Editing Venice Preserv'd (section)

===Jaffeir===
Jaffeir is the husband of Belvidera, the son-in-law of Priuli, and the friend of Pierre.

Jaffeir is the tragic hero in ''Venice Preserv’d'': he is expected to fulfill the roles of husband, friend, and activist. According to Michael DePorte, “Most readers seldom, if ever, admire Jaffeir for anything, they can sympathize with him only as a man torn on the horns of a terrible dilemma;” that dilemma being his divided loyalties between Belvidera and Pierre (1). Because of his friendship with Pierre, Jaffeir gives his loyalty to Pierre and the conspirators, but because of his love for Belvidera he betrays Pierre and the conspirators.

According to Bywaters, Jaffeir can be easily compared with the Popish betrayer [[Titus Oates]] due to the proximity of the [[Popish Plot]] with the production of ''Venice Preserv’d'', as well as the Catholic terminology that Pierre uses in reference to Jaffeir<ref>Bywaters, David. "Venice, Its Senate, and Its Plot in Otway's Venice Preserv'd." ''Modern Philology'' 80.3 (1983): 256.</ref> (2). The religious tones in ''Venice Preserv’d'' allows Bettie Proffitt, in her article concerning religious symbolism in ''Venice Preserv’d'', to compare Jaffeir with [[Adam]].

For the opening showing of ''Venice Preserv’d'' on 9 February 1682 at the Duke's Theatre, William Smith played the character of Jaffeir. In 1782 [[John Philip Kemble|John Kemble]] was Jaffeir. In London in 1953, [[John Gielgud]] filled the role of Jaffeir. [[Alan Bates]] was Jaffeir in 1969 at The Bristol Old Vic's production of ''Venice Preserv’d''. More recently, [[John Castle]] was Jaffeir in 1970 during the Prospects Productions’ of ''Venice Preserv’d''. (6) in 1984 [[Michael Pennington]] was Jaffeir (6). In 2019, [[Michael Grady-Hall]] played Jaffeir at the RSC.