10.1.1
Shakespeare's Legacy
William Shakespeare and his Legacy
William Shakespeare and his Legacy
Othello continues to be one of Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies.
Cinthio
Cinthio
- The story of Othello is in essence, an adaptation of an earlier narrative (written in 1565) by the Italian writer Giraldi Cinthio (1504-75) which Shakespeare would have read in either French or Italian.
- Interest in such tales did not come from any sense of originality (the story would be well known anyway) but what was of interest was how the playwright re-told it.
Subversive
Subversive
- We sometimes conceive of Shakespeare as representing ‘order’ and that, because he has high cultural status in our society, he is somehow ‘conservative’.
- In fact, Othello shows that Shakespeare is, at times, quite ‘subversive’ in many respects.
Collision of orders
Collision of orders
- His plays are often places for ‘collisions’ and for ‘debate’ between the old Medieval order and the emergent new Modern order.
Determinants
Determinants
- Plays such as Othello are subject to economic, political, social and religious determinants.
Power
Power
- A tragedy such as Othello also shows the operation of power in society by revealing how the stories and displays of those in authority convince those without power of their superiors’ rights to rule and control.
Gender politics
Gender politics
- The tragedy also reveals the ideological means through which men have power, which at this time, still ensured dominance over women.
- Women were, however, starting to contest this power.
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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