What is the climax of Othello? Impact and role of gender in Othello Abstract. Othello was written in 1603, at this time the European armies were out of the fuedal era and were mostly professional armies with officers leading them. Iago is Othello's ensign.Iago maliciously goads Othello's jealousy until Othello kills Desdemona. The masculine hierarchy has lost Desdemona and her valiant husband, who were its jewels, both personally and professionally. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice. Cultural Context of Othello by Elizabeth, Lauren, Katie, Siobhan, and Sean In the military, there were mercenaries, or hired professional soldiers, along with other regular soldiers. Othello is a respected general, but his being a Moor makes him an undesirable son-in-law for the arrogant senator. Elizabethan and Jacobean dramatists used language to establish and build dramatic atmosphere, to define time, place and character. But in Othello, language is not simply the medium by which the drama is conveyed: in this play language is action. Engage students in your virtual classroom with Prezi Video for Google Workspace Though in today's military, a lieutenant is at or near the bottom of the officer rank structure, in the Venetian army Shakespeare is portraying, the lieutenant is the general's second in command, the vice commander. The official authority in Venice, the duke has great respect for Othello as a public and military servant. The play is surmounted across male and female characters and determines how the females in the play became victims in the hand of the men determining social organization. Due to the time period and military duties at the time, the soldiers served the king and fought for him. However, the decision enraged Iago, who believed he should have had the promotion because of his proven experience in the field. Within ‘Othello’, Shakespeare’s portrayal of the fragility of power and hierarchy is exposed through the downfall of individual characters who have a desire and need to maintain status. Blog. Joining the military was a common thing for young men to do at the time, as it was honorable to do. On thread topic: Othello's political position at the top of the military ranks (as General) has fatal ramifications. • It is important to remember that Othello is set in Italy, not in England, where Shakespeare wrote; he was not attempting to represent his own society. Jan. 26, 2021. He is a military man, with a reputation for courage in battle and good judgment in military matters. The military hierarchy in William Shakespeare's “Othello” consists of Othello as the top-ranking officer, or general, Cassio as the second in rank, or lieutenant, and Iago as the third-ranking officer, the ancient. What were the military duties of ranked officers in Othello? He did not abide to the dominant hegemony or stereotypical viewpoint of the Vietian society at that time; the view being total and utter white superiority. These achievements were received without question; similar to the reception of Benedick in Venetian Hierarchy Venetian Military Hierarchy consisted of four Corps, Corps consisted of Five Divisions, Divisions consisted of five Regiments, Regiment consisted of two Battalions, Battalion consisted of five companies, Companies incorporated four Platoons Platoon consisted of Othello was appointed by the Duke of Venice to be the general of the city’s military, a role which holds honour and prestige. N.p., 2 July 2011. 9 Oct. 2012. 1 decade ago What were the military duties of ranked military officers in the 16th and 17th centuries? Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. His successful profession brings him high status in Venice, but his foreign origins and color separate him from those with whom he lives and works. This tender side of Othello can be seen right until he kills Desdemona, even wavering at the last minute after kissing her tenderly. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. Othello’s confidence in his peers seal his fate because he trusts his fellow Venetians without question. He says “the justice of it pleases me”, chillingly suggesting that strangling her is the moral and honourable thing to do.