context

Question 1

Women and marriage

Answer 1

-The rules of marriage in the 16th century reflected the patriarchal society
-men made all of the decisions
-women were subordinate and were expected to be obedient and subservient
-marriage was more of a business proposal, families would marry high status or similar status families for connections and money
-fathers know best

Question 2

Setting: Cyprus and Venice

Answer 2

Venice was associated with culture,romance and civilianisation but also corruption,conflict and prostitution making it easier for Iago to convince othello of desdemonas actions
Italy was associated with villainy, decadence and corruption, and frequently used as a setting for plays on such themes, Iago represents these themes
The isolation of and threats to the Cyprus setting symbolise the isolation of and threats to Desdemona and Othello
Othello changes when the setting changes
The use of a military setting for a play about marriage underlines the conflict Othello faces when trying to combine love and work.
Shakespeare disregarded true history in order to move his plot forwards

Question 3

Race

Answer 3

Usually in Renaissance drama black men and Moors were portrayed negatively; Othello is the first black hero.
Othello only behaves as the stereotype of the lustful, murderous black man when he is corrupted by Iago.
Othello is a racial ‘outsider’ in Venice but Shakespeare stresses his noble origins and his power and status as a mercenary general.
During the Renaissance many believed black people were fit only to be slaves. Shakespeare subverts this view in his depiction of his noble Moor.

Question 4

Religion

Answer 4

The preoccupation with good and evil underlines the play’s religious context.
Desdemona is linked to good through the use of references to heaven. Iago is linked to evil through references to hell and the devil.
Othello has converted to Christianity and subscribes to Christian values. He knows he is damned in the final moments of the play.
Iago has atheistic attitudes. He says men are in control of their own fates

Question 5

Iagos name origin

Answer 5

-iagos name is Spanish
-at the time England’s greatest enemy was Spain because of fear of invasion, competitive nature and colonisation
-clearly states Iago as the villain straight away