Race

• What persistent problem does the play address that allows readers to access its use of racial language?

  Racism
• How does the play depict the systematic oppression of ethnic minorities?

  It shows the resulting discrimination and prejudice that have prevailed throughout history.
• What term is often used to refer to Othello?

  Moor
• What does the term 'Moor' imply about Othello's identity?

  It suggests that his identity is ambiguous and he does not fully fit into Venetian society.
• How is race perceived in relation to Othello and Desdemona's love?

  While race is seen as central by critics, it is not very important to Othello and Desdemona themselves.
• What admirable characteristic does Desdemona display regarding race?

  She chooses to overlook race and trusts Othello's character.
• What does Fenella Salgado argue about Othello's color in relation to his marriage?

  Othello's color symbolizes his uniqueness, but tragedy arises when he sees himself as a typical black man.
• How does Othello's perception of himself change throughout the play?

  He begins to think of himself as a typical black man, which leads to tragedy.
• What does Othello's public humiliation of Desdemona signify?

  It signifies his succumbing to the toxicity of male honor and societal pressures.
• How does the play suggest sexual deviance through race?

  It uses discriminatory descriptions to reinforce cultural ideas of black Africans being excessively sexual.
• What does the phrase ‘An old black ram / Is tupping your white ewe’ suggest?

  It uses racially charged language to portray Othello's relationship with Desdemona as unnatural.
• How was the play Othello considered appropriate for a Hallowmas festival?

  It reflected themes of fidelity and the tragic nature of faithful lovers.
• What does Desdemona represent in the context of the play's themes?

  She represents purity and innocence, contrasting with Othello's aggressive actions.
• How does Othello's religious history affect his status in Venetian society?

  His conversion to Christianity allows him to gain respect and fit into a society that marginalizes him.
• Who is Alessandro de Medici and what is his significance?

  He was a royal who ruled Florence and was the child of a powerful Medici and an African woman.
• How does the Duke's comment about Othello reflect societal views?

  It suggests that Othello's character is valued despite his race, highlighting the complexity of his status.
• What does Iago's manipulation of Othello reveal about societal attitudes towards race?

  It reveals how Iago exploits racial stereotypes to undermine Othello's character and honor.
• What does the term 'savage' imply in the context of British exploration?

  It refers to anything that did not fit the British sense of normal, including indigenous peoples.
• Who developed the slave trade market in 1562?

  John Hawkins
• How does the play reflect the attitudes towards interracial relationships during the Elizabethan era?

  It presents a shocking scenario of an innocent white woman in a relationship with a black man.
• What does the concept of forbidden pleasure suggest about Elizabethan audiences?

  It implies that audiences secretly enjoyed taboo subjects, which were not socially acceptable.
• How does Shakespeare subvert audience expectations in Othello?

  He forces the audience to sympathize with Othello despite the racial stereotypes presented.
• What does Othello's Christian conversion signify in the context of the play?

  It signifies his attempt to gain acceptance in a society that marginalizes him due to his race.
• How does the portrayal of Othello reflect the complexities of race and nobility?

  It highlights his noble status while also emphasizing the racial prejudices he faces.
• What does the Oxford English Dictionary define 'Moor' as in Elizabethan England?

  Infidel, non-Christian, barbarian.
• How does Othello's behavior change when instigated?

  He begins to behave in a stereotypical manner.
• How does Renaissance culture view racial and sexual differences?

  Renaissance culture inherently demonises racial and sexual difference as monstrous.
• Who feels threatened by Othello's character and why?

  White male characters, specifically Iago, feel threatened by Othello's 'power and potency of a different monstrous sexuality.'
• What does Othello's marriage to a white woman symbolize in the context of racial fears?

  Othello's marriage symbolizes the potential to diminish his partner's whiteness.
• How is Othello's character perceived due to fears against black men?

  Othello's character is considered naturally monstrous.
• What does the term 'Moor' signify in Elizabethan England?


  'Moor' was defined as infidel, non-Christian, barbarian.
• How does Iago manipulate Othello's behavior?

  Iago instigates Othello to behave in a stereotypical manner, bringing out a lustful, murderous side in him.
• What does Iago's statement about Othello's nature reveal about European attitudes towards Africans?

  Iago perceives Othello as naive and gullible, paralleling the superiority Europeans felt over 'uncivilised' Africans.
• What is the significance of Iago provoking Othello's insecurities?

  It leads to the ultimate destruction of Othello's marriage and religious identity.
• What are the colonial undertones present in contemporary literary pieces?

  • Examination of power dynamics
  • Representation of racial identities
  • Reflection of historical prejudices
• How do staging, body language, and gestures affect audience perception of Othello?


  • Influence interpretation of character descent into violence
  • Convey emotional states and transformations
  • Highlight racial and cultural tensions

  
• What does Friedrich Hegel suggest about the concept of the Other?

  Hegel argues that everyone has their own separate consciousness, leading to a binary that amplifies differences like class or race.
• How does Hegel describe the relationship between the slave and the master?

  Hegel describes a dependency where the slave relies on the master for consciousness, while the master needs the slave to reaffirm their power.
• How does the slave/master dichotomy manifest in Othello?

  The relationship between Iago and Othello illustrates this dichotomy, where Iago manipulates Othello despite Othello's apparent authority.
• What does Othello's reference to a fight 'in Aleppo' signify?


  It reaffirms his outsider status and religious ambiguity.