Cultural Context 2013

“In any cultural context, deeply embedded values and attitudes can be difficult to change.” Compare the extent to which the above statement is valid in relation to your understanding of the cultural context of at least two texts on your comparative course.

Throughout both the texts Othello and Wuthering heights, we see a variety of power plays against many of the characters that do not assume the social standard regarding race, sex and class of the elite of the time. These characters often reveal elements of themselves that have been tainted by the deeply embedded values and attitudes regarding the culture of the time that can be very difficult to change.

Both Othello and Wuthering Heights reveal the racist mindset that was adopted by the public of the time. In Act 1 Scene 1 of Othello, we are introduced to Iago’s distain for Othello which presents itself in the form of racist snarky remarks. This is further reiterated when Brabantio learns that his daughter is married to a black man. Othello is referred to as things like a “Barbary horse” and a “Saggitary,” showing the animalistic view they had of black people. To push the point, Iago calls Othello a “black ram that is tupping [Brabantio’s] white ewe” referring to Desdemona. Brabantio takes the whole case to court which he proceeds to lose and in a weak attempt to comfort him, the Duke of Venice says “your son in law is far more fair than black” Even though he was not openly racist, these ingrained views of black people as lesser than their white counterparts show how difficult it is to change these attitudes. Similarly, in Wuthering Heights, we see the same kind of deeply embedded racism that presents itself in little comments. When Heathcliff is brought to The Heights by Old Mr. Earnshaw, we instantly feel the distain that the family has for him as they constantly refer to him as “it.” This dehumanizing pronoun is further reiterated when Mr. Earnshaw says that “it’s as dark almost as if it came from the devil,” even though he was the one to bring him home. Despite his kindness in recusing the child, the deeply embedded views of racism are clearly difficult to change. Both texts reveal that they societal sense of beauty discriminated against those of a darker complexion and were so embedded into their society that it was extremely difficult to change.

The two texts also share a similarity regarding their deeply embedded lesser view of women and the mistreatment of them. In the final scene of Othello, we see how despite Desdemona’s relentless loyalty to Othello, in leaving her father and eloping with him, that she is not taken as an equal. So much so, that she is murdered in cold blood disguised as a revenge plot. Othello is able to do this to her as women were seen as second-class citizen and is almost able to get away with it as Desdemona even defends him on her deathbed. This shows how deeply embedded the view of women as lesser was, as even Desdemona puts Othello’s life above hers. The same concept can be said for Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff, a man of class, is able to coerce Isabella into running away with his and eloping, much like Desdemona. His clearly evil intentions are overlooked because of his position as a man, and we even see these deeply embedded values in Cathy as she neglects to warn anybody although Heathcliff told her that he would abuse Isabella and turn her “blue eyes black.” Isabella, though a good wife, loses all of her power and relinquishes her freedom as soon as she marries Heathcliff. The powerlessness of women rattles heavily in both texts, and although Isabella cries out for help, she is not heard because she is a woman in a man’s world. The deeply embedded view of women is so difficult to change in these two texts, that it results in the mistreatment and harm of these two women.

We see the classist nature of the societal period in both texts that in turn infests the minds of the characters in the form of deeply embedded values that are difficult to change. Iago, albeit not a man of no class, is severely insecure about his status. It is the reason that he is so jealous of Cassio, to the point that he develops a fully fledged revenge plan that leads to his own death. The status of people at the time was the first thing that others noticed about them so when Iago was seen as lesser than Cassio and Othello, he couldn’t handle this disparity and took matters into his own hands. This shows just how deeply embedded status was in determining peoples’ opinions of others and just what they would do to be held in high esteem. This idea is mirrored in Wuthering Heights as we see the difference in the treatment of Heathcliff and Hareton. Although Heathcliff started a man of low class and stature, he ends up as a man with many riches. It is this wealth that permits him to abuse his wife and get away with it, undeterred by the fact that Isabella released a cry for help in the form of a letter to The Heights. On the other hand, Hareton, though the rightful owner of The Heights, is looked upon with disgust as he is a man of no status. He is not allowed to marry Cathy Jr. and is constantly berated due to his little worth. Heathcliff even dedicated plenty of time to stealing Hareton’s title and position, for the favour of the public. This shows how deeply embedded these values were to them, and just how difficult they were to change as in each text these characters did abominable things to achieve status.

Throughout these texts, we see numerous examples of how race, sex and class play a huge role in the minds of the society and are deeply embedded values and attitudes that are very hard to change. Even those who are not at the top of the totem pole themselves have these ingrained ideas that either they themselves or the others who fit into this narrative are lesser than those who do not and will ultimately treat them differently because of such. It is the general distaste for women and people of colour as well as those of a lower class that can be seen as the spark to many fires of conflict that lead to the death and suffering of masses in these texts.