Chapter 5 Flashcards
How is the term ‘Moor’ used to describe Othello, and what does it signify in the context of the European norm?
Answer:
The term ‘Moor’ in Othello is ethnographically vague, often meaning little more than a ‘black-skinned outsider.’ However, its significance lies in its antithetical relationship to the European norm of civilized white Christians. Othello is primarily described as a Moor, highlighting his status as a black-skinned outsider in contrast to the European norm
Why does Othello find the everyday domestic world of love and marriage alien, and what does this reflect about his life?
Answer:
Othello, devoted to warfare and at home on the battlefield, finds the everyday domestic world of love and marriage alien because his entire life has been dedicated to warfare. This paradoxical situation reflects his unpreparedness to navigate a world full of prejudices and fears that mirror those of early modern society.
How did the slave trade and colonization impact England’s perception of blackness in the early modern period?
Answer:
In the early modern period, the slave trade had begun, and Africans were brought to England as proof of their existence. The English sought to colonize the New World by exporting their language and culture, reflecting a desire to teach the ‘right’ language and culture to what they considered barbaric peoples.
What significance did Othello’s blackness hold for the Elizabethan audience, and how was it perceived in contrast to Desdemona’s whiteness during a performance at Hallowmas?
Answer:
Othello’s blackness was seen as a sign of impurity by the Elizabethan audience, while Desdemona’s whiteness was considered a sign of purity. This perception is evident in a record of a performance of Othello at Hallowmas (All Saints Day), a festival focusing on the righteousness and persecution of saints. Desdemona’s whiteness symbolizes her purity, aligning her with the theme of martyrs and blessedness.
How does the liturgical festival of Hallowmas provide a context for understanding Othello’s thematic similarities?
Answer:
Hallowmas, a festival focusing on saints, martyrs, and mourning, provides a context for understanding Othello’s thematic similarities. Desdemona’s suffering aligns with the festival’s theme of martyrs and persecuted blessedness. The festival’s context enhances the tragic perspective of Othello, highlighting the complex interplay of race, purity, and righteousness in the play.
What does Desdemona’s whiteness symbolize in the play and in the context of the Hallowmas festival?
Answer:
In the play and in the context of the Hallowmas festival, Desdemona’s whiteness symbolizes her purity. She is likened to a saint who, like the martyrs celebrated during the festival, achieves blessedness after suffering. Desdemona’s white dress and skin align with the festival’s theme of righteousness and the purity associated with saints.
How does Iago describe Othello to Brabantio, and what popular European fears does this reflect?
Answer:
Iago describes Othello to Brabantio as an ugly lascivious beast (‘an old black ram,’ ‘a Barbary horse’) and frequently as a devil. This reflects popular European fears of the peoples of the New World, incorporating a mingled attraction and revulsion, rooted in the legendary Wild Man characters of Medieval and Renaissance literature.
What does Emilia say to Othello at the end of the play, and how does it connect with the European fears of the New World?
Answer:
At the end of the play, Emilia tells Othello, ‘Thou does belie her [Desdemona], and thou art a devil’ (5.2.131). This connects with the European fears of the New World, echoing the popular notions of the devil and touching on the European anxieties surrounding the peoples of the New World.
How does Othello ironically describe his wife, and what does this irony reveal about European perceptions?
Answer:
In a moment of irony, the blinded Othello describes his innocent wife as a ‘fair devil’ (3.3.481). This irony reveals the complexity of European perceptions, as Othello, despite his acculturation into Venetian society, adopts language that echoes the popular fears and prejudices associated with the peoples of the New World.
How did Europeans view the so-called strange people from the New World, and what reactions did their differences evoke?
Answer:
Europeans viewed the peoples of the New World with a reaction that involved mingled attraction and revulsion, longing and hatred. These peoples did not conform to European views of morality, family life, institutions, and the church, disturbing the Europeans who observed them. The response was often clouded and controlled by the influence of the legendary Wild Man characters from Medieval and Renaissance literature.
How do Iago’s references to Othello as an ‘erring barbarian’ and an ‘extravagant and wheeling stranger’ connect with the Wild Man legend?
Answer:
Iago’s references to Othello as an ‘erring barbarian’ and an ‘extravagant and wheeling stranger’ connect with the Wild Man legend. The term ‘erring barbarian’ aligns Othello with the inhabitants of Barbary, while ‘extravagant and wheeling stranger’ reminds Elizabethans of the roaming and vagrant characteristics associated with the Wild Man legend
How is Othello presented by his peers despite his acculturation into Venetian society?
Answer:
Despite his acculturation into Venetian society, Othello is presented as a stereotypical black man by his peers. The references to him as an ‘erring barbarian,’ a ‘lascivious Moor,’ and a ‘devil’ reflect the deep-rooted prejudices and stereotypes that persisted despite his integration into the Venetian community.
How does the racial tolerance in Venice, as depicted in the play, contrast with the racial atmosphere in Elizabethan England during Shakespeare’s time?
Answer:
Venice in the play does not appear to be a racist society. However, Elizabethan England, during Shakespeare’s time, was witnessing the beginning of racial intolerance.
What two broad types of Moors were present in the London stage tradition during the Elizabethan era, and how were they characterized?
Answer:
In the London stage tradition of the Elizabethan era, two broad types of Moors were distinguishable. The first type was characterized by extreme blackness and portrayed as villainous. The second type, known as a ‘white Moor,’ exemplified noble conduct and was often seen in a positive light.
How does Othello embody characteristics of both types of Moors, and how is his noble role perceived by his peers in the play?
Answer:
Othello appears to incorporate traits from both types of Moors. His role as a noble soldier is well accepted by his peers as long as he doesn’t break the color barrier and become too intimate. The character of Othello combines nobility with the stereotype of a black man as potentially ugly, cruel, lustful, and dangerous.
