Directions: Given the source you chose to bring to class (list the source with your response in MLA format), what do you now understand about the works of Shakespeare, the setting of Othello, the plot of Othello or the characters in Othello? Did understanding the historical approach to Othello help you to understand the play (Acts I-III) better? Why or why not? Please answer the questions in paragraph form. 200 words or less.
Blog due before class on Wednesday, November 19th.
Reply to classmate: Find a classmate's blog that allowed you to think differently about the play. Whether you agree with what your classmate said or not, ask your classmate a question that might provoke further research into the classmate's particular historical approach.
Reply due before 5pm on Friday, November 21st.
TOKER, Alpaslan. "Othello: Alien In Venice." Journal Of Academic Studies 15.60 (2014): 29-51. Academic Search Complete. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.
ReplyDeleteThis source and our discussion in class helped me realize that Othello was an outcast. I didn't realize that reading Othello but once I read this article and listened in class I realized what a loner Othello was due to his race and social class. I now realize why Othello was so enraged that Desdemona supposedly cheated because she is the only person that has never judged him for his skin color. Othello’s obsession to repay Desdemona for what he thinks she did is more understandable because he has been disrespected his whole life and is sick of it. Understanding the historical approach made me understand the play better because I realized how Othello, and all people that weren't white at that time, were seen as inferior.
I hadn't thought about the fact that Othello loved Desdemona because she saw past his appearance and history. Othello, despite his heritage, did have some rank in the military. Would this have changed the way he was seen by society of the day, or would his skin color have preceded even his status?
DeleteLevenson, Jill L. "The Society Of Women In The History Of Othello From Shakespeare To Verdi." University Of Toronto Quarterly 81.4 (2012): 850-859. Academic Search Complete. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
ReplyDeleteAfter the class discussion and the article "The Society of Women in The History of Othello from Shakespeare to Verdi”, the historical strategies approach has giving me a stronger idea of how women had been viewed as in the play of Othello. Women in the era in which Othello takes places had the expectations of being well mannered, quiet, and following orders. For a women like Desdemona, the daughter of a senator, her expectations were high. Women marrying men with high titles secured them. However, women who married against her family’s wishes snatched everything from them, for example her social class and title. In Othello, Desdemona did marry a high titled man, but because her father did not agree to the marriage and also Othello is not the same skin tone, she is viewed differently.
Do you think if Othello was white Desdemona's father would have approved of the marriage?
DeleteI think Desdemona's father would approve of the marriage if in fact it was a man he chose for her, but also if Othello was white he would be accepting of the marriage.
DeleteThis article caught my eye, as I was perusing EBSCO for entires on Iago. The author reasons that the character of Iago is a personification of many Machiavellian ideas, specifically those from The Art of War and The Prince. It reviled to me how much of a genus Iago’s character is, and how clever Shakespeare was for incorporating the ideas of a renowned philosopher like Machiavelli. Both of Machiavelli's works were publishes more than fifty years before Othello opened, surly Shakespeare could have read them, and incorporate them into his plays. This shows the impact of others works upon the plays of Shakespeare. This gave him the opportunity to create meaningful characters, ones rooted in real ideologies- giving them a strong connection to the audience and incredible depth.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how the ideas and works of others find their way into the generations that follow. Many Shakespearean concepts are part of our culture today, so it is neat to see who inspired Shakespeare. Do you think these meaningful characters that Shakespeare created through Machiavellian concepts, are what made his plays attract such a wide audience throughout the centuries?
DeleteJOHNSEN-NESHATI, KRISTIN. "Tickets." The Plays. 19 Oct. 2005. Web. 19 Nov. 2014. <http://www.shakespearetheatre.org/plays/articles.aspx?&id=83>.
ReplyDeleteIn class I wondered why Othello would be seen as marrying up, when he married Desdemona. He is a high up ranking military man with a great track record. Yes he is black, but at that time the slave trade didn't really exist at that point. After class and reading the above article I realize that even though the slave trade wasn't up and running there were still people out there who treated blacks as slaves. And it wasn't even just black people. Basically all people who weren't Christian white or Elizabethans were seen as uncivilized. Because of this and the fact that Othello has the marks of the slave (at least according to the movie) this puts him in a different class than Desdemona. I think that any father would be proud of a daughter's choice to marry a top ranking soldier and a close friend. But in this case skin color and background do make all the difference. Which is how it is so easy for Othello to see that Desdemona could possibly move on to a "proper" man like Cassio. He has been looked down upon for most of his life, and even his new father-in-law who once thought of him as a friend turns on Othello as soon as he finds out his daughter married him. I am not saying that this gives Othello any right to being crazy or murderous, but it does explain how he would turn on his wife just because of the talking of Iago.
Flachmann, Michael. "All My Travels History: The Moral Geography of Othello." All My Travels History: The Moral Geography of Othello From Insights, 2002 By Michael Flachmann. Utah Shakespeare Festival, n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
ReplyDeleteI have realized that the setting was very significant. Venice was considered the crown jewel of Italy and Cyprus was on the edge of Christianity and considered barbarous. Venice is important because at this time Venice was a predominantly white location and being that Othello was "colored" his actions are scrutinized 10 xs more than a white man's. The only reason he was respected was because he was a General and he protected the Venetians. According to Venetian law their General was required to be a Foreigner so it makes sense for the Venetians to respect him in that aspect but find it appalling that he married into "their kind". Also in Venice prostitutes/whores are prevalent so it is easier for Iago to plant the seed that Desdemona is a whore because that's what Othello knows a lot of the women in Venice to be. The fact that the falling out and the plot thickets more in Cyprus makes sense because of the fact that Cyprus was considered a barbarous location and this is where Othello because more aggressive, dominant etc. However it is also ironic that Cyprus be considered a barbarous location when it is said to be the birth place of Venus the goddess of love and although when Desdemona and Othello first come to Cyprus it does seem that they have a passionate and very loving relationship but it is no match for Iago and his cunning ways.
-Suselis Bush
I did not know all those details about Venice and Cyprus, but they definitely add more depth to the story. The location change does affect the characters and is notable. Do you think it adds more meaning to the plot as well, that Cyprus is an Island, rather than just a separate location? Not only is Desdemona isolated and away from her countrymen, but the characters seem to take ‘justice’ into their own hands, being ‘cut-off’ from Venice.
Delete"Shakespeare's Language." Shakespeare Resource Center. J.M. Pressley. Web. www.bardweb.net/language.html.
ReplyDeleteI was not able to find much in depth historically that pertained to Othello, especially among JSTOR. The websites I found about the Elizabethean era emphasized the ongoing battles between the Catholoics and the Protestants. A couple attempts were made on Elizabeth’s life by the Catholics. So much tension between the two must have had everyone fearing for their lives, as the favored religion changed with each change in leadership. There was also a war going on between Elngland and Spain that lasted from 1588 until 1604, when James I took the throne. Shekespeare seemed to hide a lot of political points in his plays that could be generally significant in other centuries after as well. The themes of Shakespeare’s plays are timeless and stand on their own no matter what is happening in the world around, it is timeless. Though his language is unique and he has been credited for introducing about 3000 words into the English language, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. In fact, the first English dictionary, the Table Alphabeticall, was published the same year Othello was first played, 1604.
Alchin, Linda K. “Elizabethan Women.” Elizabethan Era. 16 May. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2014
ReplyDeletehttp://www.elizabethan-era.org.uk/elizabethan-women.htm
I brought to class a historical background that focused on the Elizabethan women in 1603. My evidence showed me how women were expected to act and how they were brought up to be inferior to men. As we discussed in class, women who were upper class in the Elizabethan era were expected to marry someone who had higher ranks in society. Once the women became wives, they “were dependent on their male relatives to support them. They were used to forge alliances with other powerful families through arranged marriages” (Alchin. Para 1). Though this doesn’t seem to be the case in Othello.
The plot of the play doesn’t reflect every strict, historical aspect of Elizabethan women. An upper class woman, such as Desdemona, is expected to marry someone who would be considered a noble aspect of society. A man like Cassio would most likely be approved by the male relatives in Desdemona’s life. Instead, Desdemona goes behind her father’s back to marry a moor (Othello). However,once she is married to Othello, she is then expected to obey his demands.Though Desdemona was in fact loyal to all of the expectations of her marriage, she was helpless toward Othello’s insecurities--which eventually ends her life. Each historical aspect of the play hasn’t quite stuck with me yet. Once I study how each aspect is intertwined with one another, I should fully understand the play.
By using the gender approach, you’ve shown me how social and marital standards affect Desdemona’s character. By marrying outside of the expected status for the play’s times, she was, in essence, doomed to death by a rebellion against the status quo.
DeleteHowever, I also believe that a psychological approach to this gender strategy would also be beneficial. Would the pressures of sixteenth century Europe have affected Desdemona’s character? Does her subservient nature reflect the mentality of women of Shakespeare’s time? A psychoanalytical/historical approach may reveal hidden depths about Desdemona’s character.
Looking at the historical approach can assist in gaining a better understanding of Othello, or any form of literature. Understanding the historical aspect will add meaning and give the reader an idea of what was going on at a particular time in history. By understanding the historical context the reader will then understand what this would have meant for the audience it was written for. It is interesting that Shakespeare wrote something that resonated with every individual from the King down to the peasant, yet is still relevant and discussed today. Taking this approach adds to the depth of the text and enriches the meaning, which makes the text more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteSlights, Camille Wells. “Slaves and Subjects in Othello”. Shakespeare Quarterly 48.4. Winter, 1997: 377-390. JSTOR. Web. 18 November 2014
ReplyDeleteI’ve learned that there were two events that shaped Othello’s and Iago’s character in Othello: new ideas of identity and the definition of slavery. During the writing of Othello, a new definition of identity was formed. This definition stated that one could identify themselves through themselves. This definition of identity helps us to better understand the character of Othello and Iago. Othello represents the positive side of this definition: he is a man who has built himself up apart from social and holds an “unhoused, free condition” (Act I, Scene II, Line 26). Iago also houses this identity of self, but chooses to take on multiple identities, even saying “I am not what I am” (Act I, Scene I, Line 65). These two characters represent the positive and negative connotations of self-defined identity.
In addition, the word “slave” carried different implications in Shakespeare’s time than it does now. Slavery meant that you had no identity outside of your master; in essence, you became a social nonperson. The several references to slavery in Othello do not refer to physical labor, but rather to a seen or unseen dependence on a force, whether it be a man, object, or their own desires.
After reading "Revisiting Shakespeare and Gender," it is interesting to me that although women were expected to be humble and patient and quiet, the men in Othello assume that the women are quite the opposite, even if it is not necessarily true. The women are constantly called various forms of the word "whore" and blamed for causing grief to all of the men.
ReplyDeleteThere were also certain expectations for men in the 16th century. They were not supposed to let "womanly" emotions show, lest they be seen as weak. Roderigo seems to be an example of how a man should not act. He sobs over Desdemona and becomes emotional very easily. This information on gender roles gives me an understanding of why Shakespeare's characters would have been seen as even more dramatic to contemporary audiences.
Gerlach, Jeanne, Rudolph Almasy, and Rebecca Daniel. "Revisiting Shakespeare and Gender." WILLA V5. Virginia Tech, 1996. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
The gender roles in the play are very important! In the play, Shakespeare seems to present different perspectives on how women were expected to act during the Elizabethan Era. What is your interest in Desdemona's behavior towards Othello? She is innocent and negotiable with his feelings. Do you think that Desdemona could have sparked a new outlook on how women are expected to engage and be in relationships with men?
DeleteFrom my reading I now understand more of the aspect of why women were treated so poorly. This happened because women were just meant to be used as sex dolls and for cleaning the house. Now a day you would get slapped for saying half the things they do in Othello or in any of Shakespeare's other plays. Reading this allowed for the play to make more sense in why people would worry so much about the cheating
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ReplyDeleteClegg, Cyndia. "English Renaissance Books on Islam and Shakespeare's Othello." JSTOR. Pacific Ancient and Modern Language Association, 1 Jan. 2006. Web. 19 Nov. 2014.
ReplyDeleteLooking at Shakespeare’s work, from my understanding, he prefers significance and connection. In Othello, a series of issues and topics are political, social, and applicable subjects are given. Othello is a dark-toned male who stands out very much. Since it takes place in Italy, the setting of choice adds to the views and beliefs at the time. Racial and religious distinction is among this society. Venice is a culture where lighter-toned people (preferably males) held given right. Even though Othello holds a high rank it doesn't mean he will be above those views. For that understanding, historical aids helped me to understand the setting and where the plot could go.
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