2014 Question A
“Various social groups, both large and small (such as family, friends, organisations or community) reflect the cultural context in texts.”
Cultural context is an umbrella term to define the social norms, opinions, inequalities and influences present at the certain time and location that a text is written. During my comparative study I have examined Othello, the play by William Shakespeare as well as the text, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. In both pieces the cultural context is vitally important in understanding the dynamics of relationships, as well as the power structures present, and how they affect the characters. In this essay I'll be examining how the cultural context in a text is reflected through the various social groups present in each piece, looking specifically at groups including family, friends, organisations and communities.
Where and when a story is set is vital to determining the cultural context. Othello was written in 1603 Venice, while Wuthering Heights was set in Yorkshire spanning roughly from 1770-1802. The cultural context in both texts have a surprising amount of similarity, with arguably more old fashioned, oppressive views present in the latter written, Wuthering Heights.
In Othello, the first example of a social group reflecting the cultural context, is seen very early on in the play, through the superstition Brabantio expresses towards Othello in the senate. Brabantio, Desdemona's father believes he can win the vote of the senate by persuading them Othello has bewitched Desdemona into marrying him, he believes this because Othello is foreign and to him this equates to mystery and danger. He also cannot comprehend how Desdemona could love him and is so suspicious to even claim he must have used “drugs or minerals” to win Desdemona's affection. This inherent racism, xenophobia and superstition is also predominant in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff, like Othello is being constantly scrutinised due to superstiton. This is reflected through the comparisons made about Heathcliff to wild animals, beasts and the devil, “like a dog...devilish monster”. The social group I believe most reflects this lack of acceptance and inherent racism is the friend group Cathy creates between her, Edgar Linton and Isabella Linton, from which Heathcliff is excluded. To the point he is not allowed to be seen when they are around. Despite being Cathy's oldest and once closest friend, he is excluded because of their suspicions and at the end of the day because he is foreign and an outsider to them, he doesn’t fit in. We see this similarity of superstition and exclusion being tied into the racism in both texts. Perhaps fueled by a fear of the unknown or simply studied ignorance as to remain in a position of power, as the oppressor.
Secondly how the cultural context is reflected through the various social groups in both texts, in relation to the treatment of women. The disrespectful and misogynistic treatment of women in Othello is reflected through the derogatory language used about women within the social group of the members of the army. Othello and Iago refer to Desdemona as a “devil”, as a “foolish strumpet”, a “mistress”, a “creature” and many more. Yet they do not repeat such language in the company of anyone else apart from fellow army members. This reflects to me how the men believe when they are not around women and in their army social group it is acceptable to speak of women in a demeaning and disrespectful manner. This portrays to me how the cultural context of women's place in society is perpetuated by the social groups displayed in Othello. This dominant cultural normality within an all-male social circle to speak disrespectfully about women prevails also in Wuthering Heights. First seen when Lockwood first arrives at the Heights. Cathy and Nelly are allowed only to dwell in the kitchen, out of anyone else's company. The men even go as far as to refer to Nelly and Cathy as “the kitchen”- “I believe at Wuthering Heights the kitchen are forced to retreat altogether into another quarter”. While this portrays the societal expectations and oppression of women at the time it also gives space for this male dominated circle to speak freely among one another about Cathy and her “wicked” ways. This group reflects the cultural context at the time because as men, they are automatically more powerful and more respected than their female counterparts. This to me portrays how when a social group contains people who all share similar life experiences and advantages, it becomes easy to lose sight of your own privilege.
In conclusion after examining both texts and their prejudices its clear to me that social groups of any size , made up of anyone has the ability not only reflect the cultural context in a text but also perpetuate it.
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