History, Literature and Tourism: Shakespeare and Othello´s Citadel (original) (raw)

Shakespeare´s The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice was inspired by actual events and set on the island of Cyprus. A stout four-tower fortress located on the east coast protecting the port and city of Famagusta eventually became known as Othello´s Citadel. This paper will explore how historic events in the Eastern Mediterranean inspired the setting and provided the atmosphere for a famous work of literature that then, in turn, lent its fictional name, identity and even function back to an actual place. It will describe the interconnection between history and literature with its implications on use, culture, tourism, and conservation. Furthermore, it will also describe how an understanding of this interconnectivity and merging of reality and fiction is an essential part of the interpretation of Othello´s Citadel.