Context: what counts?

As explained in the specification, it's important to have a heavy contextual knowledge of random little nuggets which you can throw in for the examiner's pleasure.

The more random, the better - because, after all, that'll make you unique. You just have to make sure that they're correct!

So, some general contextual ideas for each play are listed below. They may be approached in greater detail at a later date, however.

Context in 'Othello'

Race
The Elizabethans and Jacobians had no concept of race, therefore the characters in the play cannot be construed as racist. This means that the effect of the play on a contemporary audience is very different from the effect of the play on a modern audience.

Arrangement of marriages
Women of Desdemona's stature would simply not have chosen their own marriage partners - and this is a common theme in Shakespearean drama. See 'Romeo + Juliet' for example.

Turkish wars
These date the play precisely; more information can be found on Wikipedia.

Role of women
Especially with reference to the character of Emilia, who is not the traditional meek wife, given that she is the one who 'outs' Iago as the culprit for all of the events of the play. Desdemona, too, subverts convention by marrying of her own free will. Iago's attitude to women should also be considered.

Tragedy
How does 'Othello' fit in the traditional tragic ark? (To be covered in a later blog)

Context in 'Equus'

Religion
An especially touchy subject given the 1970s setting and the Irish problems (to be covered in a later blog)

Commercialism
Alan's fixation on products and jingles, as well as Frank's socialist tendencies, lend themselves to the theme of 1970s materialism; the 1970s are a period when it is believed that Britain's materialistic edge fully began to develop, and 'Equus' highlights Shaffer's views on the effects this might have on society.

Psychoanalysis
A particularly relevant theme, given that attitudes to psychosis were altering significantly in this period.

Role of women
Debatable - but could possibly be shoe-horned in if the worst came to the worst!

Conservatism
And it's effects on people's attitudes to Alan; cold war politics and fear of the unknown.

Utter proof that I'm truly a history geek and not a literature student; I managed to get the words "cold war" into this! YAY!

Any questions are welcomed - comment :)

- HistGrrl x