Historical Context Flashcards
What is the biographical context of Othello? (4 points)
Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon
Born early in Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, which epitomised a Golden Age in English literature and culture
Renaissance in the Arts started more than a century earlier in Italy - his works are imbued with its spirit
Remained an active member of the King’s Men theatrical company until shortly before he died in 1616
What is the historical context of Othello?
Many of Shakespeare’s plays including Othello were written during the years immediately before and after the change of monarch from Elizabeth I to James I
What is the historical context behind the possible inspiration for Othello? (3 points)
Honigmann believes that it was inspired by the visit of the King of Barbary’s ambassador to London in 1600 with his entourage known as the ‘Barbarians’ - was much discussed by Londoners at the time
Also, in 1500, a translation of John Leo’s “A Geographic Historie of Africa” was published
Leo, a Moor brought up in Barbary, wrote about his fellow countrymen with terms similar to Othello’s character traits
What 6 terms did John Leo use to describe Berbers in “A Geographic Historie of Africa”?
Honest
Proud
High-minded
Addicted unto wrath
Subject to jealousy
Willing to lose their lives rather than put up with disgrace on behalf of their women
What is the historical context behind Venice? (2 points)
It had many foreign residents and visitors in 1600 due to trade links with East and North Africa - simultaneously associated with exotic excitement and dangerous otherworldliness
Also thought of as a pleasure capital - known for its sexual tolerance and courtesans
What is the historical context behind Venice’s government? (3 points)
Europe was once ruled by monarchs and feudal lords
However, the northern part of Italy was unique in being organised into ‘city-states’ - Venice was one of the most celebrated of them
Audiences would have been fascinated by its contemporary Republican government - the Tudor era was nearly over and no heir for Elizabeth I led to widespread interest in alternative forms of rule
What is the historical context behind the Venetian Republic? (3 points)
Venice began to exploit its position at the head of the Adriatic Sea
Founded a seaboard empire that would eventually stretch to the Levant and the shores of the Black Sea
The Venetian Republic fell into decline from 1570 onwards after the loss of Cyprus to the Turks
How does the play present Venice as corrupt? (8 points)
Venice is therefore a less virtuous place than it might appear - its people are obsessed with money and trading in human flesh
Corruption is caused by imperial ambition, wealth and complacency
Othello and Cassio:
Mercenaries who kill for hire - the Senate, however dignified, is engaged in a war for profit and territory
Brabantio:
Imprisons his daughter so he can arrange a good marriage
Roderigo:
Unlawfully solicits Desdemona through the use of monetary bribes
lago:
Has also made money his replacement for morality:
+ Hired ‘three great ones of the city’ to plead his suit for the lieutenancy
+ It is not a position not expected to be awarded on merit
Emilia:
Condones adultery as ‘the world…is a great price / For a small vice’
Bianca (meaning white’):
Buys herself ‘bread and clothes’ by ‘selling her desires’
How is Venetian racism presented in Othello? (5 points)
Racism is expressed by four Venetian characters: Roderigo, lago, Brabantio and Emilia
Brabantio falls back on the accusation of witchcraft when faced with something ‘unnatural’ that he can’t rationally undersand
Contributes to the play’s theme of appearance versus reality - underneath the visible white surface lies blackness
Cassio, who is specifically called a Florentine, being the only winner may be significant
Venice is the ideal setting for English anxieties to be projected onto - racism and fear of outsiders in the play are a reflection of English fears and behaviours
What is the historical context behind Cyprus? (3 points)
Cyprus was at the crossroads of the eastern Mediterranean - explains why it was invaded and subjugated over 4,000 years
Europeans were brought to it when Christians launched a campaign to win back Jerusalem from the Muslims in 1097 - colonised it as an ideal base for operations in the Levant
It became a dangerously isolated Christian outpost in the Muslim world - invaded by the Ottomans in 1570, allowing them to dominate the eastern Mediterranean
What is the physical significance of Cyprus in Othello? (3 points)
Setting is even further removed from English audience both geographically and symbolically
Whilst Venice sat at the ‘edge of civilisation, Cyprus was even more unknown and dangerous - closer to Arab and Turkish world
The further the play is removed from Western Europe, the more civilisation and honour break down
What is the symbolic significance of Cyprus in Othello? (4 points)
Cyprus is described as ‘this war-like isle’ - the antithesis to peaceful Venice
It is a symbol of submission - has never had autonomy due to having always been a colony
Thought to be the birthplace of Aphrodite, goddess of love - it is an island of love dominated by war
It is the battlefield between the forces of Christianity and heathenism - represents actual war and also the figurative thematic battles between:
+ Good and evil
+ Light and darkness
+ Heaven and hell
How does the location of Cyprus relate to Othello and its characters? (3 points)
Othello’s mentality following Iago’s machinations mirrors the fright and dependence the Cypriots felt as the last European bastion against the marauding infidels - the ‘Turk’ lago invades Othello’s mind and then subjects him to his rule
It unlocks the primitive side of previously restrained characters, including Othello - it hosts:
+ 2 street fights
+ Drunkenness,
+ Prostitution
+ Murder
+ Verbal and physical attacks on women
+ A general loss of decorum
Not one of the major characters returns from Cyprus to Venice within the play - not a journey that can be made in reverse, just like the loss of virginity, trust and innocence
What is the context behind the Muslim invasion? (4 points)
The Christian world (Europe, North Africa, the Levant and Asia Minor) began to be threatened by Islam almost immediately after its creation in the 7th century
Muslims rapidly conquered all the non-European areas and struck deep into Europe before they were defeated in France
The Ottoman Turks mounted increasingly powerful operations against the Christians from the 15th century
Symbolically conquered Constantinople, the capital of the Byzantine Empire, in 1453
What is the context behind the origin of ‘Moors’? (5 points)
‘Moor’ and ‘blackamoor’ (a contraction of ‘black as a Moor) were used very loosely in Elizabethan England to indicate any person of dark or black skin, including all people of African descent
However, the term correctly refers to Muslims who originated from Morocco and had conquered and settled in Spain in the 7th century.
Parts of Spain remained Muslim and many Moors from North Africa settled there until the ‘Moorish kingdom’ of Granada was finally defeated by the Spanish kings in 1492
From then on, all remaining Moors were forcibly converted to Christianity as ‘Moriscos’
With his Spanish name, it seems probable that Othello was a Morisco expelled from Spain and hence a converted Christian
