Form and structure Flashcards
What genre of tragedy does Othello link to? Explain.
Domestic tragedy - a dramatic genre in the late 16th century. The themes in Othello are personal ones - jealousy, love, deception and revenge.
What does the play explore?
The play explores the inner workings of the human mind more closely than issues of war and political conflict.
What is symbolic of the tensions between military and marriage in Othello’s mind
Des is murdered in her bedroom which becomes filled with officials. This shows that the political and private have become confused and the intimacy of Othello and Des’s marriage has been violated.
What was Venice seen as?
A civilised, lawful place. It’s associated with power, commerce and wealth.
What was Cyprus seen as?
Isolated. It has associations with hostility and conflict - Cassio calls Cyprus “this warlike isle”. Even after the Turkish Fleet have been defeated, there are lots of ‘conflicts’ on the island.
Describe the move from Venice to Cyprus.
The move from ‘civilised’, Christian Venice to warlike, wild Cyprus removes the characters from their normal environment, creating disorder and isolation.
Describe the short time frame.
3 days - This time frame is intense and would mean that Des is murdered within a few days arriving in Cyprus. This means that Iago manages to drive Othello to murderous jealousy very quickly.
Describe the long time frame.
Weeks - Des is murdered within a few weeks of arriving in Cyprus which makes the action seem more realistic.
Bianca complains to Cassio that he has stayed away from her for a week. “What! Keep a week away? Seven days and nights?”
How does Shakespeare use the two time frames alongside eachother?
The longer time scale makes Othello’s change in character more plausible whilst the shorter time scale provides dramatic intensity.
