Context/ Background

• Where is the setting of Othello?

  Venice and Cyprus
• What reputation did Venice have in the 16th and 17th centuries?

  Venice was known as a diverse city, full of wealth and political stability
• How was Venice viewed by Shakespeare's original audience?

  As a rare example of a contemporary republican government
• What historical context influenced the interest in the Republic of Venice during the Tudor reign?

  The end of the Tudor reign led to interest in alternative forms of rule
• What cultural aspect is highlighted by Othello's character in Venice?

  Othello represents the cultural diversity of Venice as an immigrant who adopted Venetian values
• What themes are associated with Venice in relation to Othello and Desdemona's love match?

  Power, romance, and high culture
• How is Italy generally portrayed in Renaissance plays?

  As associated with villainy, decadence, and corruption
• How does Iago's character relate to the stereotypes of Italian vices?

  Iago personifies these stereotypical Italian vices
• What does the isolation of Cyprus symbolize in the play?

  The isolation and threats faced by Desdemona and Othello
• What does the military setting in Othello signify?

  It underscores the conflict Othello faces in combining love and work
• How were black men and Moors typically portrayed in Renaissance drama?

  Negatively
• How does Othello's behavior change throughout the play?

  He behaves as the stereotype of the lustful, murderous black man only when corrupted by Iago
• What does Shakespeare emphasize about Othello's character in Venice?

  His noble origins and power as a mercenary general
• What was a common belief about black people during the Renaissance?

  That they were fit only to be slaves
• How does Shakespeare subvert the common beliefs about black people in Othello?

  By depicting Othello as a noble Moor
• What religious themes are prevalent in Othello?


  The preoccupation with good and evil
• How is Desdemona linked to good in the play?

  Through references to heaven
• How is Iago linked to evil in Othello?


  Through references to hell and the devil
• What is Othello's religious affiliation by the end of the play?

  He has converted to Christianity and subscribes to Christian values
• What does Othello realize in the final moments of the play?

  That he is damned
• What are Iago's attitudes towards religion?

  He has atheistic attitudes and believes men control their own fates
• How were women viewed in Renaissance society?

  As subordinate to men
• What legal status did women have during the Renaissance?

  Women were considered the possessions of men
• How did assertive women threaten the social order in Renaissance society?


  They were considered a threat to the established norms
• How does Desdemona assert her rights in the play?

  By asserting her right to live with Othello without challenging his authority
• What does Shakespeare's portrayal of Emilia suggest about women in relation to patriarchy?

  That assertiveness in a woman is not always a threat to patriarchy
• What common theme is explored in many Renaissance and Jacobean plays?

  The tragic consequences of doomed love
• How does marriage typically function in Shakespearean comedies?

  As a central theme that provides a 'happy ending'
• How do villains in Shakespeare's plays often behave?

  As cynical atheists who exploit others for their own ends
• How is sexual corruption presented in Shakespeare's plays?

  Through the exploration of evil and its consequences
• What is a notable example of sexual corruption in Hamlet?


  Claudius poisons his brother and marries his widow, Gertrude
• When was Othello staged by Shakespeare?

  In the early 1600s
• What significant event occurred just before the staging of Othello?

  The death of Queen Elizabeth I
• What was a major concern during Queen Elizabeth I's reign?

  Her unmarried status and lack of an heir
• How is Venice described in the context of Othello?

  As an Italian republic known for its grandeur, wealth, and cosmopolitanism
• What threat does Venice face at the start of Othello?

  The Turkish invasion of Cyprus
• What does the uncertainty in Venice reflect regarding England's situation?

  England's feelings towards who would take the throne after Elizabeth
• How does Shakespeare portray racism in Venetian society in Othello?

  Through Iago's derogatory remarks about Othello
• What transformation does Othello undergo in the play?

  He is initially portrayed as rational and honourable
• What does Shakespeare achieve by creating and then demolishing a racist stereotype of Othello?

  He allows the audience to question Iago’s reliability