Abigail KFeb 4, 2012 01:08 AM
The setting of act 1 scenes 1-3 helps Shakespeare to establish tragedy as he sets the character of Othello up as an outsider. The play is set in Venice, the cultural and economic heart of Europe in 1602 and as oppose to the many Venetians in this play, Othello is a 'Moor' and therefore an outsider as shown by his eloquent speech in which he refers to the court as 'Most potent,grave and reverend signor's. Shakespeare highlights Othello's differences through the setting to form the idea that as outsider, he doesn't want to be taken for a fool, therefore establishing tragedy as this gives reason to why Othello becomes so paranoid and willing to believe Iago's claims about Desdemona's adultery.
In addition, the setting of the Court room allows Shakespeare to set up tragedy as it means that a main convention of tragedy- isolation doesn't take place, which juxtaposes against the situation in Cyprus later on in the play. The Court room is full of 'noble and approved good masters',this shows that lots of people are watching,therefore no one character can be isolated. However this changes when they go to Cyprus to fight the Turks who were seen as barbaric in the 17th Century. The removal of the Duke,war,the respect and structure of the Venetian society and Desdemonda not standing up for herself in Cyprus allows tragedy to happens. Consequently, this exposition highlights that the removal of these things later will cause tragedy. This helps Shakespeare to establish tragedy as reference to Freytag's Triangle foreshadows that the play is going to be a tragedy.
Moreover, the Courts symbolism of the hierarchical society in Venice also helps Shakespeare establish tragedy as it sets Othello up as a protagonist of upper class. The fact that the Duke describes Othello as 'valiant Othello' shows that he is well respected and has a high position in the Court.This helps Shakespeare establish tragedy as through the setting, he depicts Othello as a protagonist of high estate, therefore illustrating a convention of Shakespearean Tragedy.
