explore how shakespeare presents marriage

introduction

• Throughout the 16th Century marriage becomes an institution of transactional relationships where status and reputation can be determined

• therefore, in Shakespeare’s Aristotelian tragedy, ‘Othello’, marriage functions as a weapon that shapes male identity

• Perhaps Shakespeare does the to expose that fragility of patriarchal masculinity and critique the institution of marriage

othello and desdmeona’s marriage as a threat to the social order - elevates othello’s statuts and reputation

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• Ania Loomba claims that the conflict in the play is ‘between the racism of a white patriarchy and the threat posed to it by both a black man and a white women’

• Carol Phillip argues that the love between many couples was in fact simply ‘the love of possession’

iago and emilias marriage is threatend and used as a reason to avenge iago’s honour

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• Carol Phillip argues that the love between many couples was in fact simply ‘the love of possession’

• "Iago's power over Emilia derives from his ability to manipulate her sense of self-worth and self-respect.” Katherine Eisaman Mau

fragility to male identity

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modern feminist perspective = fragile masculinity

Marxist critics have commented on as an exemplification of the hierarchical society to which Othello is indebted, it is important to Othello to do so to portray his masculinity and maintain his reputation of a ‘noble moor’.