Othello: Feminist, Marxist, Historicist & Post-Colonial Interpretations

What do feminist readings of Othello focus on?

The gender politics and the roles of female characters in a patriarchal context.

What do Marxist critics examine in Othello?

The political context, power structures, and relationships between masters and servants.

What significance do Desdemona's wedding sheets and the handkerchief hold in Marxist readings?

They represent economic and symbolic value crucial to the stability of Othello and Desdemona's marriage.

What do New Historicist critics focus on in their readings of Othello?

The social and historical context of the play and whether it reinforces or subverts the values of Shakespeare's society.

What does Ania Loomba argue about the central conflict in Othello?

She posits it is between the racism of a white patriarchy and the threat posed by a black man and a white woman.

How does Loomba describe Othello's consciousness throughout the play?

She describes him as having a split consciousness, embodying both the Christian and the Infidel.

What does Karen Newman assert about the fear of racial and sexual difference in Othello?

She argues that the play exposes Renaissance culture's fear of the power of different sexualities represented by Othello.

How does Newman view the portrayal of Othello as a hero?

She suggests that by making Othello a hero, Shakespeare challenges the racist and sexist views of his society.