Answering Othello Extract Question

Seite 1

"Examine the view that, in the passage and elsewhere in the play, Desdemona is viewed as a possession of men"

The way I would structure this would be:

AO1: The way she is passed on from father to husband shows clearly she has little societal power or status, and she is indeed treated a possession in the eyes of the men in the play, as well as in this extract. -> Showing understanding of the question

AO2: 2 or 3 quotes from the extract and another 1/2 from elsewhere in the play (this way you're reaching out), if relevant structural points and how they shape meaning in regards to gender. -> shows wider knowledge of the play

AO3: perhaps make a comment of how this was expected in the context, and how audiences would have reacted to Desdemona's independence. For some questions, its impressive to pull out a date, but Othello doesn't have many real life key events attached to it so I tend not to focus on it. -> Don't say audiences were shocked (too generic)/ give social context

AO4: For me I would make reference to Hamlet as I'm confident with it, and so link in Desdemona with the character of Ophelia, showing links across plays. If not this, a critics view might be applicable. How it links to tragedy (if relevant) will also be impressive. -> Use critics reviews

AO5: View the AO1 from a different angle; is Desdemona really passed on? she has independence so is it accurate to call her a possession? I would also perhaps put another quote or begin to make reference to my second paragraph. challenge my own AO5 and AO1, to make sure i reach a clear conclusion and it's obvious to the examiner where I stand. For example, though at the beginning you said she is a possession, perhaps come to conclusion she is an anomaly and that she does have independence, though it is limited in that she does not have the trust of her father nor husband, leading to her downfall in a male dominated society. Answer the question asked in the title/ content and organisation