Year 13 mock revision – lesson three. ‘In Othello, marriage is presented as an institution where men rule and women are ruled; where men suspect and women are suspected.’ In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents attitudes to marriage in the extract and elsewhere in the play. 2.1.109 ‘‘Sir would she give…’ to 2.1.122 No let me not’

Last lesson: We looked at a practice question We selected some key quotes in the named extract and thought about how they would help us answer the question We made notes on the A02/3 analysis we would include for these quotes You took away a possible planning template that you should use to write/ detail plan the rest of the essay as part of your revision We discussed that today we would look at a) willow song b) falconry imagery c) A03 context d) introduction writing e) Act 5 I also have found some interesting critical views that are relevant to ‘attitudes to women’

How to write an introduction - revision CONCISE INTRODUCTION ( 2 /3 sentences) what the passage is about relevant to the question structural significance answer the question In this passage, Iago’s attitude towards his wife – and wives in general – is insulting, defamatory and imbued with sexual jealousy, a view with which Othello is infected by Act 3. Shakespeare proves by the tragedy’s denouement the impossible circumstances for women trapped by: a 17th century virgin-whore dichotomy; a disempowering marital contract and a cruel and merciless villain.

Falconry imagery – what does it reveal about Jacobean attitudes to marriage? Othello, doubting the fidelity of Desdemona, thinks of her as a hawk that has reverted to wildness (haggard = wild) (jesses = straps tied around a trained hawk’s legs): If I do prove her haggard*, Though that her jesses* were my dear heartstrings, I'd whistle her off and let her down the wind To prey at fortune Shakespeare uses the image of the taming of a hawk for the subjection of the wife to her husband.  Although “haggard hawk” as a term is found in other works of the period, no one but Shakespeare used it consistently as a metaphor for a wayward woman.

Act 4 scene 3 Willow scene It moves from military setting to a bedroom, a feminine environment and a scene controlled by two women. Desdemona and Emilia discuss their differing ideas about marriage and fidelity. This scene was often cut in productions from 17th – 19th century. What do you think about this? “The history of this scene in performance shows an unnerving disposition to still the female voice, which makes it all the more remarkable that Shakespeare wrote the scene at all”(Denise Walen , 2007)

Willow song- what is its function? Start of 4.3 – Desdemona is send to her bedchamber by Othello Desdemona tells of her mother’s maid Barbary who was forsaken by her lover(who turned mad) (forsaken = given up / abandoned /left) . ‘She had a song of willow’ (willow = symbol of forsaken lovers/ songs about willow trees usually about sadness and death) and ‘she died singing it.’ Desdemona then sings it – later dies. And when Emilia is about to die, she sings it ‘Willow, willow, willow’ and asks her already dead mistress ‘What did thy song bode (foretell), lady?’

Emilia’s view on husbands and wives in 4. 3 Emilia’s view on husbands and wives in 4.3. 65-101 A rare moments for a wife’s view on marriage Plot Desdemona then asks Emilia whether she would commit adultery. Emilia responds that woman are just like men, and will cheat on their husbands if their husbands cheat on them. Desdemona responds that she does not want to learn how to emulate bad deeds, but instead how to avoid them. She dismisses Emila and goes to bed. Analysis Emilia presents a cynical view of marriage, in which one bad deed inspires another. Though it should be noted that Emilia seems to think that men always cheat first, while the men suspect the women will cheat first. Emilia believes women should have as much freedom to err as men. Once again, Desdemona's displays her incredible virtue and faithfulness, which in his jealousy Othello can no longer see. Whose view is romanticised and whose view is practical? Does their social position inform their view? (what about Bianca?) Why does Desdemona abruptly get up and say goodnight? What does Desdemona’s final rhyming couplet mean?

But for all her sororal love, how is Emilia a bit like Marlene in Top Girls ? Emilia: ‘Fie upon thee, trumpet! Bianca: ‘I am no strumpet, but of life as honest / As you that thus abuse me.’ 5.1.121

Emilia – an increasingly strong and defiant character but does she arouse regret and compassion in the men left on stage? [Iago stabs Emilia from behind and exits ] does anyone try to save Emilia? Any stage direction? ‘I, lay me by my mistress’ side 5.2.235 Is there a stage direction to fulfil this wish? Emilia: So speaking as I think, I die, I die. [Dies] 5.2.249 When she dies does anyone comment?

What is learnt from the tragedy What is learnt from the tragedy? What would a feminist reading make of the following: Othello ‘An honourable murderer, if you will’ 5.2.292 Othello on Iago ‘that demi-devil/ why he hath ensnared my soul and body’ 5.2.299 Othello on Desdemona ‘O ill-starred wench!’ 5.2.270 Othello on Othello ‘ Then must you speak / Of one that loved not wisely , but too well; of one not easily jealous’ 5.2.339 Lodovico ‘Look on the tragic loading of this bed: The object poisons sight; Let it be hid.’ (the bed-curtains are drawn)

5 Write down an easy to remember quote to show AO3 understanding of Venetian / Italian women.

Context – Renaissance/ Jacobean / early 17th century attitudes… Context – Renaissance/ Jacobean / early 17th century attitudes…..and the modern audience? Fear of cuckoldry Jacobean gender roles Family as a microcosm of the state – patriarch as monarch Attitudes to Italian (specifically Venetian) women Virgin-whore dichotomy Marriage expectations – dutiful love not romantic; arranged marriage for socio-economic advantage Attitudes towards race & interracial marriage / preconceptions about blackness: lascivious/ witchcraft/ violence/ animalistic Male comradeship / brotherhood/ fraternal love – masculinity defined by decisive action and power Cyprus & the Turks Venice Machiavelli / vice figure / individualism / Iago Domestic violence

A02 methods – use the placemat from AS for more prompts How is marriage presented? Find a quote to link to each of these methods Stage direction Setting Dramatic irony Act 1 Exposition (heroic nobility of Othello) Act 3 Climax ( temptation scene / reversal of allegiance) Act 5 Denouement Tragedy – compressed time ( 72 hours) and place ( 4 acts set in Cyprus) ; tragic hero and his harmartia ; arouses pity and terror in audience. It is specifically a domestic tragedy – involving a high status protagonist – an army commander but the tragedy is marital rather than state Foreshadowing Structural echoes (ha! / willow song / musical analogy / poison imagery /web imagery …) Imagery Aside / soliloquy Language Conversation management Prose / blank verse Names ( Desdemona = Greek for misery / contains the word ‘demon’ / Iago = supplanter , takes place of another) Juxtaposition / character foil

1 What does Jardine cite as the most commonly targeted aspect of womanhood? Write down the quote ( 11 words ish) Find a quote against each women supporting this

3 Which eleven word quote do you think I would select to write down if I was you? I would use it to show the impossible position Renaissance women are put in.

4 What two kinds of women does French believe there are for the men in the play? Note down key quotes. If a woman crosses into the ‘subhuman, bestial’ camp – can she ever return?

6 A student’s discussion about Emilia & Iago. Any new ideas / quotes to note down?

7 How does this student view the way male characters use language to describe women?

8 Ooh look at the useful quotes to remember in lines 1-3 here . Very useful for mock revision. Re-read 4.3 to see Emilia’s manifesto about what women really are.