Historical context Flashcards
Shakespeare and the Renaissance
Shakespeare’s plays question the beliefs, assumptions and politics upon which Elizabethan society was founded, and he often subverts traditional values
Direct criticism of the monarch or contemporary English Court would not be tolerated, which may be why Othello is set abroad
Nationalism and xenophobia
Italy had what Norman Sanders called a ‘double image.’ On one hand, it was a land of refinement and romance but on the other it was associated with decadence, villainy and vice.
Elizabethans were against mixed marriages and viewed ‘blackmoores’ with suspicion. Elizabeth I issued edicts demanding their removal from England because they were considered an ‘annoyance’
Religion
Nationalism was reinforced by Protestantism, following Henry VIII’s break from Rome in the 1530s. Shakespeare’s plays are free from direct religious sentiment but their emphasis is Protestant. The central figures are frequently individuals beset my temptation and the lure of evil
Shakespeare’s tragic heroes are haunted by their consciences; they agonise over their actions as they follow what can be understood as a spirit progression towards heaven or hell
Women
Women remained in subordinate roles and their lives were controlled by the patriarchy. Women had few legal rights, many men saw women as possessions and fathers expected to choose husbands for their daughters.
Assertive and argumentative women were seen as a threat to social order and were punished for their behaviour in forms of torture e.g. ducking stool or the scold’s bride
