Comment on how the setting of Act 1, Scenes 1-3 help Shakespeare prepare the reader for tragedy.

The play 'Othello' shares two settings. In the begging of Act one the play is set in Venice an Italian city, known for its wealth and trading, the setting then changes where the play moves to Cyprus which is a place of War. This immediately creates a contrast between the two places, which suggests that Shakespeare is warning the audience that tragedy will be inevitable as conflict between the Venetians and the Turks will take place. The time is between 1489 and 1571; it is interesting to note that Venice is the setting for both major Shakespeare plays dealing with racial prejudice for example Othello and The Merchant of Venice. As one of the world’s leading sea powers, Venice was the centre of commercialism and materialism and, therefore, corruption and conflict arising from greed, social status, and fierce competition. Cyprus as a strategically located island which produced substantial harvests of olives, grapes and various grains was much prized throughout its history. Assyrians, Greeks, Egyptians, Romans, fought over and occupied it.