context Flashcards
when was Othello staged and written?
early 1600s around the turn of the century in the renaissance period
what were there concerns about during the time Othello was staged and written? (2)
1) concerns of kingship and morality of the person on the throne
2) questions of power and responsibility which are prominent in some of Shakespeare’s plays
what is the difference with Shakespeare’s plays set outside of England?
1) different emotional contexts
2) stability is the main emotional context within Othello due to the Venetian Republic being a stable institution
what often happens in Shakespeare’s tragedies?
the harmony of the universe in neoplatonic philosophy is completely overthrown
what is different with Othello compared to Shakespeare’s other tragedies?
The play may appear to be a comedy, misleading the audience and allowing the introduction of new types of characters such as Iago.
who was on the throne when Othello was staged?
James I
1) many parallels between Othello and James I
2) both had transgressions relationships of the time
3) both outsiders, James in the London court and Othello in Venice
what is unusual about Othello? (2)
1) Shakespeare’s first portrayal of a black hero, when previous black characters were often villains
2) reflects the intellectual rebirth in the Renaissance period, Shakespeare experimenting with new characters
what is the significance of the handkerchief in terms of audience?
1) trivial to the audience yet significant to the climax of the play/ peripeteia, play shifts from potential comedy to tragedy
2) confusion of emotions contributes to audience catharsis
what was Venice like when Shakespeare was writing? (5)
1) a great trading power
2) Venice widely known in Europe for its sexual tolerance
3) Venetian women were seen as promiscuous- even Emillia intimates that she would sell her affections if the money were right.
4) prostitution was legal in Venice and regulated by the state which lead to Venice being associated with hedonistic excess
5) Venice was one of the wealthiest sovereign states in Italy and often engaged in war for profit and hired mercenaries
what was the Ottoman Empire like when Othello was written?
By the time Shakespeare’s plays were being staged from the late 16th century, the Muslim Ottoman Empire was well-established as a global superpower, feared and admired across Europe for their thriving economy, military prowess and cultural and intellectual traditions.
Why was Cyprus important for Venice and the Ottoman Empire? (2)
1) highly prized in terms of military significance
2) natural resources
how was Cyprus viewed during the 16th century? (3)
1) dangerously isolated Christian outpost
2) infinitely more barbaric and uncivilised compared to Venice
3) fortification of male power
what is the significance of Cyprus to the play? (5)
1) Desdemona is isolated from the comfort and familiarity of Venice
2) Cyprus is Venice’s opposite, in every aspect, foreshadowing the contrast between control and chaos
3) away from the law and order of the Senate
4) island- reflects the isolation of the characters from society and its conventions
5) Othello’s carefully constructed life unravels at the hands of Iago
what is the significance of Venice to the play? (2)
1) everything is relatively harmonious with Desdemona and Othello’s marriage still flourishing
2) highly governed and stable setting reflected through the stability of the characters
what is the significance of the Ottoman Empire to Othello as a character? (6)
1) Turkish motif complicates Othello’s character as he begins to succumb to Iago’s manipulation
2) Turkish synonymy with islam- for
Shakespeare’s audiences the word ‘Turk’, used throughout the play to signify the Ottomans, was widely understood to mean ‘Muslim’.
3) ‘Moor’ was similarly understood as ‘Muslim’
4) Othello’s identity as a ‘Moor’ conspicuously connects him to the Ottoman Turks
5) In his final words of the play, before he claims his own life, he declares himself to be a ‘malignant and a turban’d Turk’.
6) Othello’s true identity is contentious
