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Othello (Othello (Context (Impressions of 'the other' (Early…
Othello
Othello
Context
The world 🌎 was often understood symbolically, with maps placing the holy city of Jerusalem at the centre.
Trading routes were threatened by the Turkish Empire, especially after the fall of Constantinople (Istanbul) - this threat from "outside" forces can be linked to relationship btw Othello and Iago - in that Othello's social standing is being dragged down by Iago's whisperings - which leads to the Fall of Othello.
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Set against backdrop of war between Venice and Turkey at end of 16th century - the backdrop of war reflects the relationships occurring in the play - set against the background of conflict and there is conflict occurring in the lives of th
'the Moor of Venice' - not long before Othello he had opportunity observe King of Barbory ambassador
Lewkenor repeatedly alluded to the 2 social classes in Venice - the nobility and the gentlemen and the 'common meaner people', observing that the latter 'should also in sort have their albition satisfied without having occasion either to hate or perturb the estate of nobilitie'. - class distinction was more rigid in England, Iago's resentment against privilege and hankering to be treated an an equal by 'gentlemen' underlines these distinctions.
Judgement of character is important and Othello, although 'noble', is open to criticism for his judgement of character - when Othello fails to perceive "honest " Iago's evil motives through his naivety and gullibility, causing the play's tragedy.
Aspects of tragedy
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Usually ends with fractured and broken relationships - a large amount of tragedy is the isolation of a person - isolation of Desdemona from Othello and visa versa, which allows for Iago to come between them.
They usually have the name of the person who falls in the title - the tragic journey of an individual character.
- Love makes people very vulnerable - Othello's vulnerability stems from his love for Desdemona - his jealousy that can be thought to cause his downfall and it is a jealousy that stems from his love for Desdemona and his insecurity - but his tragedy can also be interpreted to be due to his poor judgement.
- 2 fatal flaws - jealousy and poor judge of character which allows for Iago to manipulate him and manipulate his jealousy.
Tears people apart and denies them hope - often leading to the death of multiple characters by the end of the play. Tragedy endings in the breaking of binds, destroying relationships, stamping out love and hope , the way Othello and Desdemona's relationship changes throughout play until warped beyond recognition.
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It can be debated that Othello and Desdemona never consummate their marriage, on their wedding night they are interrupted by an order to come see the Duke, there is the war in Cyprus and then Cassio's drunken brawl, also act 4 scene 2 Desdemona asks Emilia to 'Lay on my bed my wedding sheets' which suggests they have no consummated as the sheets would have taken a lot longer to wash and dry, suggesting a lack of use. - when they get to Cyprus it is clear they have not had sex yet, Othello says it explicitly.
there is a tragic irony that it is in the bed where Othello strangles Desdemona - as the bed is typically associated with love making and new life, but it is now a place of violence and death.
Question why do Desdemona and Othello not communicate? - creates the divide between them and allows for Iago to come between them with his whisperings. - he manipulates the silence between them.
Harold Bloom argues what makes Othello's jealousy so torturous is that the only way he can figure out if she is actually cheating with him or not is to have sex with her - if she is a virgin then she has been faithful. - But Bloom suggests Othello can't take the pressure of sleeping with his wife + possibility realising she is not.
Complex power struggle of Venice - which then filters down to complex power struggle btw Othello and Iago.
- Iago's ref to Othello as 'a Barbary horse' + 'an erring Barbarian' and Roderigo's ref to Othello as 'the thick lips', other characters also describe him as black and he himself say 'Haply for I am black'.
- these all show how centred society was around race - this can be considered to be part of the cause of Othello's tragic downfall, the prejudice that was centred around him.
Othello is often thought of as being older than Desdemona - closer in years to her father - which suggests Othello to be more of a father figure to her than a husband.
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