MARXIST CRITICISM

DO NOW:

Open Ended

In one sentence, explain how having power can change how people are treated?

Learning target:
Use a Marxist critical lense to analyze the relationship between characters

What:
Use the Venetian Social Hierarchy Graphic Organizer to map relationships.

How:
Apply the Marxist lens in analizing how economic context of the setting influences the dynamic between characters.

Why:
Helps identify inequality, privilege, and oppression in contemporary contexts.

In this activity, you will evaluate the social status of each character in Othello based on their cast descriptions. Then, you will use the Marxist perspective to write an essay explaining how the economic context of the setting influences the dynamics between characters.

Multiple Choice

How would you explain the Marxist perspective in your own words?

• The Marxist perspective emphasizes class struggle, the critique of capitalism, and the goal of achieving a classless society.
• The Marxist perspective advocates for the complete elimination of all governments.
• The Marxist perspective promotes the idea of free-market capitalism as the ideal system.

The Marxist perspective explains society by looking at who has money and power and who does not.

It says that people with wealth and control (like company owners) usually make the rules and benefit the most. People who do the work (workers) often earn less money and have fewer benefits, even though their work helps the company succeed.

For example, in a workplace, owners may make a lot of money while workers are paid low wages. This can feel unfair to workers, so they may ask for higher pay or go on strike. These problems happen because the system is unequal and different groups have opposing interests.

In simple terms, the Marxist perspective shows how economic inequality causes conflict between people with power and people without it.

Match each description to its corresponding social class or status
A representative in each group will be the one to explain based on their answer.

​M- Group activity
V- 1
T- 10
P- All

(271 workbook) Use the graphic organizer to write the names of the characters in the category to which they may belong.

​M- no movement
V- 0
T- 10
P- individual activity

Open Ended

How the economic context of the setting influences the dynamics between characters.

EXIT TICKET

Multiple Choice

Based on the description of the cast of characters on page 260. Which scenario is most likely given the information about each character's social class?

• As a general, Othello has a middle-class status, but he is considered an outsider because he is from North Africa.

• As a standard-bearer, Iago has a high social status that gives him power over Othello and Cassio

• Emilia is married to Iago, the standard-bearer to Othello, so she has influence over Desdemona.

Multiple Choice

Based on the description of the cast of characters on page 260. Which Which choice is the best inference that can be drawn about the characters based on these descriptions?

• Cassio and Montano are of the same social class.

• Desdemona and Bianca are of equal social status.

• Roderigo has higher social status than Othello.

Read the excerpt from Othello, Act I, Scene III, and then read the dictionary definitions that follow.
DUKE: There is no composition in these news
That gives them credit.
FIRST SENATOR: Indeed, they are disproportion'd;
My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.
DUKE: And mine a hundred and forty.
SECOND SENATOR: And mine two hundred:
But though they jump not on a just account,—
As in these cases, where the aim reports,
'Tis oft with difference,—yet do they all confirm
A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

composition (noun)
1.  an academic creation
2.  mutual agreement
3.  a result of mixing
4.  the arrangement of type

Multiple Choice

Which definition best describes the meaning of composition as it is used in the excerpt?

• 1

• 2

• 3