Othello

Othello 1583

The history of Alencon’s last experiences in Antwerp
Simier is Iago, Othello is Alencon, Elizabeth's little moor
Brabantio is the province of Brabant
Cassio is William of Orange
Alencon borrowed Simier’s entire fortune, besides constantly begging for money from Elizabeth, and his mother, Catherine de Medici.
Alencon’s white Barbary horse
Rodrigo is Leicester
“Janus”, Alencon was two faced
Turkish fleet is the Spanish fleet, defeating the Portuguese
“mandate” for rule of the Netherlands, Elizabeth forced Alencon on the States.
Montainge Essays published in 1580, 2nd ed. 1582
Alencon was delayed by a storm
“citadel” of Antwerp
handkerchief motif is from Hecatommithi of Cinthio
Strawberries are an allusion to the Medici arms
“the hollow hell” furnishes the name “Othello”
“hands” references are to the arms of Antwerp, two hands
Jan. 10, 1583 occurred the French Fury, watchword was “broken leg”, hence “my leg is cut into” in Act V.i.
Othello’s epilepsy are Alencon’s fits of exhaustion, and bleeding from the lungs.
“drown” appears nine times in the play, a thousand of Alencon’s followers were drowned, two thousand others perished in the Fury.
Desdemona’s song “All a green willow” is from Thomas Dallis’s “Lute Book”, date 1583
References to the asset up of the Doge’s palace prior to a fire of 1577.
Reference to a sermon on “virtue and will” of a religious sect,the Familists, or “the family of love”, headed in England by a Dutch joiner living at Colchester in Essex, who died in 1579, which was of concern to the government in 1578,79,80,81
Others claim Iago is Rowland Yorke, Oxford’s steward and companion, who had a part in the malicious lies being told against Oxford’s wife.