Advanced English - Othello
Texts are usually a reflection of the time period and the values held during that time period. When compared, William Shakespeare’s play Othello written in the 16th century England and Tim Blake Nelsons film O produced in 20th century America, accentuates the reflection, when analysing the contexts, purpose, form, audience via characters and themes arises the context which are historical, social and cultural as well as the values held during the time periods.
In Othello and O the distinct historical contexts of 16th century England and 20th century America is accentuated when the form, audience and purpose are analysed. The form, audience and purpose of Othello and O reflect the two distinct society’s value for entertainment, morality and communication. William Shakespeare’s Othello is in the form of a play. This can be identified through the use of stage directions e.g. “He strikes her:”and through the number of soliloquies and asides e.g. “That Cassio loves her, I do well believe’t” spoken by Iago, who is revealing his inner most thoughts to the audience. The Elizabethan period was poised to be the golden age of English literature and plays were a popular and accessible form of entertainment which reflected the great works and was valued. Shakespeare’s audience was a mixed bunch ranging from aristocrats to peasants. The play was targeted at all types of audiences and this is identified by the use of verse and prose. The use of verse in the format of iambic pentameter e.g. “goodnight, goodnight, god such me uses send. Not to pick bad from bad but be bad mend” appealed to the upper class society as it was rich in literature while the use of prose, which was mainly exhibited as the language of comic characters and characters of lower positioning e.g. “then put up your pipes in your bad, for ill away! Go vanish, into air away!” said by the clown, appealed to the lower class of society as it was more simplistic. These forms of Old English language were very
In Othello and O the distinct historical contexts of 16th century England and 20th century America is accentuated when the form, audience and purpose are analysed. The form, audience and purpose of Othello and O reflect the two distinct society’s value for entertainment, morality and communication. William Shakespeare’s Othello is in the form of a play. This can be identified through the use of stage directions e.g. “He strikes her:”and through the number of soliloquies and asides e.g. “That Cassio loves her, I do well believe’t” spoken by Iago, who is revealing his inner most thoughts to the audience. The Elizabethan period was poised to be the golden age of English literature and plays were a popular and accessible form of entertainment which reflected the great works and was valued. Shakespeare’s audience was a mixed bunch ranging from aristocrats to peasants. The play was targeted at all types of audiences and this is identified by the use of verse and prose. The use of verse in the format of iambic pentameter e.g. “goodnight, goodnight, god such me uses send. Not to pick bad from bad but be bad mend” appealed to the upper class society as it was rich in literature while the use of prose, which was mainly exhibited as the language of comic characters and characters of lower positioning e.g. “then put up your pipes in your bad, for ill away! Go vanish, into air away!” said by the clown, appealed to the lower class of society as it was more simplistic. These forms of Old English language were very