OTHELLO – ESSAY
assessment task #2
How to prepare?
Where to start?
What process should you follow?
…what does it all mean???
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Lasts
Endures
Always
Persists
Carries on
• Interest viewers
• Absorb scholars
• Grab and keep
attention
• Fascinate actors
• Intrigue critics
• Captivate directors
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Theatrical handling…
Powerful dealing-with…
Gripping investigation…
Profound exploration…
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Importance
Meaning of
Impact of
Nature of
Power of
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.
Technical
analysis of text
How much?
How little?
To what degree?
To what level?
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Match with
Echo with
Ring true with
Agree with
Support
Follow
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Understanding
Reading
Version
Exploration
Evaluation
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
• Importance of
Honour and
Reputation
– Cassio
– Desdemona
• 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
The play’s enduring appeal is in it’s dramatic treatment of the
significance of a variety of human experiences, such as:
• 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 role of women? Gender divisions?
Have the values and attitudes surrounding women changed in 400
years?