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

Throughout Act 1, scenes 1-3 there are three settings used; The Court, Venice and Cyprus. In act 1 scene 3 the play is set in a Italian city called Venice which was a country full of concern about their authority, power, class and culture. Those who were not from venice were usually seen as inferior and were seen as an oustider. This immediately allows shakespeare to create a sense of suspense for the reader as they become aware that Othello and Cassio are seen as outsiders which pepares the reader for the inevitable tragedy to unfold. Desdemona also potrays her father from the beginning of the play by marrying Othello without her fathers permission, this creates a sense of irony as stated before venice is a city known for authority and by this portrayl informs the audience anything is possible which sets them up for the later tragedy. The next setting which the reader is introduced to the Court.  The Court is used to create a sense of isolation as the suspect in testimony is usually a bad person which causes the audience to automatically assume Othello is the antagonist and will become the outcast which creates a sense of tragedy due to the racial prejudice we are aware of through the history of Venice. The court could also be seen as a metaphor of Othello being segregated and privately excluded in Venice's society. This is due to the issue of his race and high status of being the army general which arises the firece competition for the power which Othello has within venice creating conflict which yet again prepares the reader from the tradgey in the later acts. The last setting the audience are introduced to is Cyprus which is considered a place of war. This completely contrasts the image we have of venice which upholds a tight set of laws e.g. the court. The fact that Cyprus does not have any laws and no duke suggests to the audience that any form of conflict can occur.