colour of Othello’s skin is a crucial
factor in his downfall, as his alien racial identity makes him and his wife far more vulnerable
to Iago’s machinations than if he were an equally accomplished white man. Similarly, his lack
Cultural Context of “Othello”:
Venice was a prosperous Italian city and a symbol of law and civilization. Italian settings
were often used for plays about intrigue, love and revenge; Foreign courts were stereotyped
as being full of villainy and sexual perversion. Venice had a reputation as a city of wealth and
sophistication but also a place of great decadence. Renowned for its courtesans
(prostitutes).
As a setting, Venice serves Shakespeare’s need of a place where a non European, and
potentially non-Christian man could hold both significant authority but still be distrusted, as
Venice boasted a much greater diversity of ethnicities and religions among its inhabitants
while still maintaining traditional views regarding racial prejudice and misogyny.
Plot Summary:
- Begins in Venice during an argument between Roderigo and Iago, Roderigo paying
Iago to win Desdemona’s marriage, Desdemona has just married Othello. Iago
dislikes Othello too, with Cassio’s recent promotion to Lieutenant.
- The two visit Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, claiming that his daughter has been
“robbed by thieves”. They all follow Roderigo to Othello.
- Meanwhile Othello is informed by the Duke of Venice and his council that the Turks
are planning to invade Cyprus, and they need Othello to lead the Venetian army
against them.
- Brabantio confronts Othello about his marriage, however Othello calmly stops him.
- Cassio arrives in Cyprus, followed by Iago, Roderigo, Desdemona, Emilia and finally,
Othello. However, they soon discover the Turkish fleet has been wrecked in a storm
at sea.
- Iago gets Cassio drunk that evening, and starts a fight with Roderigo. The commotion
accumulates and Othello arrives to learn of the fight and strips Cassio of his position.
- In a soliloquy, Iago tells us he will frame Cassio and Desdemona as lovers to make
Othello jealous.
- After speaking to Cassio and promising to do everything she can to make Othello
forgive his former Lieutenant, Desdemona finds Othello upset and moody. She offers
him her handkerchief, however it is “too little” and he knocks it out of her hand and
onto the floor.
- Emilia picks up the handkerchief, as Iago has always wanted her to steal it for him.
- Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s room as “evidence” of his affair with
Desdemona. Iago later explains to Othello that he saw Cassio wipe his beard with
the handkerchief.
- That evening, Othello demands the handkerchief of Desdemona, however she
explains that it is not on her and attempts to change the subject, driving Othello into
further rage.
, - Othello falls into a trance as a result of his growing jealousy. His suspicions of the
affair are confirmed when Cassio laughs at the mention of Bianca, who comes into
the room herself with Desdemona’s handkerchief.
- Othello is sent into another fit of rage after Lodovico hands him a letter calling him
home and instating Cassio as replacement.
- Desdemona continues to plead innocent, seconded by Emilia, however her ask of
Cassio’s forgiveness only solidifies Othello’s proof that she has feelings for Cassio.
- Iago instructs Roderigo to ambush Cassio, but Roderigo misses his mark and is
wounded by Cassio instead. However, when Othello hears Cassio’s cry, he assumes
Iago has killed Cassio as he said he would. Roderigo is then murdered by Iago and
Cassio is sent off to get his wounds healed.
- Othello stands over his sleeping wife preparing to kill. Desdemona wakes and once
again attempts to plead with Othello, asserting her innocence, however Othello
brutally smothers her.
- Emilia comes in with news of Roderigo’s death, however Othello is mortified when he
hears that Cassio’s alive.
- In her dying breath, Desdemona claims she has in fact committed suicide.
- Iago attempts to silence Emilia, who has just realised what Iago has done after
Othello’s mention of the handkerchief. Othello starts to weep when he finds out the
truth, that Emilia found the handkerchief and handed it to her husband.
- Emilia is killed by Iago, who then tries to escape but is caught by Lodovico and
Montano.
- Lodovico tells Othello that he must come back to
Venice to be tried, but Othello Kills himself as Iago
is arrested.
- Cassio is given command of Cyprus.
Key Themes in Othello:
1. Racial Prejudice:
Throughout, Othello is portrayed as an outsider to white
Venetian society, described as an animal or beast,
therefore less deserving of respect. Othello has
internalised this prejudice, describing himself in similarly
unflattering racial terms multiple times. Venice was insular
and unaccepting of other races, therefore it is not at all surprising that aspects of racism are
so deeply ingrained in Shakespeare’s depiction of a Venetian society. Othello is a victim of
racial bias and abuse, despite Shakespeare’s seemingly forward thinking statement of
casting a Moor as his protagonist. It is indicated that the perception of Moors within this
society contributes to Othello’s tragic downfall.
Othello & Desdemona’s relationship is of illicit nature. The colour of Othello’s skin is a crucial
factor in his downfall, as his alien racial identity makes him and his wife far more vulnerable
to Iago’s machinations than if he were an equally accomplished white man. Similarly, his lack
