Othello: Study Guide - SparkNotes
Othello by William Shakespeare, written around 1603, is a tragic play that delves into themes of jealousy, betrayal, and racism. Set in the Venetian Republic, the play follows Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his ensign and antagonist, Iago.
Othello: Full Play Summary - SparkNotes
A short summary of William Shakespeare's Othello. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of Othello.
Othello: Character List - SparkNotes
A Christian Moor and general of the armies of Venice, Othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race.
No Fear Shakespeare: Othello: Act 1 Scene 1 - SparkNotes
They’re talking about Othello, though they never mention his name. him , I swear. Three of Venice’s most important noblemen took their hats off to him and asked him humbly to make me his lieutenant, the second in command.
The Duke of Venice Character Analysis in Othello - SparkNotes
Sending Othello and the rest of the play’s primary characters into a foreign land invites chaos and uncertainty to fall upon them. While the Duke certainly does not intend for Othello to suffer, this new backdrop sets the stage for the tragedy that will ultimately befall him.
Othello: Themes - SparkNotes
In Othello, Othello simultaneously believes he is being deceived by characters who are honest while failing to see the deceit and treachery of characters who are tricking him. Othello refers to Iago as “honest” multiple times, showing that he is totally blind to the way Iago is tricking and manipulating him.
Othello Character Analysis in Othello | SparkNotes
Othello’s status as an outsider may be the reason he is such easy prey for Iago. Although Othello is a cultural and racial outsider in Venice, his skill as a soldier and leader is nevertheless valuable and necessary to the state, and he is an integral part of Venetian civic society.
Othello: William Shakespeare and Othello Background - SparkNotes
Written during Shakespeare’s great tragic period, which also included the composition of Hamlet (1600), King Lear (1604–5), Macbeth (1606), and Antony and Cleopatra (1606–7), Othello is set against the backdrop of the wars between Venice and Turkey that raged in the latter part of the sixteenth century. Cyprus, which is the setting for ...
Brabantio Character Analysis in Othello - SparkNotes
Brabantio’s racist beliefs ultimately prove so strong that he is convinced that dark magic is responsible for Desdemona’s attraction to Othello, his mind unable to comprehend the possibility of a white woman falling in love with a Black man.
Othello: Point of View - SparkNotes
An explanation of how the narrator's unique perspective within Othello establishes meaning for the reader.