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Othello | Why does Shakespeare choose Venice for the opening scenes of Othello?
Othello is one of two plays in which Shakespeare uses Venice as a setting, the other being The Merchant of Venice. In both cases, Shakespeare depicts a thriving commercial society in which the inhabitants pursue luxury and see the world in mercantile terms, as for example, when Iago says that he knows his own "price" in the play's first scene. In both plays, attention is brought to the integral function of outsiders in Venetian society; Venice needs Shylock's borrowable ducats and Othello's military prowess. Above all, Venice has a duke and a council of senators, but it has...
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- Othello: Introduction
- Othello: William Shakespeare Biography
- Othello: Summary
- Othello: Reading Shakespeare
- Othello: List of Characters
- Othello: Historical Background
- Othello: Summary and Analysis
- Othello: Critical Commentary
- Othello: Quizzes
- Othello: Essential Passages
- Othello: Themes
- Othello: Character Analysis
- Othello: Principal Topics
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Othello: Essays
- The Role of Race in Othello
- The Villainy of Iago
- Deception in Othello
- The Relationship Between Othello and Iago
- Why does Desdemona Marry Othello?
- Why Does Othello Change His Mind About Desdemona's Fidelity?
- The Women of Othello
- Geography's Role in Othello
- Opposites Attract: Othello and Desdemona
- The Use of Humor in Othello
- Motivations for Characters' Actions in Othello
- An Analysis of Four Shakespearean Villains
- Othello: Criticism
- Othello: Selected Quotes
- Othello: Suggested Essay Topics
- Othello: Sample Essay Outlines
- Othello: Modern Connections
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Othello: FAQs
- Why does Shakespeare choose Venice for the opening scenes of Othello?
- Why does Iago choose Michael Cassio as an instrument of revenge against Othello?
- Why does Shakespeare move the setting of the play to Cyprus?
- Does Iago have a love life of his own?
- What is Roderigo's function in the play?
- What is Lodovico's function in the play?
- Othello: Bibliography and Further Reading
- Othello: Pictures
- Copyright
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