Othello Context

Question 1

Racism in Act 1 Scene 1

Answer 1

Racist language used against Othello e.g. ‘Old black ram’

Racism – black was equated with sin and evil. Black characters were often evils, e.g. Aaron the Moor in Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus (AO4)

Question 2

Witchcraft & magic in Act 1 Scene 2

Answer 2

Othello accused of charming Desdemona: using magic to seduce her
Othello’s exotic tales of adventure
Widespread in belief in magic
Men as naturally ‘fierce, hardy, strong in opinion, covetous of glory’

Question 3

Female roles in Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 3

Desdemona’s ‘divided duty’ between husband + father (typical feature of Shakespearean drama, e.g. Cordelia’s comments in King Lear) (AO4)
Women’s identity determined by relation to men / men’s households

Question 4

Expectations of women in Act 2 Scene 1

Answer 4

Desdemona described as a ‘the riches of the ship’, ‘the divine Desdemona’, and one who ‘paragons description’ etc
Women expected to be ‘mild, tractable, shamefast, benign’
Women as ‘excellent ornament of men’

Question 5

Mens’ reputation in Act 2 Scene 3

Answer 5

Cassio’s emphasis on reputation…his own situation is not connected directly to a woman but it reminds us how important and honour and reputation are and Othello will certainly think his are at risk because of his wife
Montaigne - men fear that their wives will ruin their honour/reputation

Question 6

Control in Act 3 Scene 1

Answer 6

Iago’s ability to control Othello’s movements etc.

Strictly hierarchical vision of the world/universe…culminating in godlike power of monarchy

Question 7

Nationality characteristics in Act 3 Scene 2

Answer 7

Iago continues to play the part of the dutiful subordinate carrying out Othello’s orders
Associations of Italy with Machiavelli and, therefore, with scheming, cunning etc.

Question 8

Expectations of women in Act 3 Scene 3

Answer 8

Desdemona saying she’s obedient

Women expected to be obedient: husbands as heads of household etc.

Question 9

Superstition and astrology in Act 3 Scene 4

Answer 9

Desdemona’s comment on the sun and Othello’s character, compare the ‘error of the moon’ in 5.2
General belief in powerful influence of heavenly bodies / astrology (sun drawing up noxious vapours from the earth)

Question 10

Nationality characteristics in Act 4 Scene 1

Answer 10

‘many a civil monster’

Italy associated with ceremony of public life and also ruthless exploitation

Question 11

Sexual expectation of women in Act 4 Scene 2

Answer 11

‘He called her a whore’
Expectations of women’s sexual morality: ‘choose thy wife for virtue only’. Virtue and especially honour were highly gendered concepts and for women meant primarily, but not exclusively, sexual virtue: chastity and fidelity.

Question 12

Expectations of women’s opinions in Act 4 Scene 3

Answer 12

Emilia’s sharp tongue and her capacity for satire…also link to Emilia eventually speaking out against Iago
Women’s tongues as their weapons in tightknit Renaissance household

Question 13

Jealousy in Act 5 Scene 1

Answer 13

Iago as covetous as glory…but leads him to behave dishonourably. Denied glory of promotion, does he seek a kind of negative glory by triumphing over his ‘enemies’?
Men as covetous of glory

Question 14

Differing views on suicide in Act 5 Scene 2

Answer 14

Is Othello’s suicide shameful or redemptive?
Different views on suicide…Christian = sinful and so shameful…but (as shown in some other tragedies) Roman suicides as noble and heroic