Using detailed supporting evidence, discuss the significance in the play of ONE of the following:

war the character of Desdemona the setting of Cyprus

In Shakespeare’s acclaimed play of Othello, setting has played a significant role in the development
and the outcome of story. The city of Venice is a civilised state, far from the impacts of war whereas
the settlement of Cyprus (where the majority of the play takes place) is the reverse; out of order,
unsafe and more prone to uncivil behaviour. This essay will focus how these settings have managed
to influence the outcome of the play.

The play begins in the city-state of Venice. This is a civilised and well-ordered republic, noted
for its wealth acquired by trade, its religious and political tolerance in a period where intolerance was
the norm. The city was also known for its civilised women, wealthy merchants and governing
authorities, headed by a Duke and a council (or senate). In Act I, scene I, the character of “honest”
Iago attempts to degrade Othello, exclaiming that “an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” and
that he is abusing his daughter, Desdemona’s “delicate youth with drugs or minerals”. To this,
Brabantio exclaims that his “house is not a grange”. This shows how uncivilised behaviour is not
tolerated. Instead of Othello being dragged away, the senate ask to hear his side of the story, not
because Venice is a fair and civil city, but because the political outweighs the personal. The matter is
instantly settled in the streets as Othello explains that he had wooed Desdemona and she “loved me
for the dangers I had passed” and not through the use of witchcraft, as initially thought. This calm
nature of Othello shows us that he believes he is in control in Venice and is a significant contrast to
Cyprus where Othello breaks down and succumbs to the “green eyed monster”. Shakespeare
attempts to portray Venice as a safe location that is certain of its future and the future if its
inhabitants.

Cyprus is a small island that has been colonised by the Venetian army. It is a “town of war yet
wild” where “the people’s hearts are brimful of fear” – a heavy contrast to the security and
rationality of Venice. This is because of the vulnerable location of the island which creates a constant
fear of attack by the ‘Turks’. Contrasted with Venice, Cyprus is home to more promiscuous women
such as Bianca; has a fragile political system that Othello is trying to bring into order and is the place
where Iago’s poison begins to work. In Venice, Iago attempts to start a fight between Cassio, who
has “a light head for drinking” and Roderigo. However, this is easily broken up in a civilised manner.
Shakespeare attempts to show that in civilised settings, one cannot easily disrupt society. Iago’s plans
of causing unrest are constantly overturned in Venice. However in the remote and unstable colonised
setting of Cyprus, Iago’s plans come into fruition.

In the play, Iago is seen as the devil himself. He deceives not only Othello but Desdemona,
Cassio, Roderigo, Emilia and most importantly himself. His actions can be seen as motiveless and thus
he is the devil. Iago tells Othello to be aware of “the green-eyed monster that doth mock”. By
alluding to this idea, Othello begins to question Desdemona’s love for him, saying that “If she be
false, O, then heaven mocks itself”. “Honest” Iago has managed to fill Othello’s mind with doubt,
causing him to show his main weakness – of jealousy. Iago only follows Othello “to serve my turn
upon him” and by any means necessary, whether it is by “abusing Cassio to the moor” or stealing
Desdemona’s handkerchief, he attempts to cause unrest. Because of the less civil order of Cyprus,
Iago is able to manipulate others for his own gain. He would not have been able to achieve this in the
city of Venice. Shakespeare shows that setting have an influence on people, their thoughts and
actions. With Iago’s poison in his mind of Desdemona committing adultery, he ends up smothering
her as he believed that “she would betray more men” similar to the way “she betrayed her father”.
Via this, Shakespeare shows that uncivilised settings are inferior to their civilised counterparts and
how they can have a profound effect on people.

The setting of Cyprus is one of the influences on Othello, causing the play to end in a tragedy.
When Othello finds out that Desdemona was innocent, he commits suicide with his last words
stating that he did not want to be remembered as “one easily jealous’ but as someone who was
“wrought/Perplexed in the extreme”. This shows how the setting of Cyprus made him more
vulnerable, causing him to make ill judgements. All the deaths in this play occurred in Cyprus and
through this Shakespeare attempts to show us the fragility of this setting. Even in modern society, a
change of place, job or location can leave many vulnerable and insecure. In Othello, this insecurity
that comes with change has been exploited by Iago. This has then led to the tragedy of the play.

Setting, mainly that of Cyprus has had an important impact on the events that occur in the
play, Othello. Cyprus’s fragile nature compared with Venice’s civil order shows how the type of
setting can affect people and decisions. Cyprus’s vulnerability caused Othello’s mind to also become
vulnerable and this has played a significant role in the outcome of the play.