OTHELLO SETTINGS/AO3 POINTS

Ancient Greek genre

Tragic conventions include strong/skilled hero whose misjudgement and flaws lead to widespread suffering

A.C Bradley on suffering

“[T]he centre of tragedy […] may be said with equal truth to lie in action issuing from character, or in character issuing in action.'“

Othello’s flaws

Jealousy, which makes him open to this emotional manipulation
Internalised racist values makes him insecure and possessive perhaps?
Tragedy of love is important - Othello kills Desdemona in a fit of jealous rage

Anagnorisis

Conventional for classical tragedies to end in a moment of anagnorisis - tragic hero becomes aware of misjudgements
Followed by a catharsis, emotional response/release knowing his misdemeanours: acts as both a character/audience cleansing.
Happens when their actions are no longer amendable

Domestic tragedy

Domestic representations of ordinary people
Interracial marriage of equals plays a part of Othello’s decline, marriage to a noble Venetian lady vs the leverage Iago uses to manipulate him