Othello

Created by: Frizbee26
Created on: 03-04-17 16:11

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Setting
- Othello:Social Historical Context
  - Position of women
    - Women had few legal rights
      - Unable to inherit title or money
      - Often belonged to their father or husband- possessions
      - Not educated and couldn't work
    - The Great Chain of Being
      - God
        Angels
        Kings/Gueens
        Men
        Women
        Animals
        
        Women are placed just above animals and below men. Lack status.
        Thought of as intelectually and morally inferior
        Husbands would control their wife as they thought lack of intellect would lead them to cheat
        
        Women taught to be obedient to men
        Disobedience though of an act against God
    - Double standards
      - Women who were sexually active were looked down more than men are
    - Iago is a clear example of a misogynist- a contemporary for his time? (the usual)
    - Women put on a pedestal e.g.Desdemona by Othello
      - 'Virgin'-'whore' dichotemy
  - Origin
    - Story is based on the italian novel by Cinthio written in 1556
  - Racism
    - 'Moor'/ 'Black moor' contraction of 'Black as a moor'
      - 'Moor'- derogatory term for black people
        Some North Africans were leftover from when the muslim Arabs ruled over Spain
        Predominant religion of 'Moors' was Islam
        Eventually made to convert to Christianity
        
        Two distinct ethnic groups involved in Muslim conquest of Spain and hance came to be known as 'Moors'
        'Berbers'-original inhabitant of Barbary Coast, the Medititerranean shore of Northwest Africa
        Conquered and converted to Islam by the Arabs
        Had typically much darker skin than Arabs
        'Moor' could refer to an Arab or Berber but there are numerous references to Othello being black so is a Berber
        
        Used commonly by Elizabethans as term for brown or darker than average European
        
        Mixed-race marriages very rare
        Adds to tension and dislike Brabantio has of Othello
        
        Othello as a black person is an obvious outsider who is aware of the racism that surrounds him
        These fuel his insecurities
  - Beliefs
    - Religious
      - 7 Deadly Sins
        Deadly sin- a spiritual vice or behaviours indulged
        These corrode and corrupt the soul
        7 sins
        Greed
        
        Envy
        Envy Vs. Jealousy
        Envy- wanting something that belongs to someone else
        
        Jealousy- feeling of insecurities and possesive over posessions
        Jealousy isn't explicitly a sin but is regarded as such
        During Medieval and Elizabethan times considered jealousy as...
        a sudden infection (of the spirit and mind), spiritual disease
        
        eroded trustand broke down bonds of family and society
        
        very much a theme in public consciousness and well recognised theme in drama, poetry (like today)
        
        Pride
        
        Wrath
        Uncontrollable vening of anger/revenge
        
        Lust
        
        Gluttony
        Greed/excess in eating
        
        Sloth
        Idle laziness
      - 7 Heavenly virtues
        Heavenly virtue- qualities that elevate a person's soul
        7 Virtues
        Patience
        
        Diligence
        If do something do it with lots of effort and dedication
        
        Chastity
        
        Humility
        Not acting out if ego or being big headed, modesty
        
        Charity
        
        Temperance
        Balance responses to things, level headed
        
        Desdemona posses many of these
        Explains sterotypical female role
        
        Seen as role model
- Venice and Cyprus late 16th century
  - Wrote in Elizabethan Era (1558-1603)
    - Sterotypes from Elizabethan Era
      - Venetian women-beautiful, sexually tolerant
        Courtesan= upercclass, wealthy prostitute
      - Venetian men= flamboyant, aggressive, jealous, quick tempered
  - During the Turkish-Venetian War
    - Turks- ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Islamic
      - Cyprus was conquered by the Turks during the war
    - Venetian- ruled by the Venetian Empire. Christian
Thought of as intelectually and morally inferior
- Husbands would control their wife as they thought lack of intellect would lead them to cheat
- Women taught to be obedient to men
  - Disobedience though of an act against God

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Othello

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