INTRODUCTION Historical background

Shakespeare lived in an age of changes, inventions and discoveries: the Renaissance (this reason could explain in part the Shakespeare new style). Before this epoch, there was almost no development of the society in terms of science, education, religion etc. and the church didnt allow low class people to get educated. But in the Renaissance, people began to explore new things and to consider the human being and his feelings the main topic to study, to discover and to write about. Suddenly everybody was able to influence their own will and fate. The main characteristic of Renaissance, which last between the XVI and XVIII century, was the rebirth of the Greek and Roman classic values and we can appreciate this influence on arts principally (architecture, painting, sculpture, literature etc.). Furthermore, inventions like the printing and discovers like the conquest of America made possible the fast development of the civilization and the transmission of knowledge. In England, Queen Elisabeth reigned from 1558 to 1603. This period, in which England became a world power, is also called Elizabethan age or the golden age of Englands history. Important scientific advances or the better economic situation were the main aspects. This situation made possible the development of the cultural environment. In this time there were also several problems like the great plague in 1592 or the xenophobic expulsion. The Queen considered that England was suffering an invasion, on one hand, by moors coming from Morocco with the purpose of fight together with England against Spain, and on the other hand, by negroes captured in Spanish ships. Then, Queen Elisabeth proclaimed a text where she showed that she was worried about this invasion because too many moors and negroes were in the kingdom and it could be a threat. Later, she ordered the expulsion of this people from England. This xenophobic atmosphere didnt happen just in England, but in the rest of Europe as well. In 1603, Queen Elisabeth died and, Jacob I became the new king of England.

Elizabethan theatre
During the Queen Elisabeth reign, literature acquires new features that it had never had before. Especially in theater, we can see new topics, characters and changes in the performance. This new theatre tradition is also called Elizabethan theatre. Until that moment, topics in English theatre were limited. We can divide them in three types: Religious Theater, Cult Theater and itinerant companies that performed comical plays. Furthermore, the plays took place mainly in palaces or inns. Then, new forms and innovations appeared and theatre became more tolerant and creative, and amateur actors were replaced by the professional companies with noble patrons. In fact, a great variety of topics emerged, the comedy acquired a great importance and in the drama, characters were described better and with a richer vocabulary. Plays began to perform in open theatres, where it was possible a great

affluence of public. A special characteristic of open theatres was that all actors were men, and female characters were performed by young actors. As we know, drama was a text written to be performed. In it, dialogue was essential and there was always a conflict. It was convenient to include the 3 unities in a play, which means that a play must have the maximum duration of 1 day and all (the same action) should develop in the same place. This idea was introduced by Aristotle who said that more time and more places wouldnt seem real or believable. Several authors were important in Elizabethan drama, as Thomas Kid who wrote The Spanish tragedy, Christopher Marlowe with The tragical history of doctor Faustus or Ben Jonson. But it was Shakespeare who excelled as drama writer. However it is important to explain that only writers that were members of a theatre company, for example as owners, had the possibility of be famous.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE Life

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564 (the exact birthdate remains unknown). When he was 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men. When he went to London, he gave away his wife and children. In 1592, theaters were closed due to the plague and Shakespeare went back to Stratford, but in 1594 theaters reopened. In 1597, his son Hamnet die and three years later he writes Hamlet. When Jacob I arrives to the English throne, he becomes the protector of Shakespeares play company. His last work, the tempest, was written in 1611. Finally, He died in Stratford around 1616. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive, and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, sexuality, religious beliefs, and whether the works attributed to him were written by others.

Works and features

Shakespeare wrote not only drama plays, but comedies, poems and histories as well. Most of his most important works like Merchant of Venice, Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Othello or Romeo and Juliet are printed in the First Folio classified in comedies, histories and tragedies. Two plays are not included in the First Folio, The Two Noble Kinsmen and Pericles, Prince of Tyre. Also no Shakespearean poems were included in the First Folio. The style of Shakespeares works is carefully treated. He wrote popular plays with lots of topics that transformed the medieval theater. As main characteristics we can point out the comicality, the variety of topics and characters, the fantasy and the deep treatment of the characters personality. Furthermore, he aisled the play from the public and impressed the perfection in his works. In some cases, as in Othello, Shakespeare breaks the 3 unities rule in order to create environments and to vary the settings.

OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE

Othello was written between 1603 and 1604 by William Shakespeare. The origin of the play was the moor of Venice by Geraldi Cinthio (1504-1573). Geraldi was also the author of Hecatommithi (the hundred tales). Shakespeare usually based his plays on stories that had already been written, so Shakespeare read these stories in French or Italian. This story is a tragedy where a lot of people (including the main character) die and Othello is the tragic hero. A tragic hero is usually the protagonist of a tragedy, ad his tragedy comes from a flow of character which in this case is a problem of jealousy (the cause of the Othellos tragedy). Othello is also a revenge play. In a revenge play we find a character that uses violence to achieve what he believes as justice and this character will use all means to obtain this justice at the expense of others. There is a problem in Othello because the person who looks for justice is the Villain, Iago. His motive for using violence to obtain justice is not at all clear, he simply hates Othello.

The setting
Othello is developed during three days. The first day is setting in Venice and the other two days in Cyprus. In Venice we have the Duke, the Council, a prosperous society because of the trade and this is a Christian society which represents order. Cyprus is important to Venice because it was under the power of Venetians at those times. But Cyprus is a place that represents war and disorder. Othello goes to Cyprus to fight the Turkish because they want to invade it. Turkish people were Muslims which are the enemies of Christians. Cyprus was a strategic place in the Mediterranean sea, so there were always wars in order to occupy this place and in consequence to control the sea.

The characters
Dux of Venetia (he is the higer governor of Venice) Brabantio (Senator of Venice and Desdemonas father) Graciano (Brabantios brother) Othello (The main character, a moor general of Venice) Cassio (Othello s lieutenant) Iago (Othello s ensign and the villain of the play) Roderigo (Venetian Gentelman who loves Desdemona) Montano (Gobernor of Cyprus) Desdemona (Othellos wife)

Emilia (Iagos wife and Desdemona servant) Bianca (She is in love with Cassio)

Summary
Othello, a General of the Venetian army, and Desdemona, the daughter of the senator Brabantio, fall in love and get married in secret. Iago is the Othellos ensign but he hates the moor. He wants to make Othello feel jealousy trying to convince him that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Then Othello has to go to Cyprus to fight against the Turkish and Desdemona goes with him. Once in Cyprus, Othello believe in Iagos words and kill Desdemona. Finally Othello realize that Iago was lying and he commits suicide.

Structure
Act 1, Scene 1, Lines 40-64 Iago and Roderigo are talking. Iago is talking about how people serve his master. Iago says that he serves Othello but he does it for his own benefit: Im not what I am (an expression extracted from the bible), is the phrase that summarizes what Iago really is. Othello has taken this expression from the bible passage I am what I am and Iago uses just the opposite (I am not what I am). For this reason, Iago is presented as the devil and as a worthless person who hates Othello without a clear reason. Also in this act, Iago tells Roderigo that Desdemona and the moor (Othello) are going to get married in secret and Roderigo and Iago tells Brabantio the notice. Then, Brabantio says that Othello has used magic to get Desdemonas love, but finally Othello solve the problem saying that he really loves Desdemona. Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 381- 403 Roderigo is talking to Iago and basically Iago tell Roderigo that he will help him to get Desdemonas love if Roderigo pay a great amount of money: put money enough in your purse. Then, Roderigo leaves and Iago starts a soliloquy. In this monologue, Iago speak about his own thoughts. The reason why Iago wants to kill Othello is not clear at all but only the suspect that Emilia and Othello sleeps together makes him hate Othello, probably because Iago consider that this event affect his reputation (like honor in Spanish literature). In the play it seems that Iago doesnt care about the possible Emilias infidelity, but what Iago really cares is that people know about this problem and talk about it. Before this act and in the very beginning of Act 2, Othello and his men (also Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca) travel to Cyprus because the Dux of Venice has send them in order to fight against the Turkish, but when they arrive, a violent storm has destroy the Turkish fleet. Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 258-261 In this scene, appearance, reality and reputation are very important again. Before of these lines, Iago made Cassio to get drunk; then Iago persuaded Roderigo to fight

against Cassio, who is drunk. Then Othello stopped the fight and demoted Cassio: Cassio, I love thee, but nevermore be officer of mine. At this moment, Cassio is demoted, what is a very bad thing to his reputation. After this part, Iago tells Cassio the truth but in ironic way, because he tries gets Cassios trust. That is to say, Iago tells lies to Cassio because he wants to use Cassio to attack Othello. Act 2, Scene 3, Lines 331-357 This is a new soliloquy of Iago. In it, Iago thinks that the best way to get the control over Othello is using Desdemona. Iago thinks that Othello is totally under the control of Desdemona and for that reason he does what Desdemona want. So Iago has advised Cassio to speak with Desdemona to solve his problem, but with this action Iago wants actually to make Othello jealous telling Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have an affair: Ill pour this pestilence into his ear. Also in this soliloquy Iago shows his double side: divinity of hell! Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 109-119 Othello and Iago are talking about Cassio. Iago is asking Othello if he knows about the relationship between Casio and Desdemona. Othello is confused and he asks himself why he is asking these questions. Othello is falling in Iagos tricks. Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 147-172 Othello ask Iago what he really wants to say and Iago says: I dont want tell you what Im thinking. Because he Iago he is a jealous person, he admits he is humble and he does bad things to Othello. Finally he says: Hes jealous but Othellos not. Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 209-211 There is a talk about reputation between Cassio and Iago again. Money is nothing compared with a good name. Reputation is the thing that distinguishes a man from an animal. In the phrase The green eye monster/jealousy, Iago wants to know if Othello has an affair with Emilia, because the suspicion of this relationship hurts more than reality for him. Then Cassio ask Iago why he tells him that thought. Iago gets hungry and says that he needs evidences, because he cant sleep. Also in this scene, Othello gets more jealous because Desdemona doesnt have the handkerchief that Othello gave her. Iago put the handkerchief in Cassios room and lies Othello saying that he had seen the handkerchief in Cassios power. Act 4, Scene 1, Lines 197-209 Before these lines, Iago made that Othello saw Cassio with the handkerchief. Othello doesnt want to be with Desdemona anymore, so he asks for poison because this night hes going to poison Desdemona. Iago says that it is better to asphyxiate her with a pillow in the bed that she has contaminated and Othello says that it is right. Before, Othello Act 5, Scene 2, Lines 336 354

In this scene, one of the last, Othello has killed Desdemona (before the murder, while Othello prayed Desdemona asked him for mercy). Emilia tells the truth to Othello (Desdemona was innocent) and Iago kill his own wife too. Then, Othello ask Iago why, but he is silent because he had no reason; he is essentially evil. Othello realizes and says fool! fool! and tries to kill Iago but God does not permit. Othello is humble; he is a general, he feels useful for Venice. He wasnt jealous; it was Iago who poisoned his ear.

Literary resources, themes and comments

Shakespeare wrote Othello in a racist historical context but in that case, the main character is performed by a moor. Thats why one interpretation of the Shakespeares play could be a critique of English (and European) xenophobia. The story of Othello the Moor in service to the Doge of Venice does not show a negative image of the Arab race. However, Shakespeare was known for his xenophobia against some ethnic groups including the Jews. His classic play "The Merchant of Venice" portrays a very unfavorable picture of the Jews. In Othello, the Moor is presented by Shakespeare as a loyal soldier and one full of virtues. Racism and fear of the Black race can be a second reason of why Iago hates Othello. The reasons that lead him to betray Othello can reflect the feelings of European men against Black men. The main topics in Othello could be jealousy (represented by Iago and later by Othello himself), love (between Othello and Desdemona mainly, but love progressively became hate), revenge (the irrational act of Iago), manipulation (the way in which Iago execute his plains), the contrast between appearance (Iago consider more important what people thinks about him that what he thinks by himself) and reality and finally war and conflict. As literary resources, we can point out the metaphor, the hyperbole, the alliteration and the comparisons. Shakespeare describes almost no characteristics of the place in which the scene take place. For example, in line 87 Iago uses a lot of Images of animal which are some examples of metaphors; in line 331, the phase green eye monster refers to jealousy and Zaunds is a contraction of gods wounds proper of Shakespeare Vocabulary. It is important to point out that bad events happen during the night (deaths, discussions, etc.), so Shakespeare use the night to create a propitious environment for the drama.

CONCLUSSION
We can appreciate Shakespeare features in the play because in every moment the story makes us feel the tension of the moment or the feelings that the character transmit. This play follows perfectly the characteristics of drama. The moments in which there is tension or distension are perfectly definite. All the scenes are integrated in the story and for this reason the whole play keep the reader entertained.

The character of Iago is very developed by the author. In fact, I consider Iago the most precise character in the play. Furthermore we can appreciate perfectly the envy and the evilness when Iago is speaking.

BIBLIOGRAPHY
DiYanni, Robert. Literature approaches to fiction, poetry, and drama. Second Edition. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008. 1012-1098. Print. Mabillard, Amanda. "Shakespeare of Stratford." 1999. Web. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/. http://digital.lib.muohio.edu/shakespeare/ http://bloglibros.com/el-contexto-historico-de-shakespeare-teatro-isabelino-i/# http://www.lerntippsammlung.de/Shakespeare-_-historical-background.html Classnotes