1.2.4
Historical Context
The Elizabethan Era
The Elizabethan Era
The beliefs, social customs, social order, and events occurring at the time of Shakespeare writing are very important to understanding Othello well.
L.P. Hartley
L.P. Hartley
- L.P. Hartley asserts that ‘the past is a foreign country; they do things differently there’.
- The beliefs, social customs, social order, and events occurring at the time of Shakespeare writing are very important to understanding Othello well.
Monarchs
Monarchs
- During Shakespeare’s life, there were two monarchs:
- Queen Elizabeth I (1533-1603).
- King James I (1603-1625).
- The Elizabethan era is known as a ‘Golden Age’, or ‘Renaissance Era’.
- It saw increased global expansion for the British Empire through naval exploration, and growth in English literature, theatre and music.
Instability
Instability
- However, this was not an era of complete stability:
- There was political conflict due to religious divisions and widespread poverty.
- Most men could not vote, and women had very few rights at all.
Religious conflict
Religious conflict
- There was fierce religious division between the Catholic and Protestant Christian religions across Europe and in England.
- During the time of (Protestant) Queen Elizabeth’s reign this was somewhat more peaceful, but she was still a target of many Catholic plots against her, as was James I.
Society During the Elizabethan Era
Society During the Elizabethan Era
In this period social classes were very structured and divided and gender divisions were deep.
New gentry
New gentry
- The nobility and knights were at the top of society, but there was a huge growth in the gentry class as Britain expanded its colonies abroad into the ‘New World’.
- These were often explorers, writers or ministers such as Sir Walter Raleigh, Francis Drake, or indeed Shakespeare himself.
Inequality
Inequality
- There was also a rise in modern commerce and the merchant class including cloth and weaving.
- However there was still a huge amount of poverty and inequality for the labouring class, which included shoemakers, carpenters, and those working with their hands.
Gender divisions: boys
Gender divisions: boys
- Boys attended school, learning reading and writing; if their families could afford it, they would then go to grammar school at around seven years old where they would study Latin and Roman writing.
Gender divisions: girls
Gender divisions: girls
- Girls were expected to stay at home and learn domestic skills.
- If they were lucky and wealthy, they may also learn to read and write.
1Context
1.1Introduction
1.3Othello
2Act One: Summaries & Themes
2.1Act and Scene Summaries
2.2Scene One
2.3Scene Two
3Act Two: Summaries & Themes
3.1Scene One & Two
3.2Scene Three
4Act Three: Summaries & Themes
5Act Four
5.1Scene One
5.2Scene Two
5.3Scene Three
6Act Five
6.1Scene One
6.2Scene Two
7Character Profiles
7.1Major Characters
7.2Minor Characters
8Key Themes
8.1Love & Tragedy
8.2Other Key Themes
9Writing Techniques
9.1Writing Techniques
10Critical Debates
10.1Criticism & Performance
11Approaching AQA English Literature
11.1Specification A
11.2Specification B
12Issues of Assessment
12.1The Exams
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1Context
1.1Introduction
1.3Othello
2Act One: Summaries & Themes
2.1Act and Scene Summaries
2.2Scene One
2.3Scene Two
3Act Two: Summaries & Themes
3.1Scene One & Two
3.2Scene Three
4Act Three: Summaries & Themes
5Act Four
5.1Scene One
5.2Scene Two
5.3Scene Three
6Act Five
6.1Scene One
6.2Scene Two
7Character Profiles
7.1Major Characters
7.2Minor Characters
8Key Themes
8.1Love & Tragedy
8.2Other Key Themes
9Writing Techniques
9.1Writing Techniques
10Critical Debates
10.1Criticism & Performance
11Approaching AQA English Literature
11.1Specification A
11.2Specification B
12Issues of Assessment
12.1The Exams
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