Othello context and themes notes

This document contains A* analysis of Shakespeare’s “Othello”, appropriate for all exam boards

The notes are on the following:

• race: how Othello’s Moorish status interacts with his vulnerability to jealousy, how historical context applies to why he is considered an outsider, and why he considers himself an outsider
• jealousy: why jealousy is symptomatic of deeper insecurities, how jealousy defies logic, and how its destructiveness catalyses the tragedy
• misogyny: women in Elizabethan England, Emilia’s defiance, and Bianca’s status as a degenerate
• context: the significance of the Venice/Cyprus settings, and why Othello eventually crumbles under pressure in light of his social and political context
• a deeper look at Emilia: her conflicted loyalties between Desdemona and Iago, whether she can truly be considered a feminist, and how she demonstrates the dangers of over-thinking

The notes for each theme can be used to answer any essay if applied correctly, and include critics, interesting interpretations, university-level analysis terminology, and consider Shakespeare’s contemporary audience and how a modern audience might respond differently.