10.2.3

Marxist Approach

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A Marxist Approach

Marxist literary criticism must be seen in the light of a Marxist view of history, in which class struggle is essential.

Marxism

Marxism

Marxist literary criticism must be seen in the light of a Marxist view of history, in which class struggle is essential.
The connections between literature and the economic structure of the society in which it was written must be made relevant.

Othello

Othello

In terms of Othello, this would be uniquely concerned with the collision of European culture and money with African ethnicity and knowledge.
Othello is ‘base’ and at the bottom of society normally, but given his military prowess, he has risen through the class system.

Economic power

Economic power

We might also talk about the draw of the growing financial and economic power of Venice compared to the rest of Europe during this period which seems to have its eye on the ‘opening up’ of the East (Cyprus) in terms of seeking the greater wealth there.

Love and tragedy

Love and tragedy

Marxist criticism would also view this expansionist ideology as hugely problematical and that the play offers a vision of how the chase for economic success results in chaos and tragedy.
This relates to both Love through the Ages and the context of Tragedy.

1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications

1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare 1.2.2Love 1.2.3Tragedy 1.2.4Historical Context

1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting 1.3.2Social Issues

2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure 2.1.2The Exam

2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events 2.2.2Key Themes 2.2.3Key Ideas

2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events 2.3.2Key Themes 2.3.3Key Ideas

2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events 2.4.2Key Events 2 2.4.3Key Themes 2.4.4Key Ideas

3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events 3.1.2Key Events 2 3.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy 3.1.4Scene Two: Events

3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events 3.2.2Key Ideas

4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two 4.1.2Scene Three 4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas 4.1.4Scene Four

5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events 5.1.2Key Ideas

5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events 5.2.2Key Ideas

5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events 5.3.2Key Ideas

6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events 6.1.2Key Ideas

6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events 6.2.2Key Ideas

7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello 7.1.2Iago 7.1.3Desdemona 7.1.4Emilia 7.1.5Cassio

7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio 7.2.2Other Characters

8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love 8.1.2Love 2 8.1.3Tragedy 8.1.4Tragedy 2

8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private 8.2.2Appearance & Reality

9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure 9.1.2Genre 9.1.3Form & Language 9.1.4Language & Imagery

10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy 10.1.2Traditional 10.1.3Modern & Contemporary

10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach 10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach 10.2.3Marxist Approach

11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A 11.1.2Love Through the Ages

11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B 11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy

12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs 12.1.2Mark Scheme

Jump to other topics

1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications

1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare 1.2.2Love 1.2.3Tragedy 1.2.4Historical Context

1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting 1.3.2Social Issues

2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure 2.1.2The Exam

2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events 2.2.2Key Themes 2.2.3Key Ideas

2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events 2.3.2Key Themes 2.3.3Key Ideas

2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events 2.4.2Key Events 2 2.4.3Key Themes 2.4.4Key Ideas

3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events 3.1.2Key Events 2 3.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy 3.1.4Scene Two: Events

3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events 3.2.2Key Ideas

4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two 4.1.2Scene Three 4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas 4.1.4Scene Four

5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events 5.1.2Key Ideas

5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events 5.2.2Key Ideas

5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events 5.3.2Key Ideas

6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events 6.1.2Key Ideas

6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events 6.2.2Key Ideas

7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello 7.1.2Iago 7.1.3Desdemona 7.1.4Emilia 7.1.5Cassio

7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio 7.2.2Other Characters

8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love 8.1.2Love 2 8.1.3Tragedy 8.1.4Tragedy 2

8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private 8.2.2Appearance & Reality

9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure 9.1.2Genre 9.1.3Form & Language 9.1.4Language & Imagery

10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy 10.1.2Traditional 10.1.3Modern & Contemporary

10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach 10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach 10.2.3Marxist Approach

11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A 11.1.2Love Through the Ages

11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B 11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy

12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs 12.1.2Mark Scheme

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What does _Othello_ argue about class mobility? Multiple choice

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Psychoanalytic Approach

Specification A