context

Question 1

The renaissance period:

Answer 1

He draws on greek and roman classical writing and he explores the psychology of his characters in depth.

Question 2

staging:

Answer 2

• cast was entirely male, female characters were played by young boys.
• role of Othello was written by a white English an changes our views of race in the play.
• This undermines the credibility of Othello’s characterisation into whether he’s a stereotypical moor or a generalised black man.

Question 3

setting:

Answer 3

• Venice was cosmopolitan and diverse, full of wealth and political stability.
• Simultaneously a place of exotic excitement and dangerous otherness, therefore this is the ideal setting in which English preoccupations can be projected and explored.

Question 4

race:

Answer 4

• Despite the fact that he is respected as a military leader, he is ultimately purged from the white European society to which he only ever partially belonged.

Question 5

women:

Answer 5

• Emilia’s exposure to the truth comes too late to achieve any real change.
• Women are subordinates to men in the 16th-17th century.