Gratiano is a minor character who hardly ever speaks. He doesn't really have anything of interest to say, since most of the time when he speaks, he's just agreeing with someone or stating something that has happened. He seems to have cared for Desdemona, though. During the final scene, he announces what a shame it is that she is dead and how it would break her father's heart if he saw.

One choice made in the book Othello is the use of foreshadowing. Foreshadowing adds suspense to the drama and keeps you wondering what's going to happen, which is why a lot of authors use it. Another thing that I noticed Shakespeare did is that the lines seem to be either a block of text, or merely a short sentence. Lots of commas and semicolons are also used, which keeps the text flowing along instead of it having a slow speed.

"Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight, for she shall not live. No, my heart is turned to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand. Oh, the word hath not a sweeter creature! She might lie by an emperor's side and command him tasks." ( 117)

In this passage, Othello is extremely angry at his wife. He's telling Iago that he doesn't care for her anymore, that his 'heart is turned to stone'. He also mentions that she is going to die, and after this they begin plotting how he will kill her. This passage is important because it shows the extreme contrasts between love and jealousy. Othello would rather have his wife dead than be jealous.

Comment: This is an important passage, I agree. It's insane that Othello would go to such an extreme case due to his jealousy.

During the 16th century, the world's first opera house was built in Venice. Venice was one of the most important centers of Europe. It also became the first and biggest trading power in the world. The manufacture of silk and woolen textiles developed rapidly, and venetian glass became famous.

Cyprus: That's interesting, I didn't know that Cyprus was an island.


Epilepsy: The demons thing reminds me of how people supposedly said bless you after people sneeze because they thought demons would enter your body afterwards.


Moors: It's interesting how the Moors controlled Spain for such a long period of time.


Turks: It's interesting on the map that you attached how the highlighted areas moved so much over time.