Chapter 2 Flashcards
Who is the main source of the Shakespeare’s Othello?
Giovanni Battista Giraldi commonly know as Cinthio.
What isbthe title of Cinthio’s work that served as the source for Othello
Gli Hecatommithi published in 1585
How did Shakespeare change Cinthio’s story in Othello?
S. Made significant changes to characters, motivations, and the ending adding complexity to the plot
What historical context influenced Othello’s setting?
Othello is set against the backdrop of Venice’s struggle with the Ottoman Empire for control of Cyprus
What significant event involving the Ottoman Empire is mentionned in relation to Othello’s context?
The naval Battle of Lepanto in 1571 where christians powers defeated the Ottoman Turks
How does S. Incorprate éléments of Travel literature into Othello?
Othello’s stories in the play reflect the fascination with exotic and erotic tales found in travel narratives of the time
What are some of the Plinian Monsters referenced in Othello ?
O. Invludes references to Monsters like the anthropophagi and men with eyes and mouths on their shoulders inspired by Pliny’s descriptions
How does Venice’s society in Othello relates to sensationnalisme and storytelling?
Venice’s is portrayed as a society eager for colorful and sensational stories reflected in desmona’s fascination with Othello’s tales
What does Othello’s lyrical language add to the play?
Othello’s lyrical language makes desdemona’s love more believable and adds irony to the story
Which historical figure’s descriptions of Moors likely influenced S. Portrayal of O.
S. Likely drew from description by Leo Africanus who wrote ( in geographical historie of Africa in 1600)about Moors and their characteristics (emphasize many of the attributs that critics have noted in O simplicity, credulity, pride, proneness to extrme jealousy and anger and courage on war
Who is Giovanni Battista Giraldi
A poet dramatist and prose writer
Cinthio is his knickname
It is the main source of Othello from a plot from a short narrative in Giraldi cinthio gli Hecatommithi published in 1565
The traductions of gli Hecatommithi
Into french by Gabriel chappuys in 1583 (echoes in O from this version and the italian version )
English by Geoffrey Fenton in 1567 under the title certain tragicall discourse
Differences btw O and cinthio version
The ending
New characters like Barbantio, the credulous Rodrigo
S. Ensign iago IS not driven by lust for desdemona so his motives are more ambigous
Refers directly to the War btw the Muslims Turks and thé Christian venetians givinh the play more political résonance for an early modern audience
Venise struggle + reference in O
1570s with thé Ottoman Empire for control of Cyprus. Venice owned Cyprus from 1470 to 1589 but in 1571 turkish forces seized the island. Later that year an alliance of Christian powers defeated the Turk in the famous naval Battle of Lepanto
‘the Turk’ turning Turk evoke intermittent conflict btw Europe Christian powers and thé islamic Ottoman Empire
Richard knolles published thé general historie of the Turks in 1603 demonised the Ottoman Empire as barbaric and cruel even as they admired its military success and bureaucratic structure
Exotic details
Several sources
Important= Philemon Holland translation of pliny historie of thé World in 1601
Pliny first to describe the monstrous people known as blemmyae or acephali, anthropophagi whom pliny had located in Ethiopie
The Travels of sir John Mandeville a much reprinted 15 th fantasy numerous Plinian Monsters appear including eaters of human flesh and men whose eyes are in the shoulders
17th travelogues liké moryson an itinerary 1617 = streotyping of southern europeans as hot headed and impulsive
