Iago And Othello On The Main Stage example essay topic

Mr. Burton I received your letter and I would happily guide you through the history of "Othello", its contemporary and Elizabethan staging, as well as the history of the costume and the significance of this play in our and Shakespeare's time. This project will be finished by Tuesday so that you would have time to apply it on your production. If you need any more help feel free to contact me. The audience and the issues of the play "Othello" as produced at the court of the King James I on November 1, 1604, but there is no indication that this was the play's first performance.

It was probably written in 1601-2, soon after hamlet and close to Troilus and Cressida. Undoubtedly one of the reasons for the play's initial success was the choice of Venice as its setting. This city was famous all over Europe as a "free state", where men could profess what beliefs they wished in safety form prosecution. For Shakespeare's contemporaries Venice was a symbol of the dangers of Italy as well as its attractions. It was thought to be corrupt and dangerous as well as beautiful and cultured.

In 1599 John Marston wrote Antonio and Mell ida and so started a trend for play sat in Italy, almost all of them were full of intrigue, lust and murder. While Shakespeare's Italian tragedy in comparison with its successors is sensational and unique: an experienced and successful general, with a reputation for goodness and self-control, is rapidly destroyed through jealousy to the point when he murders his innocent wife and kills himself. But on the other hand this play is very realistic as Shakespeare used its exotic location to represent some of the natural desires and unrecognised fears that are well hidden under the surface of everyday living. The night alarms, the storm at sea, the island fortress: Othello's alien status, his generalship, royal blood, and physical strength: the marriage bed and then concluding murders and suicide: all these elements are combined to create a dramatic action that reveals the secret powers of the sexuality and the insecurities underlying social behaviour.

In fashioning his characters Shakespeare created Iago, his Italian villain is driven by passion and hatred and seems to enjoy destruction. He is clever, thinks that he is being undervalued and during the whole play is extremely lucky in scheming, as if fate was on his side. In all this Elizabethan audience would recognise him as a supporter of Niccolo Machiavelli, as he was popularly envisioned at this time. The strong colours of the Venetian setting were further used to strengthen the dramatic impact of Shakespeare's hero.

Othello is the Moor, born of royal blood who was converted to Christianity and has become the one general able to save it from the Turkish menace. Alerted by their suspicions about Venice Elizabethan audience would also react strongly against the actions of the play's hero even if they were content about his racial difference from themselves. Despite any personal achievements or reputation, aliens of all races and nations aroused strong resentment in England. In Othello's case this would be powered by Brabantio's claim that he used drugs and magic. The exotic Moor would of course command respect and wonder for his achievements but he would also evoke possibilities of social disruption and eternal domination because of his race.

But of course neither the Venetian setting nor Iago's initiative, nor Othello's race is enough to describe the extraordinary hold this play has on the audience. The secret of this power is to be found in its vivid and yet subtle stage-life, the way its characters interact with each other and reveal their true feelings. The Elizabethan stage, theatre Structure of the Globe The theatre was built by Cuthbert Burbage for the Chamberlain's Men had a total capacity of 2000 or 3000 spectators. As there as no lighting at this time they had to perform in the afternoon, and depended a lot on the weather. The Globe was an open theatre so the acoustics were quite poor and the actors sometimes had to shout their lines, stress their accent, and engage in exaggerated theatrical gestures. The stage of the Globe was a level platform about 43 feet in width, 27 or 28 feet deep and was raised about 5 feet off the ground.

The stage was also fitted with a number of mechanisms for example a trap door on its floor. It was surrounded on three sides by the pit, and by an amphitheatre three stores high, each having a gallery, which situated a bit further from the pit. While the galleries may have been partially covered, the stage and the pit were open air. There was also a balcony at the top of the stage which was used for the scenes which were aught to be performed on the dais. The audience and the actors The women did not perform in the Elizabethan theatre. Their parts were played by the boys or young men whose voices did not had not yet broken.

The actors themselves did not have scenery. But they did have big important props - thrones for royalty, tombs, lion skins, trees, chariots and a lot more others. It is also interesting that this kind of theatre included musical performances. Most of the times the sound effects were produced by the musicians, as most plays and especially comedies had songs and dances. Sometimes they were vital to the play like the Desdemona's "Willow song" in "Othello".

In addition to that the audience enjoyed the stage fighting. Sometimes they used red wine in a sponge or a bad of squirting blood. The trap in the floor was usually used for the sudden appearances and disappearances of the ghosts, like in the "Hamlet". Othello in Elizabethan theatre Scene N Title Where takes place Act I I The secret marriage of Othello and Desdemona is discovered. Iago announces it to Brabantio and Roderigo. Iago and Roderigo are on the stage, Brabantio on the balcony. ii Iago meets Othello, Brabantio accuses Othello of using magic and drugs on Desdemona.

Iago, Othello, Cassio are on the stage. Brabantio and the armed men are coming from the back of the stage. Othello, Brabantio, Iago are at the council. The Duke is sitting on the throne. The stage is empty of any king of props. Act II i The battle at the sea.

Iago comes up with the plan to plant the idea of jealousy to Othello's mind. Desdemona, Cassio, Iago are all on the balcony, describing the battle. They gradually come on the main stage where Othello appears. ii Herald's speech The stage is empty. The audience hear the speech from the distance. Iago makes Cassio drunk. Cassio's fight with Montano.

Othello dismisses Cassio. On the main stage. Iago and Cassio, Montano are drinking. During the fight with Roderigo Cassio disappears to the back of the stage. The fight with Montano takes place on the stage. Othello appears from the back.

Act i Iago persuades Cassio to ask Desdemona to help him. Cassio, Clown and Iago on the main stage. ii Cassio talks with Desdemona. Othello sees it. Iago starts poisoning his mind. Cassio, Desdemona, Emilia on the balcony.

Othello and Iago appear on the main stage. iv Othello asks for his handkerchief, Cassio talks with Bianca. Everything takes place gradually on the main stage. Act IV i Iago lies that Desdemona slept with Cassio. Othello hides to hear Iago and Cassio's conversation.

Iago and Othello on the main stage. When Cassio enters Othello hides in the dark. ii Othello questions Emilia. Desdemona talks with Iago about Othello's strange behaviour. Action takes place on the main stage. Desdemona prepares to bed. As the location is domestic the stage is marked as Desdemona's room.

Act V i Iago tells Roderigo to kill Cassio. The fight between Cassio and Roderigo. Roderigo's death. The fight is on the main stage. ii Desdemona's and Emilia's death Iago's punishment. Othello's suicide. Desdemona is in bed.

Next all the further action is concentrated around it.