The Duke of Venice orders Othello to Cyprus.
Read on for more information
The Duke of Venice orders Othello to Cyprus in William Shakespeare’s play “Othello.” The Duke’s decision stems from the threat of an impending Turkish invasion, making it imperative for Othello, a general in the Venetian army, to lead his troops to defend the island.
As the Duke states in Act I, Scene iii, “Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you / Against the general enemy ottoman.” This quotation highlights the urgency of the situation and underscores the importance of Othello’s role in the conflict. Furthermore, the Duke’s trust in Othello as a capable leader is evident in the way he assigns the task of protecting the island to him.
Interesting facts about “Othello” and its historical context include:
- Eminent literary critic A.C. Bradley deemed “Othello” as “the most painfully exciting and the most terrible” of all of Shakespeare’s plays.
- The play was written and performed during the early 17th century, a time when England was actively colonizing and subjugating other nations.
- The depiction of Othello, a black man, as a tragic hero challenged contemporary notions of race and class, particularly in the context of the English Renaissance.
- “Othello” also explores themes of jealousy, betrayal, and manipulation, making it a complex study of human nature and relationships.
Table:
| Fact | Information |
|---|---|
| Play Title | Othello |
| Main Character | Othello |
| Author | William Shakespeare |
| Historical Context | Early 17th century England |
| Themes | Race, jealousy, betrayal, manipulation |
| Critic’s Review | “The most painfully exciting and the most terrible” of all of Shakespeare’s plays |
See related video
The video explores the significance of the settings, Venice and Cyprus, in Shakespeare’s play, Othello. Venice, a powerful and threatened city, is explored through its symbolic fairness. Meanwhile, Cyprus is described as a meeting point between the east and west, society and liberation, order, and chaos. The video delves into various scenes in the play, including the opening in a dark street and the personal scene between Emilia and Desdemona. The change in setting from Venice to Cyprus is also discussed, with the evil and darkness in Cyprus symbolizing blindness to reality. Finally, the video prompts viewers to engage in independent learning and compare the similarities and differences between Venice and Cyprus before exploring the sources Shakespeare drew from in the next video.
Some further responses to your query
The duke orders Othello immediately to Cyprus and grants Desdemona her wish to join him there. Othello gives Iago the duty of conveying Desdemona to Cyprus.
The Duke of Venice
Othello goes to Cyprus per orders of the Duke of Venice. The Turks are sailing to attack Cyprus and, as Othello is known to be a superior commander, the Duke sends him to Cyprus to take command of the soldiers there and protect the island.
Surely you will be interested
Herein, Who sends Othello to lead the Venetian mission to defend Cyprus against the Turks? As an answer to this: The duke decides that Othello must go to Cyprus to defend the island from the Turks. Othello is willing and ready to go, and he asks that appropriate accommodations be provided for his wife.
Similarly, Who rules Cyprus at the end of Othello?
Response will be: Iago is arrested and sent to trial after Othello wounds him (he doesn’t even die). Othello, facing the inevitability of his own trial, uses a hidden weapon to commit suicide. The play ends with Cassio reinstated and placed in command as Governor of Cyprus.
One may also ask, Why does the Duke want Othello to go to Cyprus? Answer: The Duke orders Othello to go to Cyprus immediately to deal with the Turkish threat. Othello tells ‘honest’ Iago to escort Desdemona, who pleads to be allowed to accompany her husband.
When did Othello move to Cyprus? 1570
Cyprus was one of Venice’s colonies from 1489 to 1571. Othello is set in 1570–1, making the hero one of the last men sent to defend the island against the Turks, who, despite their defeat in this play, reasserted their supremacy in the region and gained possession of Cyprus by treaty in 1573.
Also, What does Othello say about Cyprus?
Answer: In the first act of Othello, Cyprus is clearly not such a world; it is a territory of Venice, to which Othello and company are called as a matter of state.
Then, Why does Othello call back Desdemona?
Answer: When Desdemona hears the news that she will be leaving Cyprus, she expresses her happiness, whereupon Othello strikes her. Lodovico is horrified by Othello’s loss of self-control, and asks Othello to call back Desdemona, who has left the stage. Othello does so, only to accuse her of being a false and promiscuous woman.
Herein, Who kills Roderigo & Othello?
Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo. While Iago, Lodovico, and Gratiano tend to Cassio, Bianca arrives. Iago accuses her of being a whore and of engineering the plot against Cassio that led to his injury. Enter Iago and Roderigo.
Keeping this in view, Why does Othello celebrate a feast in Cyprus?
The reply will be: In this quote—which comprises an entire scene—Othello’s herald announces a huge feast in Cyprus to celebrate the sinking of the Turkish fleet and the marriage of Othello and Desdemona. Unfortunately, the feast provides an ideal setting in which the villain Iago can exploit the vices of his fellow Venetians and turn them against each other.
Why did Othello send Desdemona to Cyprus?
The duke orders Othello immediately to Cyprus and grants Desdemona her wish to join him there. Othello gives Iago the duty of conveying Desdemona to Cyprus. Alone with Iago, Roderigo, now in despair of winning Desdemona’s love, threatens suicide, but Iago persuades him instead to sell his lands for ready cash and to pursue Desdemona to Cyprus.
Who kills Roderigo & Othello? Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo. While Iago, Lodovico, and Gratiano tend to Cassio, Bianca arrives. Iago accuses her of being a whore and of engineering the plot against Cassio that led to his injury. Enter Iago and Roderigo.
Hereof, Where does Othello see the bawdy talk between Cassio and Iago?
Iago next places Othello where he can see (but not hear) a conversation between Cassio and Iago about Bianca, telling Othello that the bawdy talk is about Cassio and Desdemona. Othello’s fury grows. Lodovico arrives from Venice with orders from the duke and senators that Othello return to Venice and that Cassio be appointed in his place.
Secondly, Why does Othello want to kill his former lieutenant?
In reply to that: Othello has recognized his handkerchief and, coming out of hiding when Cassio and Bianca are gone, wonders how he should murder his former lieutenant. Othello goes on to lament his hardheartedness and love for Desdemona, but Iago reminds him of his purpose.