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proudly presents STUDENT GUIDE Content created by Directors of Education Breona Conrad and Joshua Murphy contact: [email protected] with any questions, concerns, or more fascinating Shakespeare trivia quick facts. 8 Theatrical history took D e America's most notable performance of Othello took to place at the Vere Street c Broadway in 1943. Directed by Margaret Webster, this was the e 1943. Theatre on this date as m first production to feature a black Othello alongside an otherwise white cast. The b production starred Paul Robeson in the title role; he had previously played the Margaret Hughes took to e r role in London in 1931. The 1943 production ran for 296 performances; one of the stage as Desdemona, 1 the longest running Shakespearean plays in Broadway history. Along with this, becoming England's first 6 6 this production was the first long performance of a Shakespearean play to be professional actress. 0 released on record. Paul Robeson is a Shakespearean rock star. T H E T E S T O F T I M E Brief history lesson: in 1649, King Charles I was executed on the grounds of high treason and thus began the Interregnum, or the time when the monarch was kicked off the throne. All of that was restored in 1660: The Restoration. Hooray! The Monarchy is back! Along with this, theatres, which were banned during the Interregnum, were reopened. Hooray! But here's the rub: though Shakespeare's works made a comeback, many of his works were adapted or tweaked to better fit the times and social climate. OTHELLO wasn't touched. It hit the stages in its original form on October 11, 1660. The themes of Othello are still very relevant in the 21st century. Can you think of any parallels? ? The name "There once lived in Venice a Moor, You may have E DESDEMONA is of who was very valiant and of a MOOR handsome person..." noticed the subtitle of M Greek origin meaning A this play: "The Moor of "misery" and "unlucky." This is the opening line of N IAGO is the Spanish form Shakespeare's source for Othello: 16th Venice." In 1600s of Jacob meaning century story Un Capitano Moro ("A A Europe and England, "supplanter" or a person Moorish Captain") by Italian writer the word "moor" was N who trips up or overthrows. Giraldi Cinthio. It was featured in a I OTHELLO is a little more collection called Hecatommithi. The only used to described a S of a guess. The best guess named character in Cinthio's story is person who was ' T is that Othello is derived Desdemona. The other characters swarthy (dark skinned) A from Otello, the Italian were: Moor (Othello), the Squadron or tawny (orange- H derivative of Otto meaning Leader (Cassio), the Ensign (Iago), and "rich and prosperous." the Ensign's Wife (Emilia). brown) in skin tone. W S C WAIT, COULD YOU SPELL THAT AGAIN? The word 'honesty' O HIS FINAL BOW The first recorded performance of U Edmund Kean was an or synonym of that T Othello occurred November 1, 1604. ' word is spoken 52 S accomplished English actor The title of the play was The Moor of H Venis (yes, that is the correct spelling) times in the play- O in the 18th Century. Known most commonly by N written by...Shaxberd. Where's O to "play the whole round of spellcheck when you need it? Iago. Honest! R tragedy, comedy, opera, farce," Kean had a turn at "B U T I W I L L W E A R M Y H E A R T U P O N M Y S L E E V E . .." Ever hear that phrase in a song or conversation? Have you both Othello and Iago. On ever spoken this phrase? If you've answered yes, you've March 25, 1833, while encountered Shakespeare. Dialogue from Act 1 scene i, Iago: onstage as Othello opposite his son, Charles, as Iago, "...But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws to peck at: I am not what I am." Kean collapsed and died. (pssst...that's Latin for "persons of the drama" or, cast of characters as we know it) dramatis personae (Th at's t he low in a est ra naval nking GENERAL IN THE VENETIAN MILITARY comm OTHELLO and.) IAGO OTHELLO'S TRUSTED, BUT CONNIVING, ENSIGN CASSIO OTHELLO'S LOYAL AND MOST BELOVED CAPTAIN RODERIGO CORRUPT VENETIAN, IN LOVE WITH DESDEMONA MONTANO VENETIAN PREDECESSOR IN THE GOVERNMENT OF CYPRUS OTHELLO'S WIFE; DAUGHTER OF BRABANTIO DESDEMONA IAGO'S WIFE AND DESDEMONA'S MAIDSERVANT EMILIA CASSIO'S LOVE BIANCA ALSO SAILORS l an officia (That is er.) messeng HOLD ON! HERALD/SOLDIER This adaptation is full of BRABANTINO VENETIAN SENATOR significant cuts to the AND DESDEMONA'S original text. Fear not! All of the major plot points FATHER "Men are still very much in tact. One BIG change to this version is that our GRATIANO should be action begins in Cyprus, BRABANTIO'S BROTHER not Venice. Because of what they this, we never meet Desdemona's family. If LODOVICO seem..." you like this adaptation, BRABANTIO'S KINSMAN read the whole text! AND DESDEMONA'S -Iago When you do, you'll COUSIN'S BROTHER meet these guys: In a single play, Shakespeare penned both his most disdainful villain and poignant tragic hero. To quote the introduction of Othello by Leslie Dunton-Downer and Alan Riding from their book Essential Shakespeare Handbook, "Iago's pathological fiendishness has never been surpassed in dramatic literature, set against Othello's honesty, love, and purity of principle." The following is a summary of the entire play; this production has been condensed and some characters and scenes have been completely cut for time and flow. One name is at the center of every conversation: Othello. He has recently promoted Cassio to Lieutenant- a title Iago had been coveting. News has reached Barbantio, via Iago, his daughter, Desdemona, has secretly eloped with Othello. This news infuriates Brabantino and devastates Rodergio who is desperately in love with Desdemona. Brabantio is convinced Othello used witchcraft to woo Desdemona until she arrives and professes her love. Iago and Roderigo join forces to seek revenge against Othello. We set sail for Cyprus: Iago with 1 Desdemona, Othello with a fleet to prepare for battle against the Turks. Othello is still at sea for battle; news arrives that the Turkish fleet has wrecked. Meanwhile, Iago lands in Cyprus with Desdemona where they are greeted with great affection by Cassio, an affluent gesture that enrages and inspires Iago. Iago convinces Roderigo to confront Cassio with being in love with Desdemona. Othello arrives and throws a party to celebrate his marriage and the demise of the Turks. Iago convinces Cassio, who has a drinking problem, to get drunk. Cassio causes a scene and is disgraced by Othello. Iago then convinces Cassio to plead forgiveness 2 through Desdemona; he plots to make Othello see the Cassio and Desdemona together. Othello walks in on Cassio and Desdemona talking. Cassio leaves with haste and Desdemona takes to pleading to Othello on behalf of Cassio. These actions, fueled by Iago's sinister advice, takes hold and Othello becomes suspicious of Desdemona's fidelity. Emilia, Iago's wife, steals the handkerchief Othello gave to Desdemona so Iago can place it in Cassio's room to further the deception. Othello demands proof of the affair. First Iago claims that Cassio, while sleepwalking, passionately embraced him thinking Iago was Desdemona, but Othello doesn't bite. He then says he saw Cassio wipe his beard with Desdemona's handkerchief. This works. Desdemona presses Othello to speak with Cassio. Othello 3 demands the handkerchief; she can't produce it. Uh-oh. Iago sets up Othello to hear Cassio speaking candidly about his "affair" with Desdemona and does so by tricking Cassio into talking openly about his real relationship with Bianca. Othello is over the edge and seeks to murder Desdemona for revenge; Iago feeds that fire. Word comes that Othello must away and Cassio is to be put in charge in Cyprus. Roderigo confronts Iago about not delivering gifts to Desdemona on his behalf as promised. Iago spins this into convincing Roderigo that what needs to 4 happen is Cassio being murdered. Desdemona, now full of fear, confides in Emilia. Roderigo and Cassio fight; Roderigo is injured. Running to his "aide," Iago takes the opportunity to kill Roderigo. Cassio gets away with a leg wound. Othello watches Desdemona sleep as he contemplates killing her. She awakes and pleads her innocence after Othello confronts her to confess her sin. He smothers her and then confesses to Emilia. His confession leads Emilia to connect the dots of the command to steal the handkerchief; Iago immediately kills her upon the confession and is swiftly arrested. Cassio then enters and reveals the entire plot to Othello. 5 Overcome with remorse and sorrow, Othello stabs himself. "Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy! JEALOUSY Not Your Average It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on..." -Iago, Act 3 scene 3 Shakespearean The overwhelming driving force in Othello is jealousy: Iago and Roderigo act out of jealousy and it is the single force that leads to Othello's undoing. Today, we don't really call it Tragedy "the green-eyed monster," but have you ever encountered the phrase "green with envy" in conversation or in a movie, TV show, or Ever wonder why, after book? Have you ever made a choice influenced by jealousy? 400 years, the works of "And, noble signior, -The Duke of Venice - Shakespeare are the Act I Scene iii RACE If virtue no delighted beauty lack, most performed plays Your son-in-law is far more fair than black." in the world? One of Unrest due to an interracial marriage and snap judgements the reasons is that his and assumptions based on skin color.
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