Table of Contents
What is Othello known for?
The play’s protagonist and hero. 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.
What kind of person is Othello?
outsider
Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice.
Who is Othello and what did he do?
The story revolves around two characters, Othello and Iago. Othello is a military commander of Moorish race who was serving as general of the Venetian army in defence of Cyprus against invasion by Ottoman Turks.
What is the basic story of Othello?
The play is set in motion when Othello, a heroic black general in the service of Venice, appoints Cassio and not Iago as his chief lieutenant. Jealous of Othello’s success and envious of Cassio, Iago plots Othello’s downfall by falsely implicating Othello’s wife, Desdemona, and Cassio in a love affair.
Why is Othello the main character?
As the play’s title indicates, Othello is the protagonist. He is well-respected for his military valor, and when the Duke learns about the impending threat posed by the Ottoman fleet, he immediately turns to Othello for help, imploring “Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you” (1.3.).
What is the main theme of Othello?
Shakespeare’s classic play Othello is about a man who falsely accuses his wife of cheating on him, and believes this lie so strongly that he eventually takes her life. Some of the major themes in this play include racial prejudice, manipulation, and jealousy.
Why is Othello a good man?
Othello is essentially a good man. From early in the play we learn that he is a trusted soldier and a loving husband who remains calm under pressure and is held in high regard in Venice.
What type of tragedy is Othello?
Othello is a tragedy because it tells the story of a noble, principled hero who makes a tragic error of judgment, leading to a devastating climax in which most of the characters end up either dead or seriously wounded.
What is the ending of Othello?
In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed, Iago stabs and kills Emilia, and is then taken prisoner while Othello, lamenting the loss of his wife, kills himself next to her. Notably, Iago is left wounded but alive at the end of the play.
Is Othello a hero or villain?
Othello is generally considered to be the protagonist of the play Othello, but throughout the story, he doesn’t always play the role of “hero.” His life, just like his characterization, is far more complicated than that.
Who is the most important character in Othello?
Character Iago
The Importance of the Character Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare. The character of Iago is of extreme and pivotal importance to the play as a whole. His character is brilliantly defined, giving him a quality that other characters in the story do not possess.
Why is Othello considered an outsider?
In Shakespeare’s play “Othello” the character Othello is presented as an outsider to the events that are taking place amongst the other characters. He was excluded from what the truth holds and this caused his downfall, along with his jealous nature and stubbornness.
What are facts about Othello?
Here are some interesting facts about Othello: Shakespeare wrote the story of Othello in 1603. Even though this classic piece is not as popular as Romeo and Juliet, it is still performed all over the world until this present day. Many students of literature also explore the ideas and theme in their study.
Who played Othello in original play?
We know that the original Othello was Richard Burbage, Shakespeare’s leading actor, who also created the roles of Hamlet and King Lear. We can presume, from a contemporary illustration of a Moorish character in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, that Burbage played the role in some sort of blackface makeup, to suggest Othello’s race.
What are the character traits of Othello?
Error of Judgement (hamartia).