Othello Othello by William by William ShakespeareShakespeare

““Beware of jealousy, my Beware of jealousy, my lord. It is the green-eyed lord. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock monster which doth mock

the meat on which it the meat on which it feeds.” feeds.” IagoIago

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William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare

Shakespeare’s HomeShakespeare’s Home

William ShakespeareWilliam Shakespeare 1564 – 16161564 – 1616 Born in Stratford – Born in Stratford –

upon –Avon, Englandupon –Avon, England Known as Bard of Known as Bard of

AvonAvon Wrote 37 plays, 154 Wrote 37 plays, 154

sonnets, various sonnets, various short poemsshort poems

Master of TragedyMaster of Tragedy

10 of Shakespeare’s 10 of Shakespeare’s 37 plays were 37 plays were tragediestragedies

Created some of the Created some of the most memorable most memorable characters in characters in literatureliterature

Almost 400 yrs. Almost 400 yrs. after his death, his after his death, his plays are still the plays are still the most widely most widely performedperformed

Othello and DesdemonaOthello and Desdemona Theme of doomed Theme of doomed

lovers popular in lovers popular in Shakespeare’s workShakespeare’s work

Othello fulfilled the Othello fulfilled the concept of classic concept of classic Greek tragic heroGreek tragic hero

Desdemona Desdemona represented the represented the innocent, proper innocent, proper female whose power female whose power lay in her beautylay in her beauty

IagoIago

Iago personifies Iago personifies evil in Othelloevil in Othello

He is considered by He is considered by most critics and most critics and Shakespeare fans Shakespeare fans to be one of the to be one of the most interesting most interesting characters ever characters ever writtenwritten

Conflict among 3 main Conflict among 3 main characterscharacters

Othello appoints Cassio as his lieutenant Othello appoints Cassio as his lieutenant rather than appointing Iago, but Iago feels rather than appointing Iago, but Iago feels he deserves the honor.he deserves the honor.

This exacerbates Iago’s hatred towards This exacerbates Iago’s hatred towards Othello, a hatred Iago secretly feels Othello, a hatred Iago secretly feels because he suspects Othello has slept with because he suspects Othello has slept with his wife Emilia.his wife Emilia.

Iago’s goal is to turn Othello against his Iago’s goal is to turn Othello against his wife Desdemona and ruin his life as he wife Desdemona and ruin his life as he believes Othello has ruined his. believes Othello has ruined his.

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

The minor characters in Othello The minor characters in Othello make important contributions to the make important contributions to the plot and serve as pawns in Iago’s plot and serve as pawns in Iago’s revenge plan. revenge plan.

Secondary CharactersSecondary Characters

Tragic EndingTragic Ending

The jealousy ignited in The jealousy ignited in Othello by Iago’s subtle Othello by Iago’s subtle suggestions of suggestions of Desdemona’s infidelity Desdemona’s infidelity inspired Othello to take inspired Othello to take the life of the woman the life of the woman he loved more than life he loved more than life itselfitself

As in most traditional As in most traditional tragedies, the tragic tragedies, the tragic hero falls to ruin hero falls to ruin because of a character because of a character flaw, in Othello’s case – flaw, in Othello’s case – jealousy.jealousy.

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