Young Othello
A Comedy
By Eboni Pearson Inobe Publishing LLC
Edited by Veronica Brown MEd
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Introduction
The setting, structural framework, genealogy, and themes of Young Othello are all well prepared and included in the following introduction. Also included is a chart listing historical events, an epic catalogue of battles/expeditions and a survey of historical figures included as characters.
SETTING
The story of Young Othello is epic in nature because he endures an extensive series of complications throughout a wide range of locations. He travels the span of three continents, at times as a slave, other times an explorer. Othello ventures from Spain to be enslaved in Sumatra, and returns to the Mediterranean by way of Ethiopia and Egypt. The setting moves swiftly as the chorus offers transition between scenes.
Shortly after the fall of Grenada in 1492, our setting takes place. During the turn of this century Spaniards unchained from hundreds of years of Turkish rule enjoyed a period of patriotic independence as the birth of a nation and the joining of the Aragon and Castile kingdoms took place. Though their Islamic oppressors continued their attacks, Old Spain began an era of lucrative exploration and commercial expansion.
Historical events, such as the Battle of Ticinus, The Seige of LaGoletta, and the death of St. Augustine along with other events are also weaved into Othello’s life story, mostly through the use of flashbacks.
Year / Historical Event / Act/Scene218 B.C. / Battle of Ticinus / Act I Scene II
579 A.D. / Revolt of Hermenegild / Act V Scene VIII
1535 A.D. / Batttle of Tunis / Act IV Scene VII
1541 A.D. / Algiers Expedition / Act II Scene I
1565 A.D. / Seige of Malta / Act V Scene VIII
Historical Characters include:
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•Cortez
•Emperor Charles
•Doria
•St. Agustine
•Hannibal
•La Valette
•Boniface
•St. Moses
•St. Anthony
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STRUCTURAL FRAMEWORK
Young Othello is an epic story written as play using both prose and metered verse using Elizabethan language to the story of Shakespeare’s leading role as imagined to take place before his fateful voyage to Venice. It’s written in five acts and spans the distance of two continents beginning in Spain, traveling to India, then Egypt. Though most of it is written in prose, the prologue, epilogue, inspirational speeches, monologues and Chorus lines are written with iambic pentameter, a few with blank verse. Still, there is equal focus on the meaning of words as there is on literary cadence.
Othello is penned as a well-educated, multilingual militant who enthusiastically pursues naval victories and interacts with diverse nations dispersed throughout the Mediterranean. The crest of Othello’s family is written in Latin and Mago makes sure Othello reads its translation aloud. In addition, the term “corios” is used, a Spanish term, to describe the participants in a Carnival held in Cadiz, Spain. The wide spectrum of languages reflect the varied locations Othello visits. Though from Spain, he had to be able to communicate with the many nations of the Mediterranean, specifically the Venetian characters later portrayed by Shakespeare and Cinthio. During this time, mostly educated men are fluent in multiple languages. Based on this premise, Othello is educated by a tutor, thus the creation of the character Mago, who accompanies Othello on most of his travels and serves as both his tutor and griot. Griots are like tutors in that they educate people to know about their ancestral history; therefore Mago pulls from a global memory bank that includes both western and eastern culture.
GENEAOLOGY
Othello’s Christian roots originate from the Mozarbs, who date back to the first millennia. The Mozarabs and The Moriscos are two groups of people who are a part of Spain’s early Christian roots. They were both marginalized by oppressive Islamic rules and both minority populations. The Mozarabs were people of many colors who maintained their Christian faith and worshiped secretly throughout Spain during a Sultan regime. Amazingly, some of their places of worship still exist today. However, the Moriscos were Moslems who converted to Christianity and chose to stay after Spain regained its independence from Islamic rule. Unfortunately, many of the Moriscos were forced out of the country as a result of Spain’s fervor for its newly found freedom. Othello considers the term Morisco an insult and is overwhelmed with the desire to disengage from the association.
Othello’s paternal ancestry originates from North Africans who migrated from modern day Lybia during the 400’s to Cadiz Spain, twenty generations before Othello’s birth. St. Augustine is included as a character who gives reason as to why they left their homeland. Based on this historical event, the scene characterizes the shift between Christian and Moslem rule. As a result of persistent Ottoman attacks, St. Augustine is forced to flee his convent in Hippo. St. Augustine and the men who accompany him relocate to Chiponia, a port in Southern Spain. Othello’s ancestors are direct descendants of those who traveled with St. Augustine.
Othello’s maternal ancestry originates from a sybill named Phemenoe, his mother’s namesake, of the Oasis of Siwa, located in the middle of the Sahara Desert. There’s a connection made to the Sahara Desert because of the handkerchief, passed down to Othello by his mother, mentioned in Shakespeare’s work. Young Othello elaborates on its history and unveils how this prized possession becomes a symbol of his affection. Othello’s family migrates from the desert to Spain during the invasion of Hannibal the Great. One of Hannibal’s expeditions, a hundred years prior to St. Augustine is a scene relived by Mago’s prompting, whose remembrance encourages Othello to fulfill his destiny. The courage of Othello begins through the lineage of his mother.
THEME
Shakespeare’s Othello’s tragic flaw is his insecurities. Iago is able to entrap him because he doesn’t fully believe that Desdemona could ever love him. The issue of race is a factor. Young Othello also provides the background to events that would lead to this tragic flaw, exposing his vulnerabilities and allows the audience or reader to empathize with his inner turmoil. Shakespeare characterizes the reckless insecurities that plagues an otherwise accomplished man. What else could explain his appointment to a leadership position? Though having insecurities is a universally shared human experience, his status as a minority is presented as another possible contributor to his demise. The challenges of surviving in an unaccepting society add to the complications with which young Othello must contend.
List of Characters
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Othello- protagonist
Mago- Othello’s tutor/griot
Phemenoe- Othello’s mother
Yusuf- Captain of Ottoman Ship
Hamid- Captain’s Assistant
Philemon-captive
Johannes- Monk
Humberto- Knight of St. John
Jean de Vallette- Grand Master of the Order of Malta
Hannibal- Carthaginian General
Augustine- Saint of Hippo
Boniface- Roman Commander
Senior Anbessa- Navy Recruiter
Senior Alvarez- High Ranking Officer
Senior Guerra- Father of Beatriz
Francesca- Othello’s Love Interest
Messenger
Pedro- Othello’s father
Priest
Isis- Egyptian Goddess
Ra-Egyptian God
Ain- Egyptian vendor
Amon- Egyptian vendor’s wife
Chorus
Doria-Naval Commander
Emperor Charles
Forest Woman Noo Koo
Yared-Monk
Yohannes-Monk
Mikael- Monk
Moses-Monk
Isidore-Monk
Prisoners
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Act I Scene I
Prologue
Prologue
Shakespeare’s plumed pen wet withCinthio’s ink,
Fashions a Moor at Venetian command,
To tumble or to roll the stone methinks.
Collied Othello hath not ivory hands
to defend his ebony “Christian shame,”
En Una Iglesia de Cadiz,
While Ferdinand and Isabella tame
Grenada the last Islamic city,
Our general is baptized and blessed.
A fallen Sultan marks the golden day
Though in darkness lies such social unrest,
Shadows lurk with uncontrolled rage
Young Othello wilt in imagined space
Decide to dwell on form or steal away
Enter Othello
Othello
Beatriz…..Beatriz……. Deafen not thy ear to love’s cry and bless me with thy appearance!
Beatriz appears above at a window
Beatriz
Sh!!!!Dun’s the mouth! Silence!
Othello
And labor love in vain? What of my letters?
Beatriz
My father, that ill-tempered gent wilt murder thee. Thy presence incites peril.
Othello
How else might I petition for thy love or woo thee?
Beatriz
O Heavens! Rid me of such strife!
Othello
The heavens dothcommence to shower us with divine affection!
Voice from inside:
Beatriz
Hie! Meetethme at the gate, ere mine father discovers thy trespass!
Othello
Thy retreat in scarlet…
Beatriz
I retreat with urgency.
(Othello and Beatriz meet at the gate facing the street.)
Othello
Beatriz
Beatriz
I beg you…. In true privacy, thine affections wilt incite compromise; therefore, distance be this moment’s required remedy.
Othello
Ne’er I ever suited for quailing.
Beatriz
Mine father forbids….
Othello
Am I to be estranged of contracted bachelors, mustmy love be contemned?
Beatriz
Mourn mischief! Armed my father walks.
Othello
We hath changed eyes lest your mind hold.
Beatriz
Lost your wits! Mine father doth not see thee through mine eyes, nor agnize true love. I pray you, alike bewitched, number he my breaths; for a father’s sovereignty reigns. Heard not of murdered maidens amerced for disobedience, betrothed ‘neath rank.
Othello
A pauper, not I.Nay,I am of wealthy lineage of good stock.
Suddenly Beatriz’s father enters with a loaded weapon.
Senior Guerra
I charge thee post haste to leave ere my temper outweigh reason!
Othello
Cry your mercy, all due respect sir, thy daughter hath expressed thine sentiments.
Beatriz
Father, I beg you!
Senior Guerra
Daughter vex me no further! Away with you!
Beatriz
Father!
Senior Guerra
Away! (Beatriz exits.) Cast thou sorcery upon some other innocent lamb! Thou commit sins of maleficium to castspells dark as the continent whence thou crept. Thou use charms and polluted cantation to summon dark spirits and unleash deceptive manipulation; corruptingthe purity of Christian charity.
Othello
Might thou not but confirm, acts of sacraments, kind fellowship ‘mongst members of thine household; bearing the weighty cross that a Christian art I.
Senior Guerra
Confirm ye may, but breed a carded patrimony, thou mays’t not.Our land usurped by Ottoman rule, art newly liberated. Away with turban, sickle, crescent and star andall resembling image.
Othello
I shall win thy trust.
Senior Guerra
Spain, the homeland of the Spaniard; be it not so for themarusco.
Othello
A masked turncoat, a mocker of the faith, a muddied handkerchief for cleansing a hot brow, a cunning bachelor in pursuit of a Christian-dowry, this be a marusco but not I. A mozarb, a convert of old, a fellow church-goer, a professor of the faith in Christ that am I. Nay, a marusco I am not.
Senior Guerra
Fie! Thy faith prove counterfeit.. Could not thy pay homage in secret to foreign gods?Give leave, thy deeds and speech beguile only a fool.I worship the day of great exile whence we are rid of thee and thy sun scorched band.
Othello
To betray the sacrifice we bear art sinful. Permit goodness live in thy tongue and heart that God will judge by both. For generations, my clan hath served thisnation, at times in secret, lost my father, elected by the heavens to offer up his soul for our peace, to Turkish violence. I ask of thy daughter’s hand in marriage.
Senior Guerra
At this hour?
Othello
-to coin my father’s honor. I ask of her hand in tribute of our shared affections.
Senior Guerra
More of curiosity than real affection, I assure you, the love of my daughter.
Othello
Sent her away! Inquire of her?
Senior Guerra
Reverb no hollowness! By sword, we shall settle the matter-.
(In a courtyard in the center of Cadiz, a group of zealous Spaniards revolt against the recent attacks by Ottomans pirating the coastline and bay. They march down the streets with torches in their hand, abducting any willing participant in their way. Othello is swept up by the crowd of men gathering, swallowed by a riotous crowd.)
Good fortune has freed you from a swift ending. Yea, revisit and court danger!
Senior Alvarez
Lend me your ears that I might roar toawaken an after-dinner’s sleeping lion. Arise men and gather! Let us be valiant, un-erring and tireless; as we revenge the Siege of Buda! GrievousSulieman perpetually strikes as he recedes, long side his accomplice Hasan Agha! Our course leads us with urgency, embarking post hence to Majorca, to answer the call of our Emperor. He summons the brave. Our foe raging as a stirring tempest, pirating our shores, thieving spoils of our labor; hath provided just cause for our commission to assemble men, to fill our storehouses with weaponry and ready our vessels. Whence the Bay of Palma empties the sea,goeth our fine company of men, hand in hand to meet our enemy at sea;we shall unfurl the might of our nation. Millennia pass, generations repeated, long suffering years of tyranny mark the history of our beloved country. Afore invasion, wert wea pearl of the sea, robust with splendor; once again shall the world be newly bejeweled with our prized treasure!
Crowd cheers
Senior Anbessa
Our youthful nation sports a grizzled beard!
Newness emerged of tyranny grows wise!
Queen Isabelle and King Ferdinand binds
Castile and Aragon kingdoms as one!
Together, in unity we shall rise;
fighting to preserve their accomplishments;
to protect borders ‘gainstour enemies!
The hive has fallen but the bees linger;
our wealth the pollen begs the thief to steal.
Though in concert we sting, we cannot dislodge
but buzz and recoil to strike once again.
Nay, we shall not win without sacrifice!
Come men, to the sea; we go for justice!
(The men cheer and applaud)
Senior Alvarez
Step forward, those willing.
Othello
Willing am I, to sacrifice all that I have for my country.
Senior Alvarez
An image of thine father, a tribute to his noble character.
Senior Anbessa
What ransom have you should the gent turn Turk or fall off?
Othello
What son could wash the hands of his father’s murderer?
Senior Alvarez
Settle men. Mind our purpose.
Senior Anbessa
To suborn our oppressors’ covert operations, I suppose the fellow might through stratagem sabotage their calculated strategies and dissolve my apprehension. In reluctance I may tolerate the resemblance, in these dire times. Ships fall prey to Ottoman villainy weekly. Time doth not afford the expense of scrutiny. At dawn, we prepare for our departure. Our mission remains incomplete, as there are more streets to tread; there are more men left to prove brave. Onward!
(All exit)
Act I Scene II
(Circled around a map.)
Yusuf
North to Cadiz, we shall make port, move southward to the city and fill our pockets with scores of living inventory. Come we near the turning point upon return to our patrons awaiting and indulge the wealth of our plunder. From Cadiz, we shall come upon Egypt,. Our passage through the canal of Amir El Moemeneen requires coordination with the Nile’s flooding. From Egypt, we shall arrive at Sumatra, our final trading post.
Hamid
T’was a time we reached as far as Diu, now Cadiz art our final point.
Yusuf
T’is the truth to the letter; the reason for raising falsely their flag, forced to pirate in disguise. The sea wert for our taking.
Hamid
And those we capture would pleasure me to starve, lest we haveth a soul in the galley row. Once a day to feed them art torture, better to serve poisoned bread and vinegar.
Yusuf
Pocketfirst, fury proceeding, not only to shadow their ships at sea, but in disguise shall we to their shores, and enslave enough to complete the number of rowers for our prolonged travels.
Hamid
New monuments erect from a stole quarry and my memories embitters my disposition. This land art that of Allah, the beneficent. Though the Spaniard hath won the war, still he fails to prevent the victor from reclaiming all that we hath brought forth and named.
Yusuf
A barren land, unshaped, unformed, frequented by vandals, the humble gathering of undeveloped, make shift cities wast first Spain’s domain. Our sultans enriched the territory, attracting heavy commerce, building roads, constructing fortifications and providing economic stability. Nay, we shall answer the offence for their advancement will be all abandoned by their inferiority.
Hamid
Cadiz awaits.
Act I Scene III
(In the parlor of a Spanish villa, Othello’s mother consults her son’s family tutor/griot, Mago.)
Phemonoe
My dear son, how my soul perpetually labors though thou wer’t born years ago.
Mago
Othello recksrede, art defiant as ever. Still Senior Guerra hath tamed his foolish pride with a whipping tongue.
Phemonoe