AP+2014+Cinthio’s+tale+Un+Capitano+Moro

 “Un Capitano Moro” was written by Giovanni Battista Giraldi as part of a collection of stories known as Hecatommithi. The main purpose of this short story, as with most stories released to the public, was to entertain. Because Italy, and much of Europe, was undergoing significant cultural changes during this time period, literature and screenplays were becoming increasingly popular. Giraldi’s goal was to create a tragedy that could demonstrate the evils and insecurities that reside in even the most respected of men. In the story, a handsome and brave Moor falls in love with a beautiful woman named Disdemona. In the beginning they are a content and loving couple. However, after Moor gets promoted to commander on the ship and Disdemona persuades him to bring her along, turmoil ensues. The Ensign falls in love with Disdemona and, after his attempts to woo her go unnoticed, he plots to destroy their lives. The Ensign tells Moor that his wife is having an affair with the Captain of the ship, “He has hidden nothing from me and has told me that he has been used to visit your wife whenever you went from home, and that on the last occasion she gave him this handkerchief which you presented to her when you married her” (“Cinthio’s Tale”). At first, Moor cannot believe his wife would commit such an atrocity; however, following many cunning and manipulative actions by the Ensign, Moor finally believes it to be true and kills the Captain and his wife. Moor, a once confident and loving man, succumbs to the insecurities and evils building up inside of him, all because of the words of an estranged and vengeful man. The story is relatable to those who read it because it illustrates how every person, even those who seem to have it all, are susceptible to despair and anguish if they allow others to dictate their lives.
 * Aim - Corey **

Works Cited: Giraldi, Giovanni B. "Un Capitano Moro." Hecatommithi. N.p.: n.p., 1565. N. pag.Othello Navigator: Cinthio's Tale. Web. 10 February 2014. Kay, Karen. “Sources for Othello”. Shakespeare Online Study Tools. N.p.: n.p., Web. 10 February 2014.

Un Capitano Moro was written by Giovanni Battista Giraldi in 1565. He was commonly known by his nickname Cinthio and is an Italian poet and novelist. Cinthio wrote Un Capitano Moro as a tragedy to depict the lives of the populous and represent the time in which he was writing, “There once lived in Venice a Moor, who was very valiant and of a handsome person…” (Cinthio). Cinthio wanted to connect with the people and one of those people happened to be William Shakespeare. Cinthio set out to make a character who people would love and who was “valiant” and “handsome”. Shakespeare based his famous play Othello off many of the characters and scenes from Un Capitano Moro. Shakespeare took Cinthio’s simple play and made it into a master piece for the people to enjoy. Shakespeare was able to better connect and represent the hardships and comical culture of the time. Even though many people could not read, besides the rich, plays were a ritual for society in order for the commoners to see and witness plays and literature. Un Capitano Moro talked about how man should not marry people outside their country, so Cinthio wanted to make a moral message to the masses of the time. Everyone loves a war hero and the main character of the play is one. This play did not gain the fame that Othello did, but it is just as important.
 * Audience - Bradley **

Works Cited "Cinthio's Tale: The Source of Shakespeare's Othello." Shakespeare Navigators. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. "Giovanni Battista Giraldi." Net Helper. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.

 Un Capitano Moro by Giovanni Battista Giraldi was strongly influenced by the cultural expectations of 16th Century Europe. The beginning of Un Capitano Moro describes how Disdemonda, the main female character, faced resistance from her family once she choose to marry a Moor, “...the parents of the lady strove all they could to induce her to take another husband...” (Giraldi). At the time this story was written, ethnic divisions were very powerful. It was considered unwise to marry someone from a different religious and cultural background. The fact that the Moor had dark skin only exacerbated the tensions surrounding his marriage to a Venetian woman. In Un Capitano Moro the evil Ensign tells the Moor, “...she has taken an aversion to your blackness” (Giraldi) in a successful attempt to hurt him, “These words went straight to the Moor's heart” (Giraldi). The profound impact that these words had on the Moor were due partly to the influence of the racist society. He felt insecure of his wife’s affection because she was not supposed to love him; her love went against cultural expectations. Therefore, it was easier for the Ensign to sow the seeds of mistrust and fear. Un Capitano Moro also perpetuates the European stereotype that Moors were temperamental and rash. Rampant sexism during the time this story was written also shaped the plot. In response to the Ensign’s plot, “The Moor, believing that the handkerchief constitutes proof of his wife's infidelity, demands it of his wife, who, of course, cannot produce it. The Moor decides that he must kill his wife and plots with the ensign to kill both his wife and the captain” (“Othello by William Shakespeare”). The willingness to murder a women for infidelity reveals the limited value placed upon female lives during the 16th century. It also demonstrates the strict moral codes that women were responsible for fulfilling. A women who ceased to represent chastity and obedience became worthless, deserving of any punishment that a man carried out.
 * Cultural - Genevieve **

Works Cited: Giraldi, Giovanni B. "Un Capitano Moro." Hecatommithi. N.p.: n.p., 1565. N. pag.Othello Navigator: Cinthio's Tale. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Othello By William Shakespeare." About Othello. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2014.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Giovanni Battista Giraldi, also known by the nickname Cinthio, wrote the story Un Capitano Moro which was published in Cinthio’s Gli Hecatommithi, a collection of tales, in 1565. The tale Un Capitano Moro is about an ensign who is lustful for the Moor’s wife, Desdemona, and eventually convinces the Moor to help kill Desdemona. It has been said that this tale was “based on an actual incident occurring in Venice about 1508” (Lloyd). Un Capitano Moro is given credit as being one of William Shakespeare’s main inspirations for his play Othello. Shakespeare used many details from Cinthio’s tale and adapted them to his own vision. For example, in Othello, the main antagonist Iago does not love Othello’s wife Desdemona, but rather simply hates Othello and wants him to suffer (Lloyd). Un Capitano Moro along with Othello are also said to “... <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">resemble the earlier tale of "The Three Apples", a story narrated by Scheherazade in the One Thousand and One Nights (“Giovanni Battista Giraldi”). Today, Othello is a very popular play, but not many know of its true origin or the idea that Shakespeare did not create the play all on his own.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Historical - Madison **

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Works Cited: <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">"Giovanni Battista Giraldi." Net Helper. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Feb. 2014. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Lloyd, Thoms. "Iago." OPERA-L Archives. N.p., 29 Oct. 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2014.