Othello has dual settings: Venice and Cyprus. With what values and ideas is each place associated and how are these related to the themes of the play.

Shakespeare's plays were always England -centric. This is to say that England was the centre of the universe and civilization. The farther away one gets away from England (and her majesty the Queen) the more uncivilized and chaotic things get. Venice is closer to England and it is a Christian country. Things are not perfect, but they progress. Much of the scheming and Othello's paranoia takes place in Cyprus. Iago gets bolder with his lies and his treachery has bigger consequences. This is not a Christian country and well away from England. The tragedy unfolds and everyone watching (at the time) is so glad that they live in England.