Othello Frontloading

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Othello Frontloadingwritten in 1604

• Know these characters well.
• Know what they sayand to whom.
• Jot notes after viewing each day.
• The test (100 multiple choice or matching)
  demands you know this play very well, so youll
  have a team of experts to work with.
• 84 average among non-AP students.

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Act Presentations

• Each of you will be part of two squads
• 1. your test-taking team, which will have an
  expert from each act (or four of the five acts)
• 2. your act-presenting group, which will have 20
  minutes to teach the rest of the class all of the
  important quotes, events, settings, and so forth
  from one specific act.
• Act I on April 29 M Act IV on May 2 H
• Act II on April 30 T Act V on May 7 T
• Act III on May 1 W Test May 14 T

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4
Gratiano

• Brabantios brother.
• Desdemonas uncle.
• Travels from Venice to Cyprus late in the play
  with Lodovico.
• Has a limited role and beard in the filmand is
  slightly visible in the next image.

5
Montano

• Othellos friend in Cyprus he is not in Venice
  scenes.
• Also a leader in the government and military of
  Cyprus.
• Cassio loses his rank because he becomes drunk
  and fights with Montano, angering Othello, who
  has been romantically involved for the first
  time with his new wife, Desdemona.

6
Duke of Venice

• Calls a meeting in the middle of the night to
  decide what to do about a threat from the Turkish
  military.
• Allows Desdemona to go to Cyprus, following her
  new husband, who is leader of the Venetian
  military.
• Urges Brabantio to accept Othello as his new
  son-in-law.

7
Brabantio

• Desdemonas dad.
• Senator in Venice, Italy, the first setting of
  the play. Does not go to Cyprus.
• Awakens to vulgar shouts by Iago and Roderigo,
  who wants to marry Desdemona.
• Goes to confront Othello, but is summoned to meet
  with the Duke about military deliberations.

8
Emilia

• Iagos wife.
• Desdemonas maid and mentor.
• Grabs the salient handkerchief from D. to give to
  Iago, seeking approval from the worst husband
  possibleand not understanding the reason Iago
  wants the handkerchief.
• Rumored to have slept with Othello (but Iago uses
  this rumor as justification for his sedition).

9
Roderigo, the Puppet

• Wearing a fake beard in this photo, trying to
  hide his identity as he attempts to sabotage the
  marriage between Othello Desdemona, which he
  witnesses.
• Brabantio has told him he cannot marry D.
• Succumbs to Iagos verbal treachery throughout
  the play.
• Sells everything he has to chase Desdemona.

10
Lodovico, the eyes and voice of the audience

• Desdemonas cousin.
• Major role late in the play at Cyprus. Tries to
  stand up against Othello for Desdemona.
  Chastises Iago severely. Strips Othello of his
  title and laments the sadness of the resolution
  for the audience. Will tell the story to those
  in Venice.
• This actor, Michael Sheen, wears silly tights in
  this film, but has performed as Tony Blair and in
  Frost/Nixon, Twilight, Underworld, and many other
  popular films and shows.

11
Bianca

• Follows a loose moral compass.
• Lives in Cyprus like Montano, is never in
  Venice.
• Is available, especially to the handsome,
  charismatic Michael Cassio.
• Functions largely as a pawn in Iagos scheme.
• Is angered when she finds the handkerchief left
  by Cassio on her bed.

12
Cassio

• Othellos best man at his elopementand is
  promoted by Othello in the opening scenes.
• Cannot control himself while drinking alcohol
  (notorious).
• Enjoys an affair with Bianca.
• Tricked by Iago, who advises Cassio to
  commiserate with D. to regain Othellos favor.

13
Irene Jacob as Desdemona

• Brabantios daughter.
• Pursued by Roderigo.
• Wife of Othello, who attracted affection
  attention by telling, within earshot of D.,
  Brabantio exotic stories of the Orientof war,
  slavery, barbarism, etc.
• Her Willow song functions as foreshadowing.

14
Laurence Fishburne as Othello

• A Moor from northern Africa who has somehow
  swiftly gained rank in Venice.
• Described harshly, prejudicially by many.
• Brilliant militaristically, childish (like
  Pantaloons Rider) emotionally/socially.
• To London audiences, a rare representation of
  blackness to judgea source of the justification
  for slavery, which followed, of course?

15
Iago, the spider/viperplayed by Kenneth Branagh

• Has been ranked as top villain of all literature.
• Speaks in many asides (like above) to audience.
• Married to Emilia, passed by Cassio for
  promotion.
• Verbally seduces Roderigo throughout the play.
• True reason/source of wickedness debated
  endlessly.