This unit will be based primarily upon the 1995 movie version.
The Cast of Characters
The information for each character is a modified version found on No Fear Shakespeare. It would not be a bad idea to go there for a summary of what is going on to beef up your notes a bit.
Othello
- The play’s protagonist and tragic hero. Othello is a highly respected
general of Venice. He is a Moor, which means he is of North African descent.
He is respected by those around him. In spite of all this, Othello falls
easy to his insecurities. For one, he is older than Desdemona. Two, she
is so kind and gentle, but he is a soldier. Three, although his race is
not a primary focus of the play, it makes him an outsider both visually
and culturally. He trusts others too much, and that helps him to fall
to his jealousy.
Desdemona - The daughter of a Venetian senator. Desdemona and Othello are secretly married as the movie starts. Desdemona is kind and sweet, but she is not weak like Ophelia from Hamlet. She is determined and capable of following her own path - much to the dismay of her father. Be clear on this - Desdemona loves Othello and Othello only.
Iago - Othello’s ensign (Othello's 2nd highest soldier, just under the rank of lieutenant) and the villain of the play. At various points in the play, he claims to be motivated by different things: resentment that Othello passed him over for a promotion in favor of Michael Cassio; jealousy because he heard a rumor that Othello slept with his wife; suspicion that Cassio slept with Emilia too. Iago says what he needs to say to convince others and himself, so we may never really know what his true motivations are.
Michael Cassio - Othello’s
lieutenant, or second-in-command. Cassio is highly educated but young
and inexperienced in battle. Iago resents Cassio’s high position
and dismisses him as a bookkeeper. Truly devoted to Othello, Cassio is
ashamed after being implicated in a drunken brawl on Cyprus and losing
his place as lieutenant. Iago uses Cassio’s youth, good looks, and
flirtatious manner with women to play on Othello’s insecurities
about Desdemona’s faithfulness.
Emilia - Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical, worldly woman, Emilia is deeply attached to Desdemona and distrustful of her husband.
Roderigo - A jealous suitor of Desdemona. Young, rich, and foolish, Roderigo is convinced that if he gives Iago all of his money, Iago will help him win Desdemona’s hand. Repeatedly frustrated as Othello marries Desdemona and then takes her to Cyprus, Roderigo is ultimately desperate enough to agree to help Iago kill Cassio after Iago points out that Cassio is another potential rival for Desdemona.
Minor Characters
Bianca - A prostitute in Cyprus. Bianca’s favorite customer is Cassio, who teases her with promises of marriage but laughs at her behind her back.
Brabantio (Desdemona's dad) - A senator. As a friend of Othello, Brabantio feels betrayed when the general marries his daughter in secret.
The Duke of Venice - The guy with the cool hat who is politically in charge.
Montano - a friend of Othello's and Cassio's in Cyprus. Cassio loses his position because he gets into a fight with him while drunk.
Lodovico - You won't need to know him for the test. I included him here because of his hair!
Introducing the Play
The Trailer
Our Dating Game Shakespeare Edition introduction.
The full movie
Available on Netflix.
The Secret Wedding
Thus do I ever make my fool my purse.
We have an Edpuzzle on this speech. Check the Makeup Work Blog for login details.
How Am I a Villain?
After Cassio gets drunk and fights, Iago is there to help him.
Othello Confronts Desdemona about the Missing Handkerchief
Oh Slap!
The Annoying Willow Song
Put Out the Light
Here are some play advertisements for Othello. Do any of them look good to you?
Still need more? Then you can check out this Japanese manga that takes the name and the themes, but not the characters. Instead of Othello and Iago, we get YaYa the Cry-ya. Personally, I'll stick with the original, but if anyone wants to do a review on either this or the movie O, I'll work out some extra credit.
The Strawberry Handkerchief
This handkerchief was given to Othello's mom by an Egyptian gypsy. This gypsy told her that if she gave the handkerchief to her husband, he would stay faithful to her as long as he had it. If her were to lose it, he would be reckless with his love and attentions. After his death, the mom gave it to Othello and told him to give it to the one he would marry to keep her faithful.
Iago uses this as proof that Cassio and Desdemona are cheating. He got it because his wife took it for him as a favor.
The strawberries on the handkerchief are not just there for looks. They are symbols of love and perfection.
Click the cartoon for a more detailed analysis of the handkerchief.
The Chess Symbols
This is over the top symbolism. Normally when you have chess pieces used as symbols, the black piece has the archetype meaning of evil; however, in this case, the black piece is Othello because he is a moor. The white queen is Desdemona. The white knight that comes between them is who? It's not that hard to figure it out and it foreshadows Iago's plan to get his revenge.
Putting Out the Lights
Right before Othello goes to kill Desdemona, he puts out the lamps hanging on the wall. Before putting out the last candle he has, he says,
"Put out the light" Then he looks at her, knowing what he is about to do and says again, "Put out the light."
This time, the light is not the candle. It is instead it is symbolic. Light is often a symbol of beauty, truth, and life. Desdemona is the light of his life and he is about to put it out. Desdemona is also faithful to him, but he does not see this truth. Dark deeds are often done in the dark.
Important Quotes
I may ask you to identify who said the quote, who it was said to, or what it means in the context of the story. Your best way to prepare for this is to highlight the quote and stick it into Google and see what pops up for it.
"I am not what I am."
"Look to her Moor, if you have eyes to see,
she has deceived her father, and may thee."
"Thus do I make my fool my purse."
"I hate the Moor."
"Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Be sure of it. Give me the ocular proof
Or by the worth of mine eternal soul
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my waked wrath!"
"One who loved not wisely, but too well."
"Demand me nothing, what you know, you know.
From this time forth I never will speak word."
O
Do you find yourself thinking, "If only there was a version of this movie in modern day times, modern day language, and had basketball in it, that would be great?" Well, then, the movie for you is O.
Some Good Links to Help You
Manga Shakespeare - Othello summary in one page.
Sparknotes Video of Othello - the whole play summed up in nine minutes - It's worth it to get your notes caught up
No Fear Shakespeare: Othello - the entire play in modern day translation
Sparknotes: Othello - a great place to go to get a writtensummary of the play
An Interesting Comparison: Joker vs. Iago
This was created by Ahmed Malik:
Othello - the game
This game is also called Reversi, but was renamed after the play Othello because of the black and white imagery with it. You can play it online but this version changed the colors, so the imagery is lost. Alas. Plus, it is on a Math web site. Yikes!
I'm trying to track down who drew this - I believe it to be Bubba-Buu.
Extra Credit Question on Test (just to see if you were checking the web site for notes)
Who died in the play off stage, but survived in the movie?
Answer:
Brabantio
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