When people read a script, do they consider its setting and the place where it all happens? Some people say that drama or play should occur in one spot, and the plot should develop quickly. However, the Othello is not one of those plays because the story is progressing in several places:
- Venice
- Cyprus.
Detailed answer:
The first act does not only introduce the main character, Othello, to the reader. It also describes the setting. There, all prime events occur in two different places.
The action of the play begins in Venice. Here, the reader can observe the beginning of the conflict. Roderigo secretly desires Desdemona. Iago rages at Cassio for taking the lieutenant position. Brabantio is upset because his daughter is getting into an interracial marriage.
Then, the action shifts onto Cyprus, where Turks are about to attack. Othello protects this land against the enemy and defends his honor in the eyes of Desdemona’s father. In act 5, everything moves to Venice and towards the climax of the story. There, Othello killed Desdemona because of his blind hatred and jealousy. At the same place, Iago killed Emilia, his wife, murdered Roderigo, and almost caused Cassio’s death. While Venice is the climax’s place, Cyprus became the place of escalation and development of the main plot. It can also be considered symbolic, since Italy’s essence became the place where everyone died, including the heart and soul of the main character.
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