![]() Unaware of Iago’s scheme, Emilia assists him by procuring a handkerchief that was given to Desdemona as a keepsake by Othello. Desdemona notices her husband’s sudden coolness toward her and confides in Emilia, Iago’s wife. He gradually establishes this suspicion in Othello’s mind, while denying that he himself believes it. Iago works to convince Othello that Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona. During the ensuing celebrations, Iago gets Cassio drunk and spurs him on to a brawl that results in his dismissal from Othello’s service. Othello and Desdemona arrive in Cyprus, where they find that the Turkish fleet has already been destroyed by a storm. He also enlists the Othello’s services to fight the Turks. ![]() The duke is impressed by Othello’s honesty and by Desdemona’s loyalty to him, and encourages her father to accept the marriage. Othello has eloped and married Desdemona without her father’s consent, and is brought before the duke of Venice. Enraged, Iago starts plotting Othello’s downfall. Although he and his friend Iago have been through many battles together, Othello gives a promotion to Michael Cassio instead of Iago. Othello is a powerful general in the Venetian army. AND it’s used most often by or about Iago! The word “honest” or some variation on it is said in the play 52 times (I dare you to count ‘em!). Desdemona means “ill-fated.”Īlthough Othello is the tragic hero in the play (and has his name in the title!) it’s the character of Iago that has the most to say…1098 lines of dialogue! Othello by comparison has 887 lines Othello means “wealth” and may have been taken by Shakespeare from the name of an ancient Roman emperor whose nickname was Otho. The way in which Desdemona dies is also different than the source novella. It is possible Shakespeare added him to provide some comic relief and give Iago a sidekick. The lovesick character of Roderigo doesn’t appear at all in Giraldi’s original story. Well, all of the names in the play, with the exception of Desdemona, were created by Shakespeare since the source story only referred to them by their rank or title. ![]() It also turns out that Giraldi provided inspiration for Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure in his Promos and Cassandra that was adapted by George Whetstone. Shakespeare probably read it in the original Italian. He borrowed heavily from an Italian novella called Un Capitano Moro (A Moorish Captain) by Giovanni Battista Giraldi (also known by his pen name Cinthio). Like many of his plays, Othello wasn’t entirely created from Shakespeare’s imagination. What’s the connection between Othello and Measure for Measure…besides the author? Ever use the phrase green-eyed monster and know where it originated? We’ve got answers and more in our handy guide to Othello.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |