A discussion of Renaissance racial identity, gender , and what it means to be a sociopath

1
The Tragedy of Othello

• A discussion of Renaissance racial identity,
  gender , and what it means to be a sociopath

2
Othello The story

• Like with many of Shakespeares plays, the story
  is not his originally
• Thought to be based on Italian author Cinthios
  tale A Moorish Captain and also has
  similarities to one of the tales in One Thousand
  and One Arabian Nights
• Were also Moorish delegations in England around
  1600, from Morocco, which could also have been a
  source of inspiration
• Shakespeares version was written around 1604 and
  performed the same year it was first published
  in 1622

3
Othello One of the Great Tragedies

• Have already read Oedipus Rex which helped define
  the genre in the Classical world
• In medieval times, tragedy was defined by people
  who fell from grace, reflecting the focus on the
  glories of the afterlife
• Shakespeare wrote his six (Hamlet, Othello,
  Macbeth, King Lear, Antony and Cleopatra,
  Coriolanus) major tragedies from 1600 to 1608 all
  which can be unified through
• Hero is a person of elevated rank or position
• Hero is alienated from his world in some way
• Hero makes a decision which has significant
  impact on himself and others
• Hero is able to make some universal sense from
  his actions
• Romeo and Juliet, while tragic, is not included
  in this as the protagonists are young and undone
  by the caprices of fate

4
Othello A system of pairs

• Othello is one of the most formally constructed
  of Shakespeares plays
• Each character is balanced by another things
  start going wrong when this balance is altered
• The paired structure goes beyond just character
  types
• Black vs White
• Venice (the city) vs. Cyprus (the rural island)
• Christian vs Moor (Muslim)
• Upper vs Lower ranks
• Male vs Female

5
Iago A true Villain

• While introduced as honest Iago, he is anything
  but honest
• A villain in every sense, Iago is disturbing in
  his lack of motivation for his actions
• Lies, plants seeds of doubt, creates problems
  with serious ramifications, all because he can
• Presents serious questions for characters,
  audience how does one deal with an individual
  who has no moral center?