Jacobean Era_1

Jacobean Era_1

1. Women's limited rights.

   • The main responsibility of married women was to take care of the household and look after the children.
     • A woman was supposed to obey her husband and help him in earning money for the survival of the family.
   • Before marriage, a girl was under the control of her father.
     • Women were made to depend on their male relatives throughout their lives.
   • Girls were given education along with their brothers but for many, education meant only being able to read and write.
   • There was a little bit of exposure, in respect of job opportunities. Many of the plays had the women playing crucial parts.

2. RELIGION

   • The Jacobean era were extremely religious and God fearing.
   • England had been suffering from religious turmoil.
     • The conflict was principally between the Protestants and Catholics.
   • The Christians in Venice wanted to protect Christianity from the influence of Muslim Turks.
     • In Britian there was uprising issue of the mix of religion and culture.

3. Customs in theatre.

   • Actors sometimes performed inside large houses, by daylight or candle light.
     • James I and his Queen, Anne of Denmark, were very fond of theatrical entertainments known as masques.
       • The masques were held indoors and involved spectacular scenery and costumes.
   • During the Jacobean Era people had villainous image of black men
     • Jacobean mentioned other races as being violent and blood thirsty

4. RACE

   • Records suggest about 900 people were of Arab/African heritage.
   • There are two types of race when it comes to Othello: The 'Noble African American' or the 'Sub-Saharan Black African'
     • 'Blackface' in Othello is quite common
       • Iago uses many racist terms for Othello as he is black.
   • Shakespeare presents a world where race and the importance of it, is challenged.