Shakespeare moves Othello to Cyprus to create a setting that enhances the themes of love, jealousy, power, and betrayal through military conflict and a foreign environment.
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Shakespeare moves Othello, one of his most famous plays, to Cyprus, which enhances its themes of love, jealousy, power, and betrayal through military conflict and a foreign environment. Cyprus provides a perfect background for the play, imbued with romanticism and exoticism that complement the story’s intricate plot. Cyprus is a symbolic representation of the exotic East that the Elizabethans fantasized about and exalted. In addition, Cyprus was historically significant as it was an important military location and the site of several battles.
As the character Iago notes, “Our wars are done. The Turks are drowned” (Act II, Scene I). The Ottoman Empire had been a constant threat to the security of Venice, and the Venetians responded by sending an army to Cyprus. The war is over, and Othello and his men are in charge of maintaining the peace. However, Iago, who is Othello’s ensign, secretly plots to sow discord and jealousy between Othello and his wife, Desdemona.
The play’s themes are perfectly suited to the location and setting. The exotic, foreign land of Cyprus adds to the play’s themes by providing an ideal backdrop for the story’s intricate plot. The high stakes, the isolation from home, and the pressure of warfare add to the play’s tense, unpredictable atmosphere. As the character Brabantio notes, “This is Venice; my house is not a grange” (Act I, Scene II). Even within his own home, Brabantio feels that he is outside of his element, and he is not certain of his footing.
Table: Interesting Facts on the Setting of Othello in Cyprus
| Fact | Explanation |
|---|---|
| 1 | Cyprus was a Venetian colony and an important military stronghold. |
| 2 | Cyprus was a site of both ancient and contemporary legends. |
| 3 | The island was regarded as a center of art and culture. |
| 4 | Cyprus was considered to be a perfect location for romantic adventure and escapades. |
| 5 | The island was famed for its beautiful women and its association with love and desire. |
In conclusion, the decision to move Othello to Cyprus was a wise one, as it added depth and complexity to the play’s themes and plot. It allowed Shakespeare to explore various aspects of human emotion, such as jealousy and betrayal, within a new context and setting. The use of Cyprus as the play’s setting has since become iconic, and it continues to provide a fascinating backdrop for productions of Othello around the world.
Response to your question in video format
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.
Check out the other solutions I discovered
Why does Shakespeare move the action of his play from Venice to Cyprus? So all the characters are released from the influence & authority Venice had over them, giving them independence.
The Turks invade Venice
The action of The Tragedy of Othello moves to Cyprus when the Turks invade Venice, leading Othello and Desdemona to flee to the military encampment in Cyprus where they mistakenly believe their safety can be assured.
By moving the play to a city located on margin, Shakespeare had a liberty to talk about the domestic chores of Othello. Similarly, moving the play from the capital to an island also gives an opportunity to seclude both Othello and Desdemona. Moreover, Iago will have more opportunities to have interaction with Othello on a personal level.
These topics will undoubtedly pique your attention
Why do they move to Cyprus in Othello?
Othello is sent to Cyprus to govern and restore peace. Instead of bringing peace, Othello destroys his wife and then himself. Cyprus is also an isolated setting, which is psychologically appropriate.
Furthermore, Why did Shakespeare use Cyprus? While Venice would have represented a bustling city full of trade and wealth, it also reminded Shakespeare’s audience of immoral sexual practices. Given its association with Aphrodite, the goddess of love, Cyprus would have symbolized sex as well.
Just so, 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.
Why was Othello not set in England?
As a response to this: Othello, like the rest of Shakespeare’s plays, was written in a very hierarchical age. It is important to remember that Othello is set in Italy, not in England, where Shakespeare wrote; he was not attempting to represent his own society.
Beside above, Why did Shakespeare move Othello to Cyprus? The reply will be: We see that ships of Othello and Desdemona are parted from each other, hence giving the audience a foresight into the separation between Othello and Desdemona that is eventually going to take place. Shakespeare may have also moved the play from Venice to Cyprus to demonstrate the course of their love. Venice is a place of love and affection.
Accordingly, Why did Shakespeare move the play from Venice to Cyprus?
Shakespeare may have also moved the play from Venice to Cyprus to demonstrate the course of their love. Venice is a place of love and affection. Yet, Cyprus is where the war takes place. The beginning of the play. The couple were in love and happy with each other. Once the setting was changed to Cyprus the course of the love went downhill.
Why did Shakespeare write Othello? In reply to that: Shakespeare set Othello against the epic backdrop of an ongoing religious conflict between Christian Republic of Venice and the Muslim Ottoman Empire. This conflict had raged off and on since the mid-fifteenth century, and by the time the play premiered at the beginning of the seventeenth century, four Ottoman–Venetian wars had already taken place.
Where did Othello and Desdemona go?
The action of The Tragedy of Othello moves to Cyprus when the Turks invade Venice, leading Othello and Desdemona to flee to the military encampment in Cyprus where they mistakenly believe their safety can be assured.
Why does Othello move to Cyprus? As an answer to this: The action of The Tragedy of Othello moves to Cyprus when the Turks invade Venice, leading Othello and Desdemona to flee to the military encampment in Cyprus where they mistakenly believe their safety can be assured. Why is Othello set in Venice and Cyprus? Othello is set in Venice, presumably sometime in the latter half of the sixteenth-century.
Thereof, Where did Othello and Desdemona go?
The action of The Tragedy of Othello moves to Cyprus when the Turks invade Venice, leading Othello and Desdemona to flee to the military encampment in Cyprus where they mistakenly believe their safety can be assured.
One may also ask, Why did Shakespeare move the play from Venice to Cyprus? As a response to this: Shakespeare may have also moved the play from Venice to Cyprus to demonstrate the course of their love. Venice is a place of love and affection. Yet, Cyprus is where the war takes place. The beginning of the play. The couple were in love and happy with each other. Once the setting was changed to Cyprus the course of the love went downhill.
Also Know, Where does Othello take place in Shakespeare’s tragedy? Answer to this: Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello takes place in two very different locations: peaceful Venice, and war torn Cyprus. While the change of setting does have an effect on the environment of the play, it has an even greater effect on Othello himself.