Othello

= = Othello Exam Study Guide **By: Sorany Son, Naima Young, and Alyssa Nguyen **

Background/ Setting
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Othello takes place in Venice (in northern Italy) and Cyprus (an island in the eastern Mediterranean about 40 miles south of present-day Turkey). The time setting is between 1489 and 1571. As one of the world's hugest sea powers, Venice became known as the center of materialism and commercialism. Therefore, corruption and issues arise from avarice, social status, and fierce competition. Cyprus is a strategically located island, which yielded substantial harvests of olives, grapes and various grains. The Assyrians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, and Byzantines all fought over and occupied it. England's King Richard I, the Lion-Hearted, conquered Cyprus in 1191, but later ceded it to the French. Venice seized the island in 1489 and in 1571 the Ottoman Turks brought Cyprus under its control.
 * By Sorany Son **

Characters
Protagonist: Othello Antagonist: Iago Foils of Othello: Michael Cassio and Iago



Characters in the Play
Othello: A Black Moor, who is known for being the greatest army general in the Venetian army. He is known for beingcourageous, honorable, and intelligent. His marriage to the prominent Brabantio's daughter, Desdemona, provokes racial slurs against him. Despite this, he is dedicated to the lovely Desdemona, who follows him to Cyprus. He loves her so passionately that he can endure the thought of another man looking at her. Iago: Othello's standard bearer, who schemes against him because Othello did notpromote him to lieutenancy. He takes pleasure in bringing down the great Othello.

Desdemona: A Venetian lady, who is the daughter of Brabantio and the wife of Othello. She is the noblest and most unselfish character in the play. She ends up a victim of Iago's evil plot and Othello's jealousy.

Michael Cassio: Othello's lieutenant, who is manipulated by Iago. He is known for being handsome and good with the ladies. His promotion arouses Iago's jealousy.

Brabantio: A prominent Venetian, whose daughter is the lovely Desdemona. He despises Othello for his marriage to Desdemona.

Duke of Venice: Ruler who finds in favor of Othello when Desdemona's father attacks Othello's character.

Gratiano: Brabantio's brother

Lodovico: Brabantio's kinsman, who bears a message from the duke recalling Othello to Venice.

Roderigo: Venetian gentleman, who was the former suiter of the lovely Desdemona. He is manipulated by Iago.

Montano: An official in Cyprus

Emilia: Iago's wife, who is Desdemona's attendant

Bianca: Cassio's lover/mistress


 * By Sorany Son **

= Act Summaries =

Act 1
The story begins in Venice with Iago, a soldier under Othello’s command arguing with Roderigo, a wealthy Venetian. Iago explains his hatred of Othello for choosing Cassio as his lieutenant and not him as he expected. Both men, inform Brabantio of Desdemona’s illicit relationship with the Moor. Enraged, Brabantio sends parties out at night to apprehend Othello for abusing his daughter, Desdemona. Iago tells Othello that he should watch out for Brabantio’s men who are looking for him. Later, it’s found out that Othello has married Desdemona. Brabantio accuses him of using magic on his daughter. Within the discussion regarding the crisis in Cyprus, Brabantio complains to the Duke that Othello bewitched his daughter and had intimate relations with her. Desdemona comes in, and confirms that she has fallen in love with the Moor. Othello also explains how he and Desdemona fell in love. They both leave for Cyprus to fight the Turks. Roderigo despairs over Desdemona, but Iago tells him not to give up and earn money instead; soon Desdemona will bore of Othello. Iago reveals his intention to continue using Roderigo for money and his hatred of Othello. His plan to avenge Othello is to suggest to Othello that Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona.

**Act 2**
We learn that a terrible storm has largely battered and destroyed the Turkish fleet, which no longer poses a threat to Cyprus. Iago suspects that Cassio loves Desdemona and slyly uses it to his advantage by telling Roderigo that Desdemona might be in love with Cassio. Iago decides to tell Othello that Cassio is committing adultery by taking Desdemona away from him. Later, Iago makes Cassio drink and uses it to his advantage. Iago tells Roderigo to attack Cassio because he is sure to make a mistake. Cassio wounds Roderigo and then Montano who was trying to break the fight. His name is ruined. Othello demotes Cassio from lieutenancy. Iago suggests to Cassio that he speak to Desdemona who could help put in a good word for him with Othello. . Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is being unfaithful to him.

** Act 3 **
Cassio tells Iago that he has arranged to meet Desdemona. Iago helps Cassio do this. Emilia tells Cassio that she can arrange a meeting with Desdemona. Some time later, Cassio speaks with Desdemona who assures him that Othello still very much loves Cassio. As a distance, Iago manipulates Othello by first suggesting shock and then hiding his outbursts from Othello. Iago fills Othello’s mind with doubts; until, Othello is almost fully convinced that his wife had an affair. Othello begins to complain of a headache. At this desdemona loses a strawberry patterned handkerchief that Othello had given her as a gift. Emilia picks it up and gives it to Iago. Othello ask Iago for proof that his wife is unfaithful. At that Iago says that he saw Cassio wipe his head with her handkerchief. Othello promotes Iago to lieutenant to kill Cassio. Desdemona now worries about her missing handkerchief and when Othello comes in and asks her for it she explains that it is not lost while changing the subject to Cassio. This angers Othello greatly. When Emilia is asked if she has seen it; she lies and says she has never saw it. Iago plants the handkerchief in Cassio’s room. When Cassio finds it he gives it to his mistress to copy the pattern.

**Act 4**
Iago leads Othello to believe that Cassio will boast about Desdemona to others. When Cassio and Iago meet up, Othello is hidden and is lead to believe that the conversation that they are having is of Desdemona and him in bed. Cassio’s mistress Bianca arrives and very angrily gives the strawberry patterned handkerchief back to Cassio. This makes Othello very angry believeing that Cassio received the handkerchief and then gave it away to his mistress. Othello decides to kill Desdemona by strangulation in her bed. This was Iago’s idea. Iago says he will kill Cassio. Lodovico arrives, announcing that Othello is to return home and Cassio is to be the next Governor of Cypress. Desdemona's joy for Cassio enrages Othello, leaving Lodovico and Iago to wonder how much Othello seems to have changed and leaving poor Desdemona to wonder how she offended the man she truly loves. Othello questions Emilia as to whether Desdemona was unfaithful to him. When Emilia denies it Othello dismisses her. Desdemona asks of the source of his anger and he tells her it is because of her unfaithfulness. Othello then orders her to bed to await him later. Desdemona recalls a song while bathing and sings the Willow song.

**Act 5**
Iago and Roderigo wait in a street to kill Cassio. Iago explains how to kill Cassio to Roderigo. Iago really doesnt care which person ends up dead. Roderigo attacks cassio but gets wounded instead. So, Iago stabs Cassio wounding his leg from behind. Othello hears Cassio’s cries and is pleased; he then goes to Desdemona’s bed chamber. Gratiano and Lodovico tend to Cassio's wound. Othello kisses Desdemona while she was asleep. He tells her to pray and explains why he has to kill her. Othello strangles her and opens the door to Emilia desperate banging. Emilia is let in, revealing Iago has killed Roderigo and Desdemona who was thought dead, murmurs her last breaths but loyally does not say Othello killed her. Othello tells Emilia he killed her and Emilia despite Iago's attempts to remove her reveals the truth about the handkerchief; she found it, and then gave it to Iago. Iago now in trouble, stabs his wife Emilia and escapes. Emilia dies, singing the "Willow Song". Lodovico, Montano, Cassio and Iago appear. Othello stabs Iago but does not kill him Lodovico learns that Othello and Iago plotted Cassio's death. Lodovico reveals letters in the dead Roderigo's pocket proving Cassio was to be killed by Roderigo. Iago proudly confirms that Cassio did find the handkerchief in his bedchamber because Iago placed it there to be found. Othello kills himself and lies himself on top of his wife. Cassio is placed in charge of Iago.
 * By Naima Young **

= = = Elizabethan England and Shakespeare = 16th Century Shakespeare Drama History The Globe
 * Born: April 23, 1564 - Stratford upon - Avon
 * Died: April 23, 1616
 * Dad - Glover and Yeoman (landowner)
 * Married - Anne Hathaway in 1582
 * By twenty had three children:
 * Hamnet
 * Susannah
 * Judith
 * Plays acted in England since earliest times
 * Two main types:Playhouse and the Globe
 * **Mystery plays** - Religious dramas that covered everything in Christian faith
 * **Mortality plays** - Allegorical plays wherein qualities, virtues, vices, were personified as characters
 * First playhouse built in 1576 and called “The Theater”
 * Demolished and used remains to built the Globe in 1598
 * Open air theater - held approximately 3,000 people
 * Performances everyday except Sunday
 * Between two to five p.m. so sunlight wouldn’t bother audience and players
 * Illegal to advertise so raised flag and sounded a trumpet to signal a play about to start

If you would like to have the notes in the form of a document, the document file is below:
 * By Alyssa Nguyen **

= Review = If you would like to test yourself, please feel free to use the document below: [|Click here to practice Othello Quiz] If you would like, the video below could help you visualize the summary of Othello:

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 * By Alyssa Nguyen **

= Work Cited = = = "London Living: The Globe Theatre Â« London Living." //London Living: The Globe Theatre Â« London Living//. Web. 01 June 2012. <[|http://londonliving.at/travel-the-world-at-londons-globe/globe/.]>

"Othello." Othello. Web. 30 May 2012. <[].>

"Othello Summary." //Othello Summary Guide at Absolute Shakespeare//. Web. 31 May 2012. <[|http://absoluteshakespeare.com/guides/othello/summary/othello_summary.htm.]>

Powell, Barbara. "Othello Quiz." Othello Test Honors. Web. 31 May 2012.  .

Shakespeare, Williams. New York: Washington Square Press, 1993. Print.

Web. 01 June 2012. .