Othello - ao3 cinthios tale

Question 1

when was cinthios tale published

Answer 1

1565

Question 2

what is the significance of Shakespeare naming his characters unlike cinthio

Answer 2

• it humanises and presents them as individual character instead of types

Question 3

what is the significance of cinthio’s tale being more didactic whilst Shakespeare crafts Othello to be a renaissance tragedy

Answer 3

• Othello opens doors to questions with no answers providing a powerful exploration into multiple themes and the human psyche

Question 4

what is the significance of Othello crafting Cassio to get drunk which isn’t in cinthios tale

Answer 4

it highlights the loss of control of an individual and their identity and reputation
this mirror what Iago does to Othello’s psyche

Question 5

what is the signficance of Shakespeare crafting Desdemona to have a bigger voice as in cinthio’s tale she doesn’t speak to the signatory

Answer 5

• strengthening her power raises questions
• does it highlight Shakespeare promoting feminism and the female voice in the public sphere
• or warning women that if they speak out they can have deathly consequences

Question 6

what is the significance of Shakespeare crafting a Turkish threat which is not seen in cinthio’s tale

Answer 6

• it is an unnecessary insignificant detail
• however it could allude to the political imperatives in Othello’s life having a detrimental impact on his personal life and relationship with Desdemona
• it could illustrate the power of nature in overcoming rationality as the storm destroys the ship

Question 7

what is the significance of the ensign being more violent in cinthios tale than in Othello

Answer 7

• highlights Shakespeare’s crafting of Iago being this puppet-master and director through enjoying the manipulation of others

Question 8

how does Desdemona’s death difer

Answer 8

• cinthio - she gets beaten with a sock filled with sand and roof collapses in
• shakespeare - symbolic suffocation much more personal

Question 9

what is the significance of action not returning to Venice and staying in cyprus in Shakespeares Othello

Answer 9

• the characters remain in a chaotic boundary and space for the denouement with no complete restoration
• very symbolic - you can’t just return home things don’t go back to normal

Question 10

what is the significance of the ensign focusing on Othello in Othello as opposed to Desdemona in cinthio

Answer 10

• crafts Iago with unclear motivations and lets the audience craft there own morals
• thus opens ambiguous discussions of the nature of evil and the human psyche

Question 11

what is the significance of the endings difference

Answer 11

• cinthio Othello id murdered and so is Iago - true resolution and catharsis for audience
• shakespeare - suicicde = anagorisus = enterance into hell = Othello taking responsibillity murder = gravest sin
• ambiguity of iagos death = lack of true resolution

Question 12

what characters does Shakespeare introduce/ develop

Answer 12

Bianca
Rodrigo
Emilia
brabantio