Othello-Context Flashcards
what year was othello published?
1603
what year was othello first performed?
1604
who was on the throne when othello was written?
Elizabeth i
who was on the throne when othello was first performed?
James i
who was the first black actor to play othello and what year was it?
- Ira Aldridge
- 1825
what literary period was othello written in?
renaissance
give 2 points on how shakespeare draws on historical ideas in othello
- draws on roman and greek writing in use of genre and references
- draws on renaissance in the exploration of the psychology of characters
where does the main story of othello come from?
- gli hecatommithi by cinthio
how does iago differ to cinthio’s version?
- more ambiguous so more evil
- more sololoquies
- shakespeare intended on him being bloodthirsty and merciless
what does the addition of characters to cinthio’s version do?
- adds more depth to the characters’ situations
why does shakespeare’s plays include a comedic subplot and what is it in Othello?
- intended to entertain the lesser educated of the audience
- it can be argued that roderigo provides a sub plot as everything would still happen if he wasn’t there
what is the affect of white actors playing a character of african origin?
- altars our perception of race in the play
- undermines the credibility of othello’s characterisation and we question to what extend he is a stereotype of a moor
where did othello begin?
venice
where did they go in act 2
cyprus
what government did venice have
contemporary repubican government
what was venice known for in terms of people?
- known for diversity of backgrounds
what are 2 ways to describe how venice felt
- geographically familiar
- exotic as it was close to north africa and middle east in trading
how was venice perceived by english audiences and what else do their show this view to?
- exotic excitement
- dangerous otherworldiness
- alluring and mystical
- edge of civilisation and was feared
- also in treatment of othello
- venetians hated and feared othello but were fascinated by his backstory
why did othello set othello abroad
- a familiar and exotic place which is ideal to explore english anxieties and worries
which critic described venice and what did he say and how is this relevant?
- andrew hadfield
- ‘a critical utopian space’- an ideal society however tensions are underneath
- othello is a military officer which on paper means h is successful however he is an outsider and subject to hate
- the racism and fear of outsiders is a reflection of the english fears and behaviours as well as venetians
why is it significant that the play then moved to cyprus?
- more unknown and dangerous
- the further it is removed the more civilisation and honour break down
what caused venetian distrust of othello and what real life context links?
- othello converted to christianity however was muslim before
- wars between christian republic of venice and muslim ottoman empire
how does the great chain of being link to the treatment of othello?
- iago repeatedly referred to othello comparing him to an animal
- animals are at the bottom of the great chain of being
- so othello is lower than humans in iago’s eyes and God’s
what happened to women after they married?
- they are subordinates to men
- everything they owned became their husbands
- wives are a possession too
what is the stereotype of venetian women?
- sexual creatures
- assumed unfaithful
