OTHELLO – ESSAY assessment task #2

How to prepare?Where to start?

What process should you follow?

…what does it all mean???

ESSAY QUESTION:

‘Shakespeare’s OTHELLO continues to engage audiences through its dramatic treatment of the significance of loyalty* and disillusionment*.’

In the context of Module B, to what extent does this statement resonate with your critical analysis* and interpretation of OTHELLO?

In your response, make detailed textual reference to the Shakespeare’s play and various interpretations and productions of the play script.

• Lasts• Endures• Always• Persists• Carries on

• Interest viewers• Absorb scholars• Grab and keep

attention• Fascinate actors• Intrigue critics• Captivate directors

• Theatrical handling…• Powerful dealing-with…• Gripping investigation…• Profound exploration…

• Importance• Meaning of• Impact of• Nature of• Power of

Technical analysis of text

• Understanding• Reading• Version• Exploration• Evaluation

• Match with• Echo with• Ring true with• Agree with• Support• Follow

How much?How little?To what degree?To what level?

OTHELLO – according to Module B

__________________________________________• demonstrate an informed understanding of the

ideas expressed in the text • evaluate the text’s language, content and

construction• organise, develop and express ideas using language

appropriate to audience, purpose and form __________________________________________

Loyalty?Loyalty – synonyms:• Faithfulness• Devotion• Allegiance• Trustworthiness• Honesty

Antonyms:• Treachery• Betrayal• Fickleness • Perfidy• infidelity

Loyalty is a social and cultural value

What IS the nature of loyalty:• In Elizabethan England?• In other cultures, times and places?• Between work colleagues?• Between lovers?• Between family members?• Between women?• Between men?• Between employer and employee?• Among members of the same social group?

Disillusionment?Disillusionment– synonyms:• Disappointment• Cynicism• Let-down• Disenchanted• Jaded• Doubt• Contempt• Pessimism• Scorn

Antonyms:• Satisfaction• Fulfillment• Enjoyment• Pleasure• Delight• Optimism

Disillusionment is a human emotion / feeling.

What are the causes of Disillusionment?

What are the various manifestations of Disillusionment?

What makes people “act” on their Disillusionment in different ways?

Writing of the Play

• Othello: This play was probably written in 1601 (for Elizabeth), a little past the middle of Shakespeare's career (he was 40).

• Performed at the royal court

• Christmas season of 1604– when command performances of entertainments

for the king and courtiers were customary. – That means it had probably already been a

success.

Social and culture values of Venice• Venice is a Catholic city.• In Europe, its senate is a symbol for REASON, ORDER,

LAW (Catholic law)• Also had a reputation as the “pleasure capital”, immoral • A city-state of enormous mercantile wealth, (wealth

from trade; major sea port)• Venice in Shakespeare's time was a byword for luxury

and culture and was also famous for its Judicial system • Its trade was partially choked off by the growing power

of the Turkish empire in the 16th century, which extended into Europe as well as Asia and Arabia. Hence the importance of Cyprus.

• Venice is a symbol for order… and Turkey is a symbol for barbarianism… so Cyprus is somewhere in-between

• It’s an island amidst a raging sea, close to the enemy

• Less reason/logic here – a lack of the power of Venetian social and cultural values.

• On Cyprus, the characters are in a “social and cultural vacuum” in which they must (individually) take sole control of their own moral compass and their emotional responses.

The play’s enduring appeal is in it’s dramatic treatment of the significance of a variety of human experiences, such as:

• Destructive nature of Jealousy– Iago jealous of Cassio’s

position– Othello suspecting

Desdemona’s unfaithfulness

• Being an outsider– Prejudice against

Othello• Skin color

– Black & White Imagery

• From Africa, not Venice

– Warrior rather than courtier and politician• Unfamiliar with societal

conventions• Dealt mainly with men

and battle, not women and love

• Importance of Honour and Reputation– Cassio– Desdemona

• Appearance Versus Reality– “Honest Iago”– Desdemona & Cassio

• Loyalty Versus Treachery– The ones Othello believes are

treacherous are actually loyal• Cassio• Desdemona

– Role of Emilia• With her husband• With Desdemona

The play’s enduring appeal is in it’s dramatic treatment of the significance of a variety of human experiences, such as:

• ENVY• BETRAYAL• CORRUPTION OF MORAL ORDER (Coveting thy neighbour’s

wife – breakdown of military and social hierarchy)• HONESTY• TRUST• BLIND AMBITION• INNOCENCE DESTROYED• PASSION - obsession (as a destructive force)

The play’s enduring appeal is in it’s dramatic treatment of the significance of a variety of human experiences, such as:

The role of women? Gender divisions?Have the values and attitudes surrounding women changed in 400 years?