Who were the Venetians?The Venetians were a wealthy and therefore powerful people. This wealth was due Venice’s canals which made it an ideal place for trade. The wealth and power of this city did two important things in consideration of the plot of Othello. They made Venice a city of high importance to military and political officials and also gave the natives a great pride in their background.
How were the Moors/Venetians regarded in Shakespeare's day?Moors were characterized as being alternately or even simultaneously noble or monstrous, civil or savage. Being a different race meant, primarily, being an Other, non-English, as well as non-Christian.
*The Venetians regarded to Shakespeare’s day the wealth and power of Venice did two important things in consideration of the plot of Othello. They made Venice a city of high importance to military and political officials and also gave the natives a great pride in their background.
What were the military duties of ranked officers? General- The leader of the army in whatever city/state they serve. It usually is someone who has been in the army since a young age. They are powerful figures in society and are well respected. Generals are in charge of giving out promotions to their fellow soldiers. And control the actions of the entire army.
Lieutenant- A powerful position, is assigned by the General. Can give orders to other soldiers that have lesser ranks then him. This rank does not come with much social status but it is often used as a place to work from to reach higher ranks.
What was the military hierarchy?The military hierarchy of ancient Greece could in retrospect be viewed as running parallel to its social hierarchy. The aristocratic class were the wealthiest and most politically powerful individuals of the populace. Their social position gave them an identical stature in the military hierarchy, for they assumed complete authority as trierarchs of both land and sea forces. Not only did they instigate wars but they also led them on the battle fields. Cavalry members were quite wealthy but were subordinates to the first census class. They supplied chariots and horses and equipped themselves handsomely with armaments; often they were commanders of small units. The hoplite soldiers who formed the phalanx were composed of third class members, and were capable of attaining the necessary skills and equipment to become heavy-infantry soldiers. The lowest class was conscripted into the light-infantry in which they were massed together under the leadership of the generals and commanders. Although the military hierarchy was imbued with the same social hierarchy as in their city states the military was much more than an obligatory service. It was a unifying patriotic force that was shared between all social classes on the battle field where each citizen saw himself as a soldier equal to any other.
What was the role of women?Prior to the 16th century society viewed women with the Christian and Aristotelian views which looked at them as sinful and imperfect. Writers such as Shakespeare challanged these views with their works and they were slowly changed. Women were mostly silent, they did not speak out much at all about their opinions, especially in public. Some women wrote, but mostly all they wrote about was prayer and meditation. The only real chance they got to write about their feelings was in poems. Women were beginning to get some power, the ruler of England at the time was Elizabeth who was the most powerful woman of her time. Nobel women had much easier lives while poorer women had to work hard to keep their husbands and families happy.
What was expected of a daughter?Daughters were seen as property to control by their fathers. They were expected to obey their father’s wishes and to marry by the age of thirteen. Daughters were objects to always be guarded and watched over, too tender and gentle to fend for themselves in a dangerous world. They were expected to preserve their chastity until marriage, and provide a dowry when they finally did marry.
What was expected of a bride? In the Renaissance times a Renaissance Woman was supposed to marry well, be loyal to her husband and give birth to boys. Many women did not fit the mold of what they called a "Renaissance Woman." Many of them would fit in as more of a "Renaissance Man" or what we would call a "Renaissance Woman" in our day and age.
Girls were married for alliances between their families, not for love. Women were married with doweries that their family provided and they prepared household possesions to contribute to the new home. Brides were supposed to be virgins before marriage. Women were supposed had to be faithful and respect their fathers and the family over their wants and needs.
Women got involved in disputes about marriage, inheritance and property. In all these matters they had contact with officialdom, so they enter the record. What is particularly noticeable is that many women were familiar enough with the processes involved to use them constructively to their best advantage. It's no accident that women appear far more often in cases tried in the church courts (where even married women had a separate legal identity) than in the common law courts (where married women could not bring cases on their own account).
What rules for getting married existed at the time of the play?Brides were supposed to be virgins before marriage. Women were supposed had to be faithful and respect their fathers and the family over their wants and needs.
What were the rules of courtship?
What do you think is a scene in a play?
A scene is a unit within an act. Begin - Mid- End.
What do you think is drama term dramatis personae?
Latin for the characters or persons in a play.
In your groups: read your appropriate Othello Plot Synopsis
Who are the characters in your Act?
The characters in Act v are Roderigo, Cassio, Othello, Desdemona, Lodovico, Gratiano, Emilia, lago, and Biana.
Where does it take place?
On the streets then the scene shifts to Desdemona's bedchamber in the castle.
What time does it take place?
It's night time.
What happens in the various scenes in each Act?
In the first scene there's a fight between Roderigo and Cassio.
In th second scene Othello wants to kill his wife Desdemona. Othello stabs lago. Othello kills his own self at last.
How many scenes are there in your Act?
There were two scenes.
Can you plot your scence/ Act?
Yes, we could plot the scene and the act they have a begin- mid- and end.
Michael Jai White as Othello
David Thewlis as Iago
Antonio Banderas as Roderigo
