Context: Willow Trees

Shortly before Desdemona's death, she sings a song about willow trees, relating a similar event in the life of her mother's maid, Barbary. This is foreshadowing, as it essentially tells of Desdemona's story to come, however for the first audiences of the play it had a greater meaning: willow trees were contextually associated with death through Romany and Greek mythology, and then through Celtic and English folklore.

People believed that willow trees protected the souls of the dying, and so many old English churchyards are lined with them to guide souls to heaven; through this reference, Shakespeare not only hints at Desdemona's coming death but also points to her innate kindness and good qualities by suggesting that she will go to heaven - as we later learn Othello wishes her to, as he ensures that she has prayed before he kills her, meaning her sins will be forgiven.

Willow branches were placed on the coffins of the dead, or saplings planted on their graves, to ensure their safe passage into heaven; folklore also suggests that to plant a willow sapling when young and watch it grow would ease the passage of your soul upon death.

References are also made in modern culture; a reference is made in country song "Whiskey Lullaby" (from the late 2000s), which is embedded below, because it always makes me cry, and because I think we're all in need of some light relief about now!

"And then they buried her beneath the willow and the angel sung a Whiskey Lullaby..."

Ahh, Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss. Perfection doesn't come much more perfect. <3

- HistGrrl x

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

'Othello' Synopsis

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is a traditional tragedy telling the story of a Moorish (black) general, Othello, of the Venician army, who defies convention when he woos and marries the "fair" (white) Desdemona, daughter of a Venetian dignitary. Her father is ruffled by this, and, upon learning she married Othello of her own free will, warns him of her potential deception later in the marriage.

Othello is then sent to defend the Venetian colony of Cyprus from the Turks; Desdemona goes too, in the care of Iago, Othello's standard barer.

Iago reveals himself to be grossly jealous of Othello for his status, and to be angered by the fact that he was not promoted to Lieutenant, with a young Florentine, Cassio, receiving this honour in his place; thus begins his plan for vengeance.

He provokes a 'friend', Roderigo, into starting a drunken brawl with Cassio, who fights and is disgraced. Cassio turns to Desdemona for help; she promises to do all she can to get him back in Othello's favour.

Iago uses this to persuade Othello that Desdemona is in love with, and committing adultery with, Cassio - proof of which is seen when Desdemona's handkerchief is found in Cassio's possession (when, truthfully, Iago placed it there).

Reluctantly, Othello agrees that Desdemona must surely be a whore, and breaks down, allowing Iago to point him towards revenge. He asks Iago to kill Cassio; Iago stabs Roderigo in the fray, with Cassio surviving. Othello then turns his sights on Desdemona, strangling her in her bed, but insisting too that she prays first - proving that he has not stopped loving her.

Emilia (Iago's wife and Desdemona's maid) comes to tell Othello about the brawl and Roderigo's death, instead finding him in the process of killing Desdemona. She calls for help, and Venetian senators arrive, eventually unravelling Iago's plot thanks to her quick wit and evidence.

Iago kills her for this, and is taken away, presumably to be tortured.

Othello commits suicide, taking justice into his own hands and going to join his wife.

Cassio is left as General.

Synopsis (c) TheHistoryGrrl 2010

Themes are woven throughout the synopsis

For a more detailed synopsis, see wikipedia.