Essay: Explore William Shakespeare’s Impact on the Elizabethan Era

Sean Li, Alex Liu
Doring
Sophomore English Honors
13 February 2019
Othello Webquest
Sean Li: One interesting fact was that the 46th word from Psalm in the King James Bible was “shake” and the 46th word starting from the end of Psalm was “spear.” This interested me since it could have been a hidden celebration of Shakespeare’s 46th birthday. Another interesting fact about Shakespeare was that the poet John Keats revered Shakespeare so much he holds a bust of Shakespeare when he writes. Lastly, an ironic but interesting fact is that William Shakespeare is an anagram for “I am a weakish speller.”
Alex Liu: It is intriguing how William Shakespeare never spelled his name fully, instead using a great variety of abbreviations in his signatures. It is also quite interesting that Shakespeare was not only a famous playwright but also a well-known businessman and property owner between London and his hometown of Stratford. Impressively, he is also credited with introducing 3,000 words to the English language.
Shakespeare’s father, John, had been educated for a few years at a public school, while Mary Arden, his mother, had not received any education. Shakespeare’s education was similar to his father, learning for a few years at a public school.
While Shakespeare was a great playwright, many people forget he was also an entrepreneur.
People treated going to the Globe as a real treat; it created a holiday-like feeling. Even people who weren’t interested in performances went for the market and festivity. Different from modern theaters, plays were performed during the day and in the open to take advantage of the sun for lighting. Moreover, different sections of seats could be purchased. Another difference would be the fact that women never appeared on stage.
Beginning two centuries ago, a theory was created that Shakespeare actually didn’t write his plays.
The main point of this conspiracy theory was that despite having low social status, Shakespeare had included much information about court life and foreign countries. People also argued that there was no evidence of Shakespeare attending school and that he was illiterate. People considered that Francis Bacon and Edward de Vere wrote his poems.
The plotline in the tragedy of Cinthio includes a character known as the Moor. A country named Mauritania is the origin of this character’s term. North Africans, West Africans, and Muslims were referred to as “moors.” This group was labeled with stereotypes such as being sexually overactive and easily jealous.
During the Elizabethan era, people with dark skin were disrespected. Despite having recognized them fully in terms of diplomacy, Queen Elizabeth eventually grew fearful of their different behaviors and exploding population. Later, she deported them as they became associated with bestial forces and people were afraid of their sexuality, temper, and magical powers.
Sexual overactivity, bad temperament, and wickedness were some of the common stereotypes that Moors were labeled with. The majority ethnic group, or the general public, viewed themselves as a representation of purity with their own light skin. On the other side of the spectrum, dark-skinned people were thought of a corrupted and sinful.
The basis for Shakespeare’s Othello is another work by Italian writer Cinthio Giambattista Giraldi titled Hecatommithi. Between these stories, some major differences include the motives of the military officer, the resolution, and the supporting characters.
Shakespeare challenges the Elizabethan audience to better take others into consideration with Othello. In the play, he calls on the audience to not judge another by the assumptions with which they are fed. Through the story, example after example is set up according to stereotype, then busted in front of the viewers to teach his audiences compassion for the people that society take advantage of yet do not fully welcome.
Venice is located in Veneto, a province of Italy. During the 16th century with the Italian Renaissance, it was an extremely prosperous city at the center of Mediterranean commerce that symbolized orderly civilization and effective law.
Cyprus is a small island located in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. It is opposite of Venice as it is a confined military base on the edge of the Christian world, barbaric, and war-torn.
It is said that Aphrodite, goddess of love, was born out of the ocean foam and washed ashore on Cyprus. As the supposed birthplace of Venus, Cyprus is well suited to be where Othello becomes convinced of his wife’s infidelity.
Moving from Venice to Cyprus, Desdemona’s subtle Venetian charm is exaggerated and cements Othello’s misconception of her being a prostitute. In Cyprus, Othello is also more easily subject to Iago’s manipulation and leads to his originally clear mind being corrupted with murderous intent.
Women of the Elizabethan era were only given education if they were of noble status while those of common birth had to remain home and learn to manage the household. Women’s education included several languages, such as Greek, Latin, Italian, and French. Even if noblewomen were educated, they couldn’t attend universities and could only be taught by tutors visiting their homes.
During the Elizabethan era, women had no control over their destinies. It was a male-dominated society. Males made decisions for females regardless of what the female thought. Meanwhile, an ideal woman was expected to perform domestic duties and make her husband proud as the male was supposed to go out and work.
Women, when marrying, were expected to give a dowry. Women were expected to give birth and raise children. As a result of the high infant mortality rate, women gave birth often. This relates to the story of Romeo and Juliet because marriage was a way to link to families together so they both benefit. Therefore a conflict rose when two families with a feud were going to be brought together.
The ironic part of women’s dependence of men was that while it was a patriarchal society, a woman sat on the throne.