GROUP 4:

Calvin {
Febrina
Suwardana
Valerie C
Winston
BIOGRAPHY
 The most influential writer
in all of English literature,
William Shakespeare was
born in 1564 to a successful
middle-class glove-maker in
Stratford-upon-Avon,
England. Shakespeare
attended grammar school,
but his formal education
proceeded no further.
 In 1582 he married an
older woman, Anne
Hathaway, and had three
children with her.
Around 1590 he left his
family behind and
traveled to London to
work as an actor and
playwright. Public and
critical acclaim quickly
followed, and Shakespeare
eventually became the
most popular playwright
in England and part-
owner of the Globe
Theater.
 His career bridged the reigns of Elizabeth I (ruled 1558–1603) and
James I (ruled 1603–1625), and he was a favorite of both
monarchs. Indeed, James granted Shakespeare’s company the
greatest possible compliment by bestowing upon its members the
title of King’s Men.

 Wealthy and renowned, Shakespeare retired to Stratford and died

in 1616 at the age of fifty-two. At the time of Shakespeare’s death,
literary luminaries such as Ben Jonson hailed his works as
timeless
BACKGROUND OF THE
STORY
 William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of
Othello, the Moor of Venice,or
simply Othello, is a tragedy written in
approximately 1603. One of
Shakespeare's most tightly woven
works, it explores themes of racism,
betrayal, love, revenge, and
forgiveness, and has spawned
multiple film, literary, and operatic
adaptations.
 Shakespeare based his play on the story Un Capitano Moro (A
Moorish Captain,) written by the Italian novelist and poet
Cinthio. The term "moors" refers to Muslim inhabitants of the
Arab west but was attributed to Arabs, Berbers, North Africans
and Muslim Europeans.
  The first staging of Othello was performed
before King James 1 in the
Banqueting House at Whitehall on the 1st of
November 1604.

 Othello remained very popular throughout the

18th and 19th centuries

INFLUENCE
SUMMARY OF THE
PLAY
 Provoked by Iago, a jealous Roderigo tells Brabantio of Othello’s
secret affair and marriage to his daughter Desdemona. Othello is
brought before the Duke, where he explains how he wooed
Desdemona, and she is brought to the chamber to confirm her
willingness to marry him. Othello is then sent to defend to
Cyprus against the Turks. He prepares to leave, entrusting
Desdemona to his ensign, Iago. Iago tells Roderigo that he will
obtain Desdemona for him, and persuades him to come to
Cyprus, along with his money. Iago reflects on his hatred for
Othello, and plots a way of destroying him.

 Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, arrives in Cyprus, followed by Iago

and Desdemona, and then by Othello. The Turkish fleet is
reported lost in a storm, and during the celebrations Iago
persuades a reluctant Cassio to drink, then prompts Roderigo to
start a fight with Cassio. Cassio becomes angry, and also attacks
Montano, the Cyprus governor. Othello is roused, and removes
Cassio from office. Iago advises Cassio to work his way back into
Othello’s affections by speaking to Desdemona.
 Cassio asks Iago’s wife Emilia to arrange a meeting with
Desdemona, and she agrees to do what she can. Iago puts the
thought of Desdemona being unfaithful into Othello’s mind, and
hints at Cassio’s role in the infidelity. Emilia finds a handkerchief
that Desdemona has dropped and passes it to Iago. Othello’s
jealousy grows and he asks Iago to prove his suspicions. Iago
suggests that Desdemona has given Cassio the handkerchief.
Othello asks Desdemona for it and is angered when she is unable
to produce it. Cassio meanwhile has found the handkerchief in
his chamber and he asks his mistress Bianca to have it copied.

 Iago arranges for Othello to overhear a conversation between

himself and Cassio, joking about Cassio’s mistress Bianca—but
making the conversation appear to be about Desdemona. Bianca
appears with the handkerchief and returns it to Cassio. This
enrages Othello, and he hits Desdemona, much to the dismay of
his kinsman Lodovico who has arrived from Venice with letters
ordering Othello to return. Othello asks Emilia about
Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, but she denies any knowledge of it.
He then accuses Desdemona to her face, leaving her distraught.
 Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio must die to keep
Desdemona in Cyprus. Roderigo attacks Cassio, but is wounded
by him. Iago wounds Cassio. Hearing Cassio’s cries, Othello
thinks Iago has killed him, and leaves to deal with Desdemona.
Iago then kills Roderigo. Othello kills Desdemona, strangling her
in her bed. Emilia discovers her body, and tells Othello that she
was innocent, and that Iago had lied to him; she is stabbed and
killed by Iago. Letters are revealed telling of Iago and Roderigo’s
plot to kill Cassio. Othello, realising Desdemona was innocent,
laments, then stabs Iago, but only wounds him. Lodovico gives
Cassio power to rule in Cyprus, and is about to arrest Othello,
when Othello commits suicide.
 A Othello - The play’s protagonist and hero.
Desdemona - The daughter of the Venetian
senator Brabanzio.

Characters
 Iago - Othello’s ensign (a job also known as an ancient or
standard-bearer), and the villain of the play.
 Othello - The play’s protagonist and hero.
 Desdemona - The daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio.
 Michael Cassio - Othello’s lieutenant.
 Emilia - Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant. A cynical,
worldly woman, she is deeply attached to her mistress and
distrustful of her husband.
 Roderigo - A jealous suitor of Desdemona. that Cassio is
another potential rival for Desdemona.
 Bianca - A courtesan, or prostitute, in Cyprus. Bianca’s favorite
customer is Cassio, who teases her with promises of marriage.
 Brabanzio - Desdemona’s father, a somewhat blustering and
self-important Venetian senator.
 Duke Of Venice - The official authority in Venice, the duke
has great respect for Othello as a public and military servant.
 Montano - The governor of Cyprus before Othello.