key concepts Flashcards
Power and stability vs powerlessness and instability
- ( context ) Shakespeare stages Othello is the early 1600s, just after the death of Elizabeth 1 and during the early reign of James 1
- ( context ) Queen Elizabeth rules until her death in 1603, often known as the virgin queen, which created questions about power
1) could a woman rule as well as a man?
2) Who would inherit the throne- important for the stability of the state
Links to Othello:
Begins in city of Venice (known for its wealth) which was a seafaring city therefore brining lots of military power however its on the edge of Europe in a precarious position. At the start of the play, Venice is under threat from Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Who is going to lead the republic in battle- similar question to who’s going go to rule England, Sea faring city with strong military power- similar to England as it is a seafaring country with a strong military power.
Racism
In many Shakespearean tragedy’s, the eponymous hero does not appear on stage for the first scene, which therefore establishes the context, therefore the racism of society
Shakespeare uses the opening scene to demonstrate racism in the Venetian society, Iago speaks derogatory about his leader and dehumanises him once he wakes Brabantio and informs him on Desdemona and Othello’s marriage, he responds in a similar way. Shakespeare shows what Othello is up against in the play.
however when Othello enters in the room in scene 2 he is presented as honourable, articulate and respectable, far from how Iago had described him as, therefore Shakespeare sets up a racist stereotype and then demolishes it, letting the audience realise Iago is a dishonest and bad character, in a wider scene he allows his renaissance audience to think about their own perspectives
Later in the play, Othello internalises this racist beliefs of those round him, could this be a reason as to why he commits this act, its clear Shakespeare wants to show the impact racism has on its victims
Gender
symbolism of Elizabeth 1, beliefs about the power and authority women should hold is complex, one hand men and women should inhabit sperate spheres- supported by religious concepts around the time , on the other hand was a woman was the most powerful person in England
in Othello, female characters are depicted as having different amounts of power and agency which changes throughout the play
Initially Desdemona is presented as determined, confident and articulate as she defies her father and marries Othello and then courageously joins the fleet going to fight the Turkish army, yet Desdemona gradually loses power as the play progresses and the audience is left wondering is the silencing of woman is inevitable.
The power of language
The main battle ground is language and how it is used to impose power and to maintain control over others.
In Act 1, scene 1, Iago uses language to manipulate his dupe Roderigo and to “poison” Brabantio’s mind, then in Act 1, 2, 3, Othello uses rhetoric to persuade his listeners to agree to his marriage with Desdemona
Language is used as a tool for persuasion
As the play progresses, language is used for increasingly malignant ends, as Iago suggest to Othello that his new wife having an affair. Language is also used as a barrier, as Othello and Desdemona are unable to communicate effectively, and at the end Emilia uses languages to argue women’s rights
Battle within
the psychological state of the characters is used as the main point of conflict in the play
As Iago’s lies and dishonesty poison Othello’s mind, his former hero psychological stability descends into chaos. Shakespeare depicts the impact of trauma on the mind through the breakdown of Othello’s language and his body and shows the extent to which the individual can be pushed
The staging of the gradual unravelling of Othello’s mind prompts the audience to consider the extent to which irrational thoughts are able to dominate our mind
Transgression of social boundaries
the play is about boundaries; the separation of women and men, Venice and Cyprus, upper and middle class, moral and immoral characters, different ethnicities
at some points in the play, these boundaries are varying consequences. there are moments of hope in the play eg when Desdemona insists in front of a court of senators that she will remain married to Othello or when Emilia insists men and women have the same rights however the tragic ending seems to suggest that the price people pay for transgression is their life
Ultimately Shakespeare presents a world on the brink of change for the better, a world in which women and different races will be able to gain increasing agency and equality
