historical context

• HISTORICAL CONTEXT - RACE IN RENAISSANCE ENGLAND

  At a time when global exploration and slavery were in their infancy, racism was rife in England; Elizabeth I ordered that black people should be exiled.

  There was a belief in ‘The Great Chain of Being‘, which placed God at the top, followed by angels, white people, black people, and animals.

  Therefore, Iago’s animalistic descriptions of Othello reflect contemporary xenophobia.
• POST-COLONIALISM

  Post-colonial literary theory explores the impact of colonialism on literature.

  Post-colonial critics argue that in literature, people of different races are presented as the “other”— as different, and possibly to be feared.
• RACISM IN OTHELLO

  Whilst Shakespeare communicates these racist ideas in 1.1 and 1.2, he presents Othello as the antithesis of such stereotypes, thus exposing the baselessness of racism.

  However, Othello internalises the racist ideology of those around him, and this leads to the insecurity he feels in his marriage.

  Thus, external pressures on Othello become internal pressures.
• GENDER AND THE PATRIARCHY

  Renaissance women were expected to be subservient to men and did not have many rights. Many were consigned to the domestic sphere and were expected to provide a stable point of morality and innocence in a chaotic, corrupt world.

  Othello does not challenge this— rather the fact that he “won” Desdemona shows that he confirms this ideology.
• A TIME OF CHANGE


  Despite traditional beliefs regarding race and gender, the 17th century was a moment time of change from traditional to modern ideas. E.g., Queen Elizabeth had shown that women could hold power.

  Similarly, emerging sciences challenged belief in the supernatural. Shakespeare’s characters are caught in the midst of this change, and whilst they often hope for a different, better world, they find themselves entrapped by the expectations of traditional society.