Religion

Question 1

What is Othello set against?

Answer 1

-the backdrop of wars between Christian republic of Venice + Muslim Ottoman Empire
-religious conflict important background to play whose protagonist concert to Christianity from Islam
-wars a subtle reminder of conflict between Christian’s + Muslims + how Othello stands apart from his society

Question 2

Why did the Venetians distrust Othello?

Answer 2

-although fighting against Ottoman’s is a declaration of his Christianity his Muslim background is a cause of Venetians subtle distrust of him
-religiously fuelled hatred perhaps another motive for Iago’s destructive manipulations

Question 3

What is the importance of the great chain of being?

Answer 3

-key concept on Elizabethan period that is grounded in religion is great chain of being
-it informs several Shakespeare’s works + is notion of hierarchy of all creation

Question 4

How does Iago use the great chain of being?

Answer 4

-the hierarchy informs Iago’s derogatory descriptions of Othello
-frequently inmates him to an animal “black ram”
-animals considered lower than humans in Christian hierarchy ordained by god
-Iago perceives moors + people of African descent to be less than human in his eyes + in eyes of god too