Othello

In an interview, British actor Ray Fearon in the title role says that the play is about "jealousy, race, and love." But just how important is the race and physicality of the actor cast as Othello to the play? Over the years the Moor has been played by a variety of actors - white actors in blackface, white actors made up to look like Arabs, heavily - accented Africans. So the question is: What is a Moor and what does Othello look like? To begin, look up the word "Moor". Print out or write down the meanings that apply to a human (as opposed to topography). Conduct research on people of African and Asian descent in Elizabethan England. How did they arrive in England and where did they live? What roles did they play in society?