“Othello – the black man of Venice. Yea, it doesn’t have that ring to it like Othello – the Moor of Venice”
MOORS
To the early Greeks, the term Moor referred to a person with black or dark skin. The Romans shared a similar meaning – black woolly-haired people. ‘Moor’ later became the common name for anyone of Arab descent, from North Africa who settled in Spain before later being forced out by the forces of a newly united Spain (after the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Isabella I of Castile). Those who converted to Christianity were allowed to remain, working as Servants for the upper classes. The social status of the wealthy was almost dependant on them, as having a Moor work for you was seen as very “hip”, much in the way that short servants were in high demand. Very few Moors were able to work their way up the social classes, and were often prey to attack because of their ethnic background.
VENETIANS
The Venetians are the people of Venice, in Italy, were the play is set. They were the wealthy, catholic people of Venice, who looked down on the “dirty” Moors. They thought themselves superior, and often attacked and belittled the Moors.
Shakespeare was one of the first playwrights to include a Moor protagonist/hero. Up until that point, Moors were stereotypically the evil, villainous, deceitful characters, which often met their end in a painful (and entertaining) way.
**INTERESTING UNRELATED FACTOID: In 1660, when Puritan rule ended in England and Charles II reopened the theatres, Margaret Hughes played Desdemona in what is considered the first instance of a woman performing on the English stage.**
Love,
MOORS
To the early Greeks, the term Moor referred to a person with black or dark skin. The Romans shared a similar meaning – black woolly-haired people. ‘Moor’ later became the common name for anyone of Arab descent, from North Africa who settled in Spain before later being forced out by the forces of a newly united Spain (after the marriage of Ferdinand II of Aragon, and Isabella I of Castile). Those who converted to Christianity were allowed to remain, working as Servants for the upper classes. The social status of the wealthy was almost dependant on them, as having a Moor work for you was seen as very “hip”, much in the way that short servants were in high demand. Very few Moors were able to work their way up the social classes, and were often prey to attack because of their ethnic background.
VENETIANS
The Venetians are the people of Venice, in Italy, were the play is set. They were the wealthy, catholic people of Venice, who looked down on the “dirty” Moors. They thought themselves superior, and often attacked and belittled the Moors.
Shakespeare was one of the first playwrights to include a Moor protagonist/hero. Up until that point, Moors were stereotypically the evil, villainous, deceitful characters, which often met their end in a painful (and entertaining) way.
**INTERESTING UNRELATED FACTOID: In 1660, when Puritan rule ended in England and Charles II reopened the theatres, Margaret Hughes played Desdemona in what is considered the first instance of a woman performing on the English stage.**
Love,
Lauren, Taylor, Guy, Jarrod and Jesse.
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