Cultural Context - Power in Society in Othello

Othello is ultimately a play about power, and the insecurity of those who have it. Power dynamics between the characters not only reveal the cultural context, but drive the plot forward.

In my view, there are three main attributes which decide whether one is powerful or powerless in Othello. The first of these is wealth or lack thereof, the second is race, and the third is gender. Many times in Othello, we see characters cause conflict with others in an attempt to protect their power. In Act 1, we see Brabantio’s furious opposition to his daughter, Desdemona, marrying Othello. Brabantio is a wealthy man, and represents the established, powerful men of Venice. Othello on the other hand is a former slave, and a foreigner. As well as this, he is black. In a time where people travelled less and stayed closer to home, this only adds to how foreign Othello seems to a wealthy native of Venice like Brabantio. Here we see a fascinating look into who holds power in the play, and how it is not enough to hold simply one or two of these key attributes in Venetian society. Othello is a man of merit, who earned his rank through bravery and skill. He has earned enough wealth to make him a rich man. However, he hits a brick wall in the eyes of men like Brabantio when the matter of marrying Desdemona comes up. Brabantio is happy to speak with Othello about wars, and clearly respects him on some level for his military prowess. If Othello had been white, there is little doubt that Brabantio would have allowed him to marry his daughter. But simply lacking this one meaningless quality is enough to see him shut out from opportunities a white man would enjoy. Brabantio is clearly extremely insecure about his power. On one level, he demands control over his daughter as her father, and as a man. On another, he is fearful of this previously poor man who does not share his skin colour rising up to threaten his position in society. The cultural context is revealed through his greedy and irrational defence of his power against a perceived threat.

However, wealth and race alone do not decide a person’s standing in the world of Othello. The oppression of women is not only commonplace, but completely normalised. Even Othello, so unfairly attacked by a man irrationally fearful for his power, turns on his wife for, ultimately, the same reason. Not only does he feel betrayed by her perceived disloyalty, he sees it as a personal affront to his standing as a man, someone above her. Othello’s pledge to ‘tear her all to pieces’ is fuelled by the same fear of those below him in society threatening his power that motivated Brabantio to hate Othello himself. He sees it as not only his right, but his duty to kill his wife. Without a cultural context so saturated in inequality, the plot of Othello may have gone in a different direction. If Othello had seen Desdemona as his equal, he likely could have broken Iago’s deception by engaging in one honest conversation with her. In the end, however, he does not, and that is the tragedy of Othello.

Cultural Context in Othello - Characters challenging aspects of the Cultural Context.

 2. “Central characters can be successful or unsuccessful in challenging aspects of the cultural context in texts.”

 (a) Discuss the extent to which at least one central character is successful or unsuccessful in challenging at least one aspect of the cultural context in one text on your comparative course. Support your answer with reference to the text.

In the play Othello, I believe the central characters are both successful and unsuccessful in making challenges against aspects of the cultural context in this play.

In the play Othello, I think that Desdemona is successful in challenging the cultural context of the possession of daughters by their fathers, as was normal at the time. In the time when Othello was set, it was traditional in society that a father should decide what happens to his daughter, as she was ‘his possession’. When the daughter is married, she then becomes ‘her husband’s possession’. In Act 1:1, Brabantio is told by Iago (and Roderigo) that ‘an old black ram is tupping your white ewe’, describing in a foul way the choice Desdemona made to run away with a ‘lascivious Moor’, without her father’s permission. This shows how she is successful in challenging her father’s possession of her.

However, I believe that Desdemona is unsuccessful in challenging the possession of a husband over his wife, as can be seen in the examples below. I believe her to be unsuccessful because, throughout the play, Desdemona is anything but rebelling when it comes to being obedient to Othello. This obedience is seen in scenes such as Act 1:3, where Desdemona says to Brabantio ‘I am hitherto your daughter; but here’s my husband . . . . So much I challenge that I may profess / Due to the Moor, my lord.’. This obedience is also seen in Act 3:3:87 where it is said by Desdemona ‘Shall I deny you? No. Farewell, my lord’ and once more in Act 4:3 when Desdemona readily obeys Othello’s order to go to bed, ‘Get you to bed on the instant . . . . I will, my lord.’. Based on the evidence above, I believe Desdemona is unsuccessful in challenging that which is the norm (a wife’s obedience to her husband) in her society at the time Othello was written.

My final point is about Iago and the class structure in Venice. In those times, there were two classes of people; the wealthy nobles (the Duke & Senate & Council) and the poorer lower class (which Iago and his wife Emilia are part of. Emilia is a lady’s maid). I think Iago is unsuccessful in challenging the class structure in Venice, though he tries (by attempting to get the position as Othello’s lieutenant). His challenge against the class structure is seen in Act1:1, whereby he says ‘I know my price; I am worth no worse a place'. This, in my opinion, is him saying that he knows he is in the lower class, but that should not affect the decision. Once it is seen in the play that Iago has failed to secure the position of lieutenant, I see that he has been unsuccessful in challenging the Venetian class structure.lace’.

Based on the points made above, I believe central characters in the play Othello have been both successful and unsuccessful in their challenges against aspects of the cultural context at that time.

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 the text of Othello, we see a variety of power plays against many of the characters that do not assume the social standard position regarding race, sex and class of the elite of the time. Shakespeare’s 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 difficult to change and resultingly continuously interfere with the characters lives and are the root of many conflicts.

From the very beginning of the play in Act 1 Scene 1, 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 your [Brabantio’s] white ewe” in reference 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. Not only does this scene present the deeply embedded racism in their culture, but it also shows the way in which they view women of the time, as they argue over Desdemona as if she were their property. This, and the consistent reference to Desdemona as a “jewel,” shows just how possessive they are over her and displays their apparent entitlement to her as a possession. Ironically, Iago’s distain for Othello doesn’t seem to be solely based on his race but yet by the fact that Othello chose to promote Cassio as his lieutenant over himself. Being of a lower class, Iago felt inferior to Othello (ironic because he was a black man and in a social context Iago was above Othello) and Cassio and took this feeling out on them by plotting a full-fledged revenge plan. As we can see, it was the deeply embedded racism that reared its ugly head as Iago did not want to be at the bottom of the societal pyramid, below a black man. Though, it was also the classist way that they viewed society at the time, that made him feel so inferior in the first place. Iago internalized the deeply embedded view which was very hard to change and ultimately used another vice taught to him to hurt Othello and could perhaps be said to be the root cause of all the conflict.

Following on, in Act 3 Scene 3, we see a more in-depth view as to how they recognized women at the time. Othello, though not high on the societal ladder himself, still viewed Desdemona as lesser due to her being a woman. He depicts her as someone who “sings, plays and dances well” when he is describing his wife. Seeing as she is supposed to be the apple of his eye, why is this the only thing he has to say about her? Even though he loved her, the deeply embedded value that women are only relevant for a purpose – to entertain their husbands and act as a trophy – made it almost impossible for him to change his attitude, in spite of the image he has of her in his own mind. As Simone de Beauvoir wrote, ‘humanity is male and man defines woman not in herself, but as relative to him…He is the Subject, he is the Absolute – she is the Other.’ This view of women as the ‘Other’ is also shown in the way Iago speaks of women. In the same scene, he hatefully describes the so called ‘Venetian woman’ “who is known to take many lovers” and is unfaithful to her husband. Again, and again, he berates the way that women act and depicts himself as a higher being. But it is not only his fault for doing so, as Othello is extremely quick to take his word for everything. Why would Othello trust “Honest” Iago who he has no ultimate relationship with and who has never proven himself loyal, over his own wife? The same wife who defied her father and secretly eloped with him, proving her loyalty? As well, Othello and Iago both later use the fact that she was loyal to Othello to prove that she was disloyal to her father. Othello places his trust in Iago because of the deeply embedded lesser view that he has of women, and specifically his wife. It is the battle of his anger that fights against his own consciousness to change his ingrained attitude, that he eventually loses and ends up killing his wife. It was these values that were the root of all the conflict that prevailed.

At the end of the play, we see Othello’s anger play out when he feels that he is just to kill his wife to prevent other men from being deceived and even goes as far as to call her a “sacrifice.” This is what he convinces himself in an attempt to disguise his lust for personal revenge. Ultimately the deeply embedded value of sexism and misogyny allows him to do so and Desdemona is killed without a voice. Othello has an internal debate over this decision but he cannot change his values and thus these ingrained attitudes are once again the root of the conflict. When Emilia finds out about the killing, she is in a heightened state of emotion and calls him many names, including a “black devil.” The word black in this phrase is completely unnecessary yet she cannot help the words that escape when she is so upset. It’s clear that the deeply embedded value of racism has crept out from the heart of Emilia that she cannot seem to change as Othello cannot be seen as any identity that doesn’t include his blackness. Even though he arguably does deserve the beratement, it is obvious that Othello can’t even be removed from his race when the more pressing issue is that of his act of homicide. Even he himself struggles with these deeply embedded values that manifest themselves in the form of internalized racism, as he calls himself a “cursed slave” due to his heinous acts. He cannot seem to change his attitudes that were embedded in him so long ago. Once again, Iago chimes in with his deeply embedded views of misogyny as he tries to silence Emilia when she tries to out his guilty acts. Yet, Emilia knows her value and refuses to be silenced and speaks her mind. Unfortunately, it is this act that gets her killed in the end. When Emilia speaks out against her husband, she dies but when Desdemona doesn’t, she dies too. How does one win? Again, women are the “Other” that men easily dispose of in their lives thanks to the deeply embedded attitudes of seeing women as subsidiary.

Throughout this play, 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 this play.

Lit Gen- Discuss the techniques used to heighten the impact of at least one of the moments of crisis

 Question: 

“Different techniques may be used to heighten the impacts of moments of crisis in texts” 

Discuss the technique(s) used to heighten the impact of at least one of the moments of crisis in one of the texts you have studied for your comparative course. Support your answer with reference to the text.” 

                                                                                            --(30 marks) 2016 paper 2, question 2 Literary Genre 

 

 

Answer: 

As part of my comparative course, I studied the play Othello written by William Shakespeare. In the last scene of the final act Iago’s plan falls through and we reach the climax that the entire play was leading up to. A few different techniques are used to here to heighten the drama in this crisis. 

This scene portrays the ultimate tragedy; a man falsely accusing his wife of disloyalty and deeming it to be in his right to brutally kill her. Once her discovers that he was led to believe these lies by his good friend Iago he is so disgusted in himself that he kills himself and Cassio is left to his own devices to decide the fate of Iago. This scenes drama and moment of crisis is heightened right from the beginning with the use of imagery, short sentences, as well as dramatic irony. 

In this scene Othello describes Desdemona using light and white imagery. Act five scene two opens with Othello’s soliloquy where he describes Desdemona and why killing her is an act of “Justice.” Othello mentions light five times in this soliloquy alone saying “Put out the light” meaning that he “must” ill Desdemona. Light symbolizes love and innocence and by killing Desdemona his light will be gone and so will the innocent heart of Cyprus. Perhaps the killing of Desdemona is not only death of the innocent but death of all innocence. By comparing Desdemona to someone of an angelic status it makes the whole ordeal far more heartbreaking. As the audience knows what is about to happen, seeing Othello so saddened and without hope yet still so in love only heightens the drama in this moment of crisis because this loving encounter will be the last. 

The short sentences (5:2:70) keeping the scene rolling at a fast pace. The snappy lines are spoken by all the characters giving the reader/audience little time to keep up, as if all characters are not having a moment's thought before expressing their opinions. The short sentences create a sense of tension and drama. Desdemona asks, “But half an hour!” to which her request is declined by her husband Othello. Without these quick sentences the scene would have less of an intense feel. The sentences add to the impact of this moment of crisis because it allows the reader to understand that what is about to happen is purely impulsive without rational thought. 

Other techniques such as hyperbole and paradox are used, but in my opinion neither are quite as effective as Shakespeare’s brilliant use of dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is seen throughout the play, most commonly when Othello referred to Iago as “Honest Iago,” but my favorite use is at the very end of this scene. Once the mass deaths and tragedy has occurred the bed is seen with Othello, his wife and another woman lying on it. It is exactly what he feared that Desdemona was doing behind his back with Cassio. Lodovico says “Look on the tragic loading of this bed,” as he refers to the three dead young people. This dramatic irony gives a clear image of the tragedy that has just unfolded which causes the reader to see the damage that one deceitful man can cause, heightening both the sadness as well as the crisis at hand. 

GVV 2014 - impact of significant events and how they make the audience feel clarifies the GVV

 

Cultural Context- dictates the difficulties faced and their responses to these difficulties

 The cultural context within this Shakespearean text certainty dictates the difficulties faced by the character, Desdemona, more specifically her struggles as a woman and how she is treated as a result of this. Her entire experiences within the play are negatively influenced by others which lead her to her unfortunate death. For example, Iago concocts his master plan knowing full well it will end poorly for Desdemona (and the other woman) but he does so carelessly as he believes he has the superiority as well as the justification to do so. That being said, it is clear that Iago lacks respect for most people but it is just quite interesting how, not just Desdemona but as well as Emilia finish in such disturbing deaths. Emilia was attempting to stick up for her Desdemona and not relinquish and it ended horribly for and on the flip side Desdemona didn’t fight and did concede and it still ended horribly for her. So I think what we can take from that is a quite melancholy reality that the women in this play no matter what decision they would decide to make, it wouldn’t matter because it would still end depressingly for them.

General Vision and Viewpoint- 2019 Q2 - the personal integrity of a central character

 It is clear from my reading of Shakespeare's Othello that my impression of the GVV (general vision and viewpoint) has been shaped by the personal integrity, more specifically the lack of, of the character Iago. The GVV is defined as the outlook on life that emerges from my reading of the text and the outlook the author tried to portray. My impression is that the GVV of this play is disparagingly negative based on the terrible acts committed by Iago in this text. Iago's dishonesty and lack of morals allow him to lie, manipulate and murder others. 

Iago’s lack of integrity can be seen through manipulation. Iago has a gift for identifying people's fears and exposing them. He uses this gift to destroy Othello. It is Iago that brought racism into the play by playing on Brabantio's fear of his daughter losing her virtue "An old black ram is tupping your white ewe”. His lack of personal integrity allows him to have nothing off limits. He uses his gift once again when he recognizes Othello is an outsider. He knows he has a lack of knowledge about the Venetian culture. He uses this to convince him that Desdemona is a typical Venetian woman of the time. “In Venice they do let Gods see the pranks //They dare not show their husbands”. He turns Othello and Desdemona's loving marriage into nothing. He pries on Othello's insecurities further by recognizing the colour of his skin causes him insecurity and Desdemona's acceptance of this is central to his pride. This is how he convinces him to kill her. He uses the idea of her betraying him for a white man as the ultimate betrayal and even that he would be doing other men a favor if she dies. "strangle her in bed- even the bed she hath contaminated” Not only does he manage to play on people's fears and manipulate them like pawns on a chessboard he manages to do it while maintaining the façade of “honest Iago”. The lack of awareness people have of his actions cause the audience to view this play with a terribly uneasy feeling as they know he is going to get away with his actions. His lack of personal integrity which allows him to deepen and expose peoples deepest wounds and fears cause me to view the GVV in a negative light due to emotional harm Iago is causing with no care.  

My GVV was affected by Iago's lack of personal integrity that caused him to treat woman with such malice. I read this play in utter disgust when observing his actions. Not only does Iago describe woman in a derogatory manner in private asides and soliloquies “wild-cats in your kitchens” but it is his manipulation that leads to the violent death of Desdemona. It also appears that it is women that truly evoke Iago's rage, as it is Emilia’s betrayal of him for Desdemona that finally cause him to drop his perfect façade and commit murder, showing his true colors. His hatred for women causes me to ask myself what Shakespeare was trying to say about women. Did he feel that Emilia should be punished for betraying her husband and therefore he kills her to carry out this maligned sense of justice? It can be said that Iago’s misogyny is the driving force of the play. Iago can be thought to commit these terrible acts in response to Othello sleeping with Emelia “He's done my office. I know not if 't be true, But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, Will do as if for surety”. However, in my opinion his hatred stems much further. In my opinion it is possible that Iago did in fact have romantic feelings for Othello. This could explain his never-failing wish to split up Desdemona and Othello. Would it not have been possible for Iago to destroy Othello without a brutal murder of Desdemona. The infatuation of Iago with Othello is central to his character and raises the suspicion of his sexuality. This infatuation can be seen in the pact the pair makes at the end of Act 3 kneeling together as a couple in a moment that mirrors a wedding .”In the due reverence of a sacred vow// I here engage my words” “ I am your own forever” This does not however excuse his horrid actions towards women, and it reveals the flawed nature of Iago's soul compromising his own sense of honesty and integrity. This lack of integrity is particularly sorrowful and informs my negative view of the GVV. 

 

In my opinion Iago's lack of integrity reaches its peak when he refuses to speak about why he has done these villainous things once he is uncovered “demand me nothing. What you know you know”. This is the ultimate revenge as it leaves Othello in inner turmoil unsure of what he did to deserve such fate. Iago once again strikes with his pure evilness and takes away the little closure Othello might have been able to find. This also creates a negative GVV for the reader and they leave this play truly heartbroken for Othello and Desdemona but also unsettled. Shakespeare did not just rob Othello of closure but also the audience. The audience are aware of the apparent reason of his anger at a rumored affair and being overlooked for a promotion, but I simply do not feel these things to be motivation enough for murder. Iago’s lack of personal integrity adds to the plays tragic GVV as it leaves a depressing and confusing outlook cast over the play. 

In conclusion, the lack of Iago's personal integrity helped shape my view of the GVV of this play. Iago's manipulation, misogyny towards women, and refusal to tell the truth all contributed to my sense of despair I felt when reading this play and that caused me to view the GVV as disparagingly negative.