themes Flashcards
What is Greek tragedy based on?
conflict and depicts the downfall of high ranking characters who make fatal errors of judgement (harmartia) because of an overwhelming pride, (hubris)
What happens at the end of tragedy’s?
justice and order are restored and a new status quo is established, catharsis has taken place.
What did Aristotle suggest that tragedy’s should do?
that they should evoke pathos in an audience.
What is Othello’s high position which fits with Aristotle’s idea of a tragic hero?
He is a high-ranking general and is descended from a line of kings.
How is there a sense of inevitability about Othello’s downfall from the moment he arrives in Cyprus?
as he declares that he feels “too much joy”
What does Emilia perform when she comments on Othello’s folly?
she performs some of the functions of a Greek chorus
The conflict at the heart of all Shakespearen tragedies are driven by negative impulses and emotions, how do character’s thus find themselves?
they find themselves embroiled in disputes with each other which lead to disorder and division
Othello differs from that of plays such as King Lear, the tragedy of which effects the whole nation; in Othello we see a narrower focus with the conflict we witness in Othello’s mind. What happens to Othello?
he becomes divided against himself, conflicted between love and pride which intensifies throughout the play.
When Othello’ internal conflict drives him to murder, how do we know that the play will end?
in the protagonist’s own demise
Shakespeare presents the first black hero in English drama, departing from theatrical convention, and how does he subvert theatrical convention again?
as the evil revenger is Iago, who remains alive at the end of the play; potentially a social critique of race at the time Shakespeare wrote.
How does Shakespeare subvert theatrical convention by allowing the evil revenger, Iago, to remain alive at the end of the play?
this is because in most Jacobean tragedies, the villain dies as part of the process of catharsis so that order can be restored.
What does F.R Leavis believe about Othello?
he accepts that he is a tragic hero but does not believe Othello learns anything in the course of the play, claiming that he only realises his folly but there is no tragic self discovery.
The structure of the play itself subverts theatrical convention which intensifies the sense of inevitability of tragedy as when Othello was wrote, it was unusual to present tragedies…..how?
in five acts with a climax in act 3 and the tragic outcome in act 5.
Through allowing Iago’s asides and soliloquies to break the 4th wall, Othello creates a sense of powerlessness amongst the audience; why could this be?
In order to reflect the powerlessness of the audience in the tragedy of everyday life where black people and women are ceaselessly mistreated.
As the play progresses, our love for the couple turns to pity as we watch Iago destroy their relationship. From what act is love undermined by mistrust , uncertainty and jealousy?
Act 3
