Social and historical context in Othello Flashcards
What are 3 aspects of tragedy?
Renaissance tragedy largely revolved around Shakespeare’s stage whose tragedies were often characterised by death and disaster
Central concepts remain from Aristotle’s poetics who wrote that tragedy should bring about catharsis designed to eradicate distressing emotions present in the audience
Drama is entered around the protagonist whose hamartia contributes to the downfall of the play
Machiavelli and the Malcontent concept
In ‘The Prince’ (1513) Machiavelli recommends ruthlessness, murder, betrayal, manipulation and deceit and false propaganda.
Iago is deemed the play’s antagonist and character of ‘malcontent’ however Machiavellian traits arise in Othello
In English drama the ‘Machiavelli’/character of malcontent was typically a dissatisfied man, often involved with revenge who was dissatisfied with social structure and other characters, who observes and comments on the actions of others, sometimes even acknowledging they’re part of the play
The Moors
A large ethnic group originating from North Africa seen as a threat to right wing Christians
Racial stereotyping and Elizabethan/Jacobean audiences
The battle of Lepanto
1571
Largest sea battle in the Mediterranean during which Christian forces gained control of Cyprus
‘Othello’ is set during the 1570s
Venice
A major naval power and centre for trade during the 16th and 17th centuary
Derogatory attitudes towards Venetian women - Iago’s sexual indiscretion of Venetian wives
Considered widely liberal by Shakespeare’s contemporaries
Venetian Cyprus was conquered by the Ottoman empire in 1570 after years of conflict in the Mediterranean
Cosmopolitan
Rodergio’s name
German origins meaning famous leader
Iago’s name
Spanish origins meaning supplanter (someone or something that takes the place of another through force, scheming or stragedy)
Shakespeare
Widely attributed as England’s most famous playwright
