Assimilation Of Women In Othello

Assimilation Of Women In Othello
Women in Othello and how they resist assimilation
Introduction
It is true that long time ago, women's did not enjoy the kind of freedom which that is enjoying
today. As records show this was the time when there were rules which guided women's on how they
should stay both in public and at home. This was a result that ladies where the ones who were
supposed to maintain the honor of their families hence they were forced to follow all the rules and
regulations which are set for them. This occurred because the society that time was patriarchal and
men's were seen as the head of families and the providers of everything. Women's were put in tight
rules to make sure that they obeyed their husbands and could not lead to doing anything which is
wrong. As the play explains a woman who is married was entitled to many rules which she was
supposed to follow. All this led to assimilation and it was the duty of the women during that time to
resist this, which, resulted to the light present in the current society about women's, where today
they believe that they are equal to men's and what a man can do women can do better.
There are several characters who are present in this play and who have played an important role in
shaping the lives of women's. Though the society which we live today forces women to do things
and acts which may be oppressive to them. This is the things which go against the gender rules and
which lead to assimilation which in our case, we are discussing the
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Oppressed Women In Othello
Desdemona and Emilia are loyal characters who want to please their husbands. In the play
''Othello'', by William Shakespeare, there are two major feminine roles that attract the reader's
attention. The way the women behave is linked to the expectations of Shakespeare's Elizabethan
society. I would like to demonstrate some of the ways in which Desdemona and Emilia are
presented and treated in the play. Desdemona and Emilia can be compared and contrasted in a
number of ways.
Desdemona is portrayed as a hideous oppressed woman. There is a large body of evidence to
support this critical stance. Newly wedded Desdemona is inexperienced and innocent in the "real
world" and is in an unstable relationship with Othello. She has slept with another ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
She is unable to realize that it is her behavior towards Cassio which is contributing to Othello's
anger so she then feels conflicted. She is the cause of most of the complexities in the play but it is
her simple mindedness and inability to think critically which leads her to trouble. Throughout the
play Desdemona symbolizes innocence and helplessness in women. She plays a very big role in how
the play ends. What the two women share in common is their sense of loyalty to their husbands. ''I
never did Offend you in my life ;never loved Cassio But with such general warranty of heaven As I
might love. I never gave him token.'' (5.2.58–61) She is proving her love to her dear Othello whom
she has cheated on. As a wife she reassured him of her so–called ''love and loyalty''. Over a period
of time, women have fought for the respect and equality; even though these stereotypes still exist
today, women are stronger in defending themselves and more respected. I believe that Shakespeare
brings the theme of women roles because we learned how women felt during that

Shakespeare's Othello: The Silencing Of Women
Imagine being in a relationship where you deeply love your significant other but they fail to
acknowledge your role in the relationship and are constantly silencing you and abusing you both
mentally and emotionally. The silencing of women happens more often than you think. This was the
life of Desdemona. Othello, an army general, elopes with the daughter of a Venetian senator and
flees to Cyprus with the rest of his army not only to fight the Turkish fleet, but also to consummate
their marriage. Through Shakespeare's portrayal of the men in Othello, and their negative,
stereotypical views on women, gender inequality is evident and the silencing of women has been
apparent for hundreds of years and ultimately led to the women's downfall.
Stereotyping ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Jodi Kantor, a write for The New York Times wrote, "He has paid off at least eight women to settle
complaints about his lewd behavior," (Kantor). Winstein, a former American film producer and the
co–founder of the entertainment company Miramax has recently been accused of sexual harassment
by thirteen women. He paid them thousands of dollars to keep quiet and not tell anyone to avoid
having his reputation destroyed, which is eerily similar to that of Othello. In the play, Othello and
the other men would silence the women in various ways including the enforcement of terror in the
women to keep their name honorable. A New York Times article regarding Winsteine's allegations
states, "Some said they did not report the behavior because there were no witnesses and they feared
retaliation by Mr. Weinstein. Others said they felt embarrassed," (Kantor). The silencing of others
can be done in many different ways. Weinstein was able to manipulate these young women into
doing sexual actions with him as he knew how easy they were to trick. He knew the women
wouldn't speak out and tell someone as they were up and coming actresses and accusing a big time
producer of unspeakable actions would forever jeopardize their future

The Cruelty Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
One often has to pay need to the time period in which a novel or play takes place to fully grasp its
deeper meaning. William Shakespeare's Othello is no exception to this. The text is rife with
misogyny and general cruelty to women, but this was common in Elizabethan–era literature. Cruelty
to women and female characters in Othello does more than demonstrate gender inequality– it also
highlights the shallow values of the male perpetrators like Othello, Iago, and Cassio, providing
deeper insight into Shakespeare's work. Undoubtedly the most glaring example of cruelty and
submissiveness of women in the play is the fractured relationship between Othello and his wife
Desdemona. Most pressingly, Othello murders his spouse because he questions her chastity and
fidelity– thus exposing her insecurities. Othello is so obsessed with his military rank and social ...
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Indeed, Iago does not care for his wife's feelings at all; he literally brands her a "whore" in front of
his esteemed colleagues and jokes about their sexual exploits in public. Emilia is obviously affected
by this cruel slandering, because she confides in Desdemona saying she condones adultery when it
serves the husband. Iago only spreads these rumors to preserve a reputation he has; for example,
when Emilia offers to tell Othello that Desdemona is innocent, Iago (who created and perpetrated
this vicious rumor) threatens to kill her because it would damage his own reputation. Iago orders
that Emilia remain silent and when she finally musters the courage to speak out and clear
Desdemona's name, Iago stabs her and she dies. Essentially, Iago's cruelty is catalyzed by an
obsession with reputation. As Cassio puts it when his own reputation suffers, "Reputation,
reputation.... I have lost the immortal part of me and what remains is bestial." (Shakespeare Act II,
Scene III,

The Heroic Women Of Othello
Olivia Seeney
Dr. Michael Elam
ENGL 211 Brit Lit: Middle Age–18th Century
5 December, 2015
The Heroic Women of Othello A hero is "a man or woman distinguished by the performance of
courageous or noble actions (Oxford English Dictionary)." In a male dominated society, such as the
one displayed in the play Othello, many of the heroic attributes of the female characters are
overlooked, and they are labeled as either weak or insignificant. However, some of the female roles
within this play are more important and heroic than their male counterparts. The particularly
important women in Othello are the characters Desdemona and Emilia. They are unlike each other
in many ways, yet both are equally strong in their own ways. While Desdemona remains silent and
faithful in the face of adversity, Emilia is outspoken and independent. While the male characters in
this play use their actions to express their dominance, the females use their wit and words to show
their strength against the men that try to oppress them. This play seeks to show the women as they
are: strong, intelligent, and important although they are mistreated by their male counterparts. Both
women attribute heroic attributes to the plot of the play and continue to influence their society even
after death. The women of Othello showed themselves to be the true protagonists of the play
through their unending loyalty, bravery in the face of opposition, and distinct personalities that
complimented one another in order to

Women In Othello
In many novels women are afraid to speak out against their husbands, and they are portrayed as
being inferior to men. In Shakespeare's Othello, three women are introduced: Desdemona, a loyal
wife who is not trusted by her husband Othello, Bianca, a prostitute who is in love with Othello's
lieutenant Cassio, and Emilia, attendant to Desdemona and wife of Iago, who believes that men
should be blamed for their wife's affairs. As the play's villain, Iago, tricks many characters into
helping him ruin Othello's good character; Emilia unknowingly helps Iago in his trickery. Although
Emilia shows signs of breaking the social norms, she does not risk anything until the end of the
novel when she becomes aware of the consequences of her actions and risks her life to tell the truth.
Emilia symbolizes a brave women becoming the tragic hero of the story. ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
While Desdemona believes that Othello is upset because of political affairs, Emilia believes that
Othello thinks that Desdemona cheated on him. She states, "But I do think it is their husbands' faults
If wives do fall.. The ills we do, their ills instruct us so"(4.3.97–115). This emphasizes Emilia's
strong views that clash with the social norms that a woman is looked down upon if she cheats on her
husband, but it is less incriminating for a man to do so. Emilia believes that women are met with
double standards, where it should be blamed on a man if a woman cheats on

The Role Of Women In Othello
According to Brett's article Representation of Gender within Othello, women are always victims
because it is men who determine social organization (2). Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece Othello
shows how the women are portrayed as victims due to men determining social organization. This
conception is supported throughout the play through the representation of women. The play Othello
by Shakespeare presents the readers with a male dominant society where women are faced with a
rough time. The manner in which women are perceived is a dominant social issue that affects people
in the society. Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia, the female characters in this play, show genuine love
and affection to their partners but they are still rejected and hence become symbols of suspicion
within the society. Whereas the play Othello contains numerous complex social issues, the
victimization of women in a male dominant society is amongst the most significant issues, and this
notion is supported all through the play.
In this play, women are perceived as a source of sexuality and nothing else. In the court of the Duke
of Venice the male characters have an extensive colloquy that does to a great extent objectify the
character of Desdemona (Ainsley et al. 112). The male characters showing their contempt for
females in general, and treating Desdemona in her presence and absence as an object that is able to
be possessed really displays the prominence of the marginalization of women. In relation to men

The Strength Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Throughout Othello, Shakespeare gave each woman a different type of strength, which he developed
through their relationships and interactions with the other characters to eventually show his overall
message and opinion regarding women.
Starting with Desdemona, one of her main displays of strength and courage was during her death
scene. Although on the surface her begging and crying in response to Othello may seem like a
weakness, it actually showed her intelligence and quick–thinking (therefore strength, especially for
women in that time period and culture). We already know from earlier in the play that Desdemona is
very observant (when she notices something is wrong with Othello) (3.3.325), and during her death
scene this is shown again when ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
From what she knew, there would be no one near enough to hear her call out because she sent away
the one person who would have, Emilia, at the end of the previous act (4.3.17). She also probably
knew that she couldn't escape either, for two reasons: Othello could easily overpower and/or outrun
her, and if she did manage to escape, Othello was a general and could easily send people after her.
Therefore she used her wit to try and instead change Othello's mind, knowing it was more likely to
succeed than an escape attempt. Even in her last moments and words, Shakespeare has Desdemona
show intelligence and strength. She, instead of blaming Othello for her murder, decided to proclaim
herself guiltless, and also take the blame herself (5.2.150–153). I think she did this because she
could see at this point that Othello was not himself and wanted to give him a second chance, or "be
the bigger person". But to take it a step further, she might have used her last words (which
Shakespeare believed to be very powerful) to commend herself guilt free and Othello innocent;
guilting Othello into confessing to her murder. Although this does not necessarily line up with
Desdemona's love for Othello, it would show one last attempt by her to make Othello change his
mind, therefore showing her quick–thinking and

Othello And Elizabethan Women
When did we realize we were the best? About 1438 years ago, the Quran came to humans where it
stated that "[God] has indeed created mankind in the best of molds". In Islam, humans are clearly
revealed as the most blessed creation, and this is because God has bestowed free will upon them,
something revolutionary in the world. Clearly shown when researching animals, they survive while
we thrive. Among mankind, women are revered and respected as the matriarchs of civilization. They
command respect and awe, as mothers foster the care in each and every human being. The problem,
however, proves that as much as we accept that humans exist as the most superior race, patriarchal
societies, like ours and Shakespeare's have forced women to be seen as ... Show more content on
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With growing affection for Cassio, his prostitute, Bianca follows him around to show her love for
him. Cassio's attitude comes about as he wishes the Moor "Not see [him] womaned" (III.iv.223).
Ignoring Cassio's blatant disrespect, Bianca proves her love for him by retorting, "I pray you bring
me on the way" (III.iv.227). Cassio tosses Bianca to the side like a piece of trash, yet Bianca
remains steadfast and continuously displays her love and affection for Cassio. The devotion
Shakespeare has bestowed on Bianca proves the claim where Shakespeare stresses the genuine
capabilities women have for love despite their jobs. contrary to the beliefs of many men.
Shakespeare also uses Emilia to prove the good in women by displaying Emilia's selfless
capabilities. Upon realizing the death of Desdemona, Emilia unearths that Othello's justification for
this murder was false. Overcome by so much grief, Emilia, had to endure the threats that Iago shoots
her way for unearthing this false basis (V.ii.281–282). Pure, loyal to Desdemona, and ultimately
innocent, Emilia is killed. Because Emilia continues to do the right thing despite the threats Iago
sends her way, she embodies good nature at its highest level. The qualities of purity––love,
selflessness, and good nature––is shown through both Emilia and

The Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
William Shakespeare once said, "women may fall when there's no strength in men." This particular
quote relates greatly to the ideas which he presents in his 1603 tragic play, Othello. Othello follows
a Muslim Moor living in Venice Italy. When he elopes with his caucasian bride, Desdemona,
hysteria ensues which will result in the untimely demise of several of the characters. Shakespeare
uses this quote to signify the hierarchy of men over women, which also plays a major role in his
play. Arguably, in Othello, William Shakespeare uses women as a motif to convey the overall
message of trust. This is presented by jealousy, duties, and faithfulness.
Throughout Othello, Shakespeare presents women using an idea of jealousy to convey that they
cannot ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
It would make or break the trust of a woman and her husband or father. Brabantio, Desdemona's
father, boasts to Othello, "Look to her Moor if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father,
and may thee." (Shakespeare, 1.3.288–289) Brabantio makes an extremely stereotypical statement
about his young daughter. He says that since his daughter was unfaithful to him, she will become a
promiscuous strumpet who will cheat on Othello as well. Desdemona will bring to light her Catholic
beliefs that she can stay faithful till the bitter end. This quote shows that men's view of women is
skewed. Women were seen as a prize and needed to stay incredibly honorable before obtaining any
man's trust. The lesson that Shakespeare intended the audience to learn here was how much can one
truly trust the ones around them. He placed Brabantio's character in the beginning to pose this
question of loyalty and faithfulness which would sit in the back of our minds for the whole play. In
modern–day, we do not generally see this type of action anymore. The deed of a father warning a
new husband is no longer involved in our culture, rather a father supporting his new son–in–law and
asking him to take care of his little girl. This just goes to show the level of skepticism that revolved
around women's virginity and cleanliness in the time period. Fast–forwarding, after Othello murders
Desdemona because of her alleged affair with

In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare, the tragic protagonist Othello is tricked by his
subordinant, Iago, into thinking that his wife, Desdemona, has been unfaithful to him with another
man named Cassio. Iago does this because Othello gave a promotion to Cassio that Iago had felt he
deserved instead. Iago, bitter and jealous of Othello the Moor and Lieutenant Cassio, both of whom
he speaks disparagingly of, devises and enacts a plot that results in both chaos and turmoil for the
people around him. He is able to achieve success in his plot by playing on hasty generalizations
frequently made by people of that time. Iago plays on stereotypes and generalizations about women
and the Turkish people during about the 17th century. According to Independent Tudor Historian
Heather Sharnette, "Marriage was seen as the desirable state for both men and women, and single
women were sometimes looked upon in suspicion" (Sharnette, Elizabethan Women). During this
time, women had a lot of expectations to be innocent, faithful, and obedient above all else in their
marriages. On the other hand, men were supposed to take care of their women. However at the same
time men were quick to accuse and suspect all women of being deceitful and conniving. Women
were somehow inferior and weak, while at the same time evil and fraudulent. Turkish people, or any
people remotely darker than the English, were written off as black and therefore less than. And so
Turkish men were assumed barbaric, brash,

Emancipation Of Women In Othello Essay
Othello, one of William Shakespeare's classics, is an intricate play written on the life of a soldier in
the sixteenth century, set in the backdrop of a war between Venice and Turkey. This century, referred
to as Renaissance (the era of re–birth), marks the emancipation of women. Plays in the Renaissance
featured women who would break the rules and stand up for themselves, their honor. This was the
era where plays portrayed women trying to come to power, overthrowing the concept of power
being only with stereotypical men. All the plays of Shakespeare during this period featured a tragic
heroine; trying to bring justices to themselves may it be Othello, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet or King
Lear. The female characters in Othello are portrayed ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Othello explains what he had just done, Emilia understood the devios plan her husband, Iago
had played. Being emancipated, she could not keep quiet after what had just happened. She could
not just stand there when Othello had foolishly murdered his wife because he was ashamed of what
his wife had done. She had to speak against her husband, something which was not common those
days. She tells Othello that "That handkerchief thou speak'st of I found by fortune and did give my
husband; For often, with a solemn earnestness, More than indeed belonged to such a trifle, He
begged of me to steal

Throughout history, patriarchies have plagued society and stripped women of necessary freedoms.
This is evident in a multitude of literary works, such as Shakespeare's Othello and Much Ado About
Nothing, as well as "Pygmalion" by John Updike, and Robert Browning's "My Last Duchess." In all
of these pieces, the men perceive themselves as superior, and strive to overmaster every aspect of
their female counterparts' lives. Additionally, males feel entitled to any female they optate, and hold
their women to fictitious standards, thus objectifying women and leading them to be treated as
property.
To commence, in the Elizabethan era women were inferior to men, as exhibited in Othello through
the relationships between father and daughter as well as husband and wife. Typically, fathers are
kenned to be protective of their daughters, especially when it comes to other men; ultimately, this
can escalate until women are thought of as possessions. For example, Iago stirs up trouble when he
stands outside of Brabantio and Desdemona's house and yells, "Look to your house, your daughter,
and your bags!/ Thieves, thieves!" (Shakespeare 1.1.86–88), referencing the fact that Desdemona
has eloped with Othello. Note how he states that "thieves" have "stolen" Desdemona, as one would
steal money or possessions, which underscores Desdemona's lack of power. Then without even
entertaining the idea that Desdemona could have made the decision to marry Othello herself,
Brabantio sneers at Othello, "O

Shakespeare's Treatment Of Women In Othello
The Women of Shakespeare's Othello
Between scholars, casual fans, and high school students forced to read Shakespeare, many colorful
and contrary interpretations of the women of Othello have developed. Some readers see them as
victims of their writing, carefully placed in the right place and at the right time rather than given
actual characterization. Others see the women as weak, submissive, and annoying. Still, many see
them as strong characters and, in fact, the most important in Shakespeare's tragedy. None of the
above interpretations are exclusively true; however, each of them can be applied to Desdemona,
Emilia, and Bianca at some point in the play. The women of Shakespeare's Othello are used as plot
devices and stereotypes, but also as symbols of Elizabethan society's treatment of women. ... Show
more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Often, Othello's wife is important to the story, but Desdemona is not. The most apparent example of
this is Bianca, who is more of a plot device than a character; only for convenience is she even given
a name. The only description of Bianca is Iago's, when he says, "Now will I question Cassio of
Bianca, a housewife that by selling her desires/buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature/that
dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's plague/to beguile many and be beguiled by one" (IV.1.93–97).
From this we learn of Bianca's occupation as a prostitute as well as her love for Cassio; it's here that
her characterization ends. Bianca shows up in the story in order to be seen with Desdemona's
handkerchief and confirm Othello's suspicions, then conveniently disappears once the damage has
been

Othello Women
In order to succeed requires taking chances. Taking chances requires courage. Many are held back
from expressing their courage because of what society has shaped civilians. Women, especially, are
entitled with fragile or emotionally unstable compared to men. Therefore, women rely heavily on
men in order to achieve happiness. However, Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist who wrote From a
Vindication of the Rights of Women, who beliefs are opposite from society believed that all women
have the full potential to do the same challenges as men. Having said that the play Othello, by
William Shakespeare, only has three female characters throughout the play which can conclude how
women are overshadowed by men.
Consequently, Wollstonecraft would strongly ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
At the beginning of the novel Emilia was loyal to Iago, her husband, as she found the handkerchief
wishing to "please his fantasy" (Act III, scene iii), showing no respect for herself as person.
Wollstonecraft again would not like Emilia at the beginning as she tries to make her husband happy
rather than herself being happy. She is manipulated by his love and would try to do anything for
him. Although Iago did take the handkerchief, Emilia begins to realize how her friendship with
Desdemona is more important. For this reason, Wollstonecraft believes that women's "desires of
pleasing will then grow languid" (Wollstonecraft 190) and in fact does with Emilia. After finding
out Iago's manipulations she stands up for herself and speaks harshly about Iago. Even though Iago
dislikes the idea of being talked badly by a woman, Emilia does not care. She relates to
Wollstonecraft's quote as she becomes aware that her dignity is more important than trying to please
someone who is not true to themselves. She also becomes what Wollstonecraft would hope for in a
woman as she has the ability to stand up in front of a bunch of men and speak poorly about her
husband. In all, Emilia at the end of the play becomes an independent woman showing that it is
okay to speak one's

The Responsibility Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
William Shakespeare's play, Othello, expresses the absence of respect and control given to women
during Shakespeare's time. Throughout the whole play, women are repeatedly inferior to men and
are granted no rights to express themselves. The women in Othello represent property or seen
simply as just "belongings" to men. Iago, the antagonist, utilizes women like his personal pawns in a
chess game to benefit no one other than himself. However, in the end, it is the women who solve
Iago's twisted plan to break up Desdemona and Othello. The women remain loyal to their husbands
the whole play, while ironically the men are the conniving and disloyal ones. Shakespeare
deliberately conveys to the audience that women were underestimated and should not ... Show more
The audience experiences Desdemona's devotion to men from the very beginning; whether it be
obeying her father or staying by Othello's side, she remans loyal. Desdemona defends Othello as she
conveys, "My noble father,/I do perceive here a divided duty:/ To you I am bound for life and
education;/ My life and education both do learn me/ How to respect you; you are the lord of duty;/ I
am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,/ And so much duty as my mother show'd/ To you,
preferring you before her father,/ So much I challenge that I may profess/ Due to the Moor, my lord"
(Shakespeare 1.3.180–189). Desdemona's speech declares the obedience woman must have before
and after marriage. Before marriage, woman belong to their fathers and must do what they say
because the provide the family with wealth and protection. The only disobedience of Desdemona the
audience interprets is before the play begins when Desdemona elopes with Othello. However, if
Desdemona was not wed, one would assume that Desdemona would not have the choice to be able
to see Othello. Nonetheless, Shakespeare portrays through every relationship that the woman must
respond to her man whether it be a father or a husband. A defining conversation between Iago and
Desdemona about women, further reveals the lack of respect Iago demonstrates towards women.
Iago assumes women utilize their looks to preserve in life.

The Women in Othello Essay
The women in Othello are synonymous with Venetian societal standards. Only three women are
characters in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca but the roles these women play give the
reader an idea of how women were portrayed, not only in Shakespeare's Othello but in society in
general.
Women were viewed merely as possessions. After the Duke allows Desdemona to accompany
Othello to Cyprus, Othello says 'To my conveyance I assign my wife' (I.3.283), this statement
implies that Desdemona and a possession to be transported and guarded. The first Senators phrase
'use Desdemona well' (I.3.288) may suggest he hopes Othello will look after Desdemona, but is
more likely to support the the expectations Venetian women had in the 1600s. They were ... Show
Undoubtedly a stronger character, Emilia has also accepted her role in society. At the end of the play
while revealing Iago's plan she states 'Tis proper I obey him, but not now' (V.2.195). Although she
has just betrayed Iago,she still feels the need to explains her reasoning for not obeying him. Bianca
is also a victim of the role society has set for women. She feels obligated by the standards of society
to be circumstanced or to' put up with'. It was natural for women to be feminine and to obey the men
of the society and it was unnatural for them to do anything of the contrary. this concept was widely
believed and understood by Shakespeare's audience. Modern feminist disagree and say it is not
natural for a woman to be feminine, however the women in Othello are pre–feminism and only
seem to compound the ideologies of 'feminism' through their actions and behavior.
One should not assume that the women of Othello do not question the authority of men at all.
Emilia, at the end of Act IV as she's talking to Desdemona explains that women are no different
physically than men:
'Let husbands know,
Their wives have sense like them; they see and smell,
And have their palates both for sweet and sour
As husbands have' (IV.9.92–5)
She continues on to explain that men and women also share the same desires and affections, but the
only difference is men are weaker mentally. This conversation takes place privately and Emilia does
not

Portrayal Of Women In Othello Essay
William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Othello: The Moor of Venice, is set during the
Renaissance period, therefore men treat women as if they are objects. Even though men treat
women badly they still stand up for their beliefs. They are obedient when their husbands tell them to
do something but they are still direct even if the outcome is negative. The women in Othello are
obedient but straightforward with their opinions because Desdemona married someone unsuitable,
without her father's approval, and Emilia defends women's rights.
The portrayal of women in this play is very accurate compared to the setting because society treats
them as if their husband or father own them. However, the author shows that they are not just
possessions ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They
belch us" (Shakespeare III.iv.103–106). Emilia is explaining that men do not view women as a
human and they are only useful until the man is satisfied. Women are only useful for the needs of a
man. During Act five, Emilia defends Desdemona's honor and the female gender as a whole when
she back talks her husband, Iago:
I: With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.
E: I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak: My mistress here lies murdered in her bed
(Shakespeare V.ii.179–183).
One could view this as Emilia defending women's rights because she does not follow Iago's
command and insists on protecting Desdemona's honor by trying to tell Othello the truth about the
false rumors Iago spread. This could also be interpreted as Emilia saying she will not be quiet
anymore and refused to let women be treated negatively by men. Kissanna Sinclair claims that the
women of the play do not fail to question men at all. Emilia argues that women are physically no
different to men and they also suffer from the same 'affections, /Desires for sport, and frailty'
(Shakespeare IV.iii.300) as men (Sinclair). The only difference, Emilia implies, is that men are
mentally weaker (Sinclair). Ironically, it is Desdemona who exhibits some power in public, making
powerful use of language when explaining to her father, in front of other Venetian senators, that her
'duty' (Shakespeare

Women In Othello
Shakespearean plays are typically controlled and coerced by patriarchal concerns and voices. Even
the dramaturgy surrounding the male cast is one of difference associated with notions of masculinity
and privilege. The women in Othello, on the other hand, like many others, fall into the pattern of
historically disenfranchised, stock female characters dominated by the social power of men. The
willow scene between Desdemona and Emilia is one of rare female intimacy. Desdemona's rendition
of the willow song functions as a scope to analyze and evaluate the complexities of her character
through the lyrical content and effect of dramaturgy. It is a composition of drama and agent of
adaptation, which acts as a double–edged sword of expression, simultaneously ... Show more
Through the willow song, Desdemona can represent herself "vividly by gesture, speech, and most
decisively by emblem." It is a scene where she can control the dramatics. In adapting this song to
the female perspective, Shakespeare requires Desdemona to sing and simultaneously interrupts her
song with "simple and yet tense dramatic interjections" for dramatic purpose. Desdemona's constant
interjections such as "Lay by these" "Nay; unpin me here" and "Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon"
are all exchanged between her and Emelia in a constant motion to remind the audience that she is
preparing her marriage bed for Othello, but also tragically, also her death bed. The performance of
singing and the repetition of "willow, willow, willow" adds a depth of touching pathos and grimness
to her expression. Yet, by applying the medium of song as a mode of expression, Desdemona is
forced to abide by a constricting form accompanied by the medium. The style of the song is a
pattern of repeating non–rhyming couplets, whose second line utters "willow, willow, willow".
Although the poetic elements of the song may add to the pathos or theatrical appeal towards the
character, it is nonetheless a restrictive form of expression, unlike that afforded to a free–flow
dramatic dialogue. The words become restricted

Theme Of Women In Othello
In the play Othello, written by Shakespeare, women do not get to enjoy the same freedom that
women do today.(major topics in the text). Women were responsible for keeping the image of their
families good, men were considered the head of the household. Women had to uphold the perfect
image when in a marriage, society had its own standards for women and there were different social
values of women in the Elizabethan society. In this period women had strict set standards. Women
were said to not go anywhere alone, meaning unescorted, they should not speak very often, they
should not wear any sexual clothing or makeup, and they should obey their husbands and fathers.
The last reason is somewhat of a shock to the readers because Desdemona had such a covert
marriage. Once a woman is married she now has more rules to follow. She has to be faithful to her
husband or she could end up being called a whore, or even worse. Once a women is labeled a
whore, it ruins the family name in the society. Not only does it ruin her family's name but now she
has also ruined her future. In this time period, this was a very serious topic and once the women was
said to be a whore, she was considered guilty until proven innocent. Othello is a play about the act
between men and women in Elizabethan England. Othello and Desdemona are the perfect example
of an Elizabethan couple. Othello is a powerful man while Desdemona is a devoted and passive
wife. Iago is a man who is jealous of Othello. The readers

Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Shakespeare often incorporates social issues that occur during the time period into his play, Othello.
In Shakespeare's play Othello, he challenges the image of women in the during the play period as it
relates to the oppression of women. In Othello, there are three female characters: Desdemona,
Emilia, and Bianca, each of which played a major role in the plot. In this essay, I am going to
discuss how Shakespeare uses this imagery of women within the play to give clues to how society
views and oppresses women within the play.He does this by attempting to rewrite female
subjectivity, touching on false accusations of adultery as a way women violate social laws, using
love as a foundation for characters' actions, and portraying women as submissive and as a
possession. Shakespeare makes an effort to rewrite female subjectivity by attempting to reveal the
oppression of women in Othello. For example, in act four scene three lines 93–97 Emilia says
"Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace yet have we some revenge. Let husbands
know their wives have sense like them: they see and smell and have their palates both for sweet and
sour, as husbands have". Emilia is complaining about how men treat the women and how she wants
to be treated equally. This passage is indicating the stereotype that women in the play cannot have a
life that is private to the public. Meaning that, women could not do things privately or even
mysteriously, basically, women had to be open to the public. The words "yet have we some
revenge", give off that point because they give clues to express the harshness of how women were
treated and want to get that respect the men have. Shakespeare touches on the idea that women who
commit acts of adultery and disobedience of men violate social laws in Othello. Shakespeare writes
about the adultery and uses the law of chastity to further show that women had to be slaves or
obedient to men. For example, in act one scene three lines 390–391, Iago says 'it is thought abroad
that twixt my sheets he has done my office". Iago wrongfully accuses his wife of sleeping with
Othello, which shows that women were often not trusted and were deemed as outlaws in society, for
just being women. In act two scene

Women In Othello
Women of Othello: Lepers or Ladies?
Throughout history, there have been social hierarchies imposed upon society. Perhaps one of the
most influential was the imposition upon women during the Renaissance era. Women during the
Renaissance patriarchy were expected to be proper, pure, and above all else, mindful of the men in
their life. In her essay, "Women in Othello", Farah Karim–Cooper argues that William Shakespeare's
play, Othello, creates complicated dynamics and roles for the women within it, due to the fact that
Shakespeare himself did not believe that women fit easily within the roles that they had been
assigned. This essay will seek to prove, in agreeance with Karim–Cooper, that Desdemona and
Emilia do not, in fact, fit neatly into ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Desdemona is originally portrayed to readers as beautiful beyond words, but also wicked, because
she goes behind her father's back in order to marry the Moor, Othello. In act 1, scene 3, Desdemona
is brought before the Senate, the Duke, her father, and her new husband, Othello. The expectation of
women during this period was, as Farim–Cooper puts it, that: "They should not speak very often,
and certainly not about matters of state or important issues that only men would be able to discuss"
(Karim–Cooper 1). Desdemona, contrary to the publicly imposed gender roles, spoke up when
asked about what her intentions and feelings were. After her father accuses Othello of stealing his
daughter, she says,
My noble father,/ I do perceive here a divided duty./ To you I am bound for life and education;/ My
life and education both do learn me/ How to respect you. You are the lord of duty;/ I am, hitherto,
your daughter. But here's my husband, / And so much duty as my mother showed/ To you, preferring
you before her father,/ So much I challenge that I profess/ Due to the Moor my lord (Act 1, scene 3,
179–188).
By saying this to her audience of men, she is directly going against almost all of the ways in which a
woman was expected to act. In speaking up for herself and her marriage in front of such important
men, she is throwing away the idea that women should be seen and not heard. She is also
disappointing her

Representation Of Women In Othello Essay
In William Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece, Othello, which is set in the male dominated late 16th
century during the war between Turkey and Venice, women are portrayed as possessions. During
this time period there was a strong influence of the Elizabethan ideology where women were meant
to obey all men or be subjected to punishment for disobedience. Therefore Shakespeare portrays the
three leading women in the play–Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca–as submissive to which their
identities are very limited and they are seen as dependant rather than individuals. Their social roles
are depicted as wives and daughters rather than strong independent women. Though the women hold
an ounce of power over the men is their sexuality, which is considered ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The hierarchy of positions in the army to the mire roles of the women all play a part in the grand
scheme of the overall play. From the very beginning of the play in act 1 we see these gender roles
define themselves, as the men hold the power and then women are to obey and not disagree with
anything they are asked of. Desdemona is one of the leading female characters in the play she is the
wife of Othello who is general of the Venetian army and the daughter of Brabantio the Venetian
senator. Making Desdemona the daughter of a very high–ranking man, which gives her a high social
standing. During the Elizabethan era women were seen as objects if they were unmarried they
would be property of their fathers but once married they would then be possessions of their
husbands. This ideology is evident throughout the text through conversations between man and wife
and even with other men. "Use Desdemona well" (1.3.287) the word choice in this statement is
demonstrating how the men indeed do think of women as objects. Which is why the First Senator
decided to choose "use" Desdemona instead of "treat" or "look after". By using something or
someone it is to achieve a result this also shows how the men dehumanize the women. This also
shows how during this time period husbands would be able to use their wives how they

Theme Of Women In Othello
Feminists would disagree with this as Othello undermines and restricts Desdemona and every
female character in this play as it shows how society viewed women from the very beginning of the
play.
Society pressures deeply on the shoulders of these women. They feel that they must support the men
and comply with them, even if the actions of the men are doubtful. Brabantio's thoughts of women
seem to signify Venetian philosophy. Speaking of Desdemona before she stumbled, he defines her as
'perfection', 'A maiden never bold...Of spirit still and quiet' (Othello: Act 1. Sc. 3). Qualities of
women in the masculine area of the Venetian council, Brabantio mixes and grows the traditional
expectations of women in a patriarchal society. Moreover, when Desdemona weds Othello she turns
her back on her father's wishes and subsequently the ideal cast of a woman, he describes her as fall,
'against all rules of nature' (Othello: Act 1. Sc. 3. 5). Venetian civilisation grants its own social
beliefs as the absolute laws of nature. It is normal for women to be feminine and to do as their males
tell them. It is not normal for them to do anything else. This Venetian idea was likewise an
Elizabethan and pre–Elizabethan belief and was broadly understood by Shakespeare's spectators.
Today, some feminists would argue that it is not 'normal' for women to be feminine, that the past has
attempted to conceal its social prospects of women as part of the laws of nature. The females in
Othello are formerly

Treatment Of Women In Othello
Women In Society
In Shakespeare's play Othello , women are often represented as pure,while being misunderstood as
adulterous because of the men, often leaving them in powerless positions and manipulated by men.
Women are viewed as adulterous in society's eyes, but mainly in Othello's eyes because of the lies
that were feed to him. Othello believes people's perception over the truth perception meaning he
took Iago's words over Desdemona's. "Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write
"whore"upon? What committed? [Committed? O thou public commoner," (4.2.82–84). Othello was
brought into lies toward his wife. Women are seen differently from the outside as their appearance
than the way they act around men because of these judgements women were mistreated without
having to speak up. Eventhough. they might be with that one specific guy married or not married
women are still not faithful. Men are betrayed by their own wives or at least that is what they are
told. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
"The riches of the ship is come on shore! You men of Cyprus, let her have your knees. Hail to thee,
lady, and the grace of heaven" (2.1.93–96). This demonstrated, that women were perceived as
angelic and heavenly, Cassio has always shown respect for Desdemona, but cassio is not the only
one who shown respect. Othello gets manipulated by Desdemona's beauty and her poetic tone
towards him Illustrating Othello has been in a trance to Desdemona's love, but feels guilty because
his name calling toward his wife illustrated that he had lost hope for what seemed to be his true

The Role of Women in Othello
There are only three female characters in William Shakespeare's play Othello, Desdemona, Othello's
wife, Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's lady–in–waiting, and Bianca, a courtesan. When first
introduced to this limited number of representatives of the female gender, it is quickly assumed that
they will not be very present or have an important role in story. In addition, the male characters of
the play see women as submissive and promiscuous possessions that should be controlled by either
their fathers or spouses. However Shakespeare's female characters are shown to question male
authority and to have the ability to speak for themselves, which could be seen as feminist statement
during the Elizabethan time that Shakespeare lived in.
Desdemona can easily be seen to embody an example of the perfect women in an Elizabethan
society, being beautiful, obedient, and high born. Her submissive nature is often seen through her
own lines in the play, for example "I am obedient" (III.3.89) and her statement in act 4 when Othello
tells her to go to bed she replies with "I will, my lord" (IV.3.9). She continues to comply throughout
the play, and even in her last moment she lies for her husband saying that she took her own life.
Emilia is the female character who's strength is more obvious than the rest, shown by her open
willingness to betray her husband even though she is aware of that it is not the proper thing to do.
"Tis proper I obey him, but not now" (V.2.195). However she

Hispanic Women In Othello
In Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, the title character, is a 16th century Moorish general of the
Venetian army who, because of the cultural and historical background of the play's setting, and the
original intended audience, is portrayed as both well–respected for his military prowess and belittle
for his race. This later causes Othello to limit himself to the majority of things that come his way,
his relationship with Desdemona, which creates conflict. Similarly, Hispanic women are treasured
but they are despairing because they increase the Hispanic population causing chaos between
society. On the one hand, in today's society Hispanic women are treasured for their sexy looks and
body figure. On the other hand, Hispanic women are also despised ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
The Duke wanted Othello to go to Cyprus because "Othello, the fortitude of the place is best/known
to you; and though we have there a substitute/of most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a/sovereign
mistress of effects, throws a safer/voice on you"(Shakespeare). He trusted him to achieve victory for
Venice more than any of his other soldiers. However, Brabantio does not approve of Desdemona
because Othello is African. In the city of Venice, the people believed the stereotypes of African
people are less worthy than others which makes Brabantio dislike Othello because his family is a
much higher class. This dichotomy causes Othello to doubt his self–worth, and eventually to doubt
his relationship with Desdemona. Othello then starts to think "I'd whistle her off and let her down
the wind,/To pray at fortune. Haply, for I am black/And have not those soft parts of
conversation/That chamberers have, or for I am declined/Into the vale of years,––yet that's not
much––/She's gone."(Shakespeare). He is not so sure about trusting Desdemona and starts fell that
he is cheating on

The Portrayal Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Othello by William Shakespeare was written in an era where women were considered a piece of
property and only meant to appease their husbands. Society in the early 1600's did not respect
women or even consider them as an individual with rights. Shakespeare perfectly exemplifies this
through his famous plays, especially Othello. William Shakespeare interestingly demonstrates the
dramatic portrayal of women through the main characters' actions and words. Both women in
Othello are convicted of being unfaithful courtesans to their husbands. As Iago is trying to explain
his hate towards Othello, he shares his suspicion of his wife, Emilia and a moor, named Othello,
having an affair: "For that I do suspect the lusty Moor Hath leaped into my seat" (Ⅱ,ⅰ, 295, 296).
There is no evidence that this accusation is true, therefore Iago is only looking for an excuse to
explain his hostility. Desdemona is also accused of cheating on Othello with Cassio. Iago plants the
thought into Othello's mind that Desdemona and Cassio can not be trusted together: "Look to your
wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Emilia becomes the voice of reason and attempts to mitigate the accusations of Desdemona being
unfaithful to Othello: "I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,/ Lay down my soul at stake.If you
think other,/ Remove your thought. It doth abuse your bosom" (act 4 scene 2 12–14) However,
Othello replies with a soliloquy speaking low of Desdemona: "She says enough; yet she's a simple
bawd/ That cannot say as much./ This is a subtle whore,/ A closet lock and key of villainous secrets"
( act 4 scene 2 20–22). Othello's disregard to Emilia gives the reader the idea that the women are
seen as fallacious and menial. This scene also exhibits how the words and promises of a woman
mean nothing to a man because Othello does not accept Emilia's

The Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Shakespeare's time was a patriarchal society of strict social hierarchies and rules about how women
should behave at home and in public, with women being vastly deprived of the freedoms they have
today. In the play Othello, the three female characters Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca conform to
the ideological expectations of Shakespeare's Elizabethan Society and lack power and importance
when compared to the men of the play. Throughout the play, women are seen as the possessions of
men, passed along from their father to their husband, making them essentially powerless and
submissive to the whims of their men. Desdemona is seen as a piece of property to be owned and is
treated as such by the men in the play. Upon finding out his daughter eloped with Othello,
Desdemona's father, Barbantio, becomes outraged and calls Othello a thief. (I.2.55) Barbantio
accuses Othello of stealing away Desdemona as one would a simple possession, discarding the idea
that Desdemona is a human being with free will and a right to make choices for themselves. When
Iago is led to believe that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia, ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Iago, referring to his wife as his "seat" in addition to his public humiliation of her by calling her
"used" property shows that

The Treatment Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
Feminism is and has always been a prominent focus in society. Specifically during the Renaissance,
when Shakespeare's Othello was written, were women thought of as subordinate to men.
Shakespeare portrays women as merely FOIL characters to their male counterparts throughout the
play. They help shed light on the men's dark sides as well as their true faults. Their roles include
wives, prostitutes, and even messengers. The women in the play are disrespected and treated as
lesser beings. Although there are imperative female characters in Shakespeare's Othello, many of
them are treated as tools or objects and are disrespected by the men, specifically Iago, Othello and
Cassio.
The women throughout the play are forced to abide by the commands and endure the treatment from
the men. These commands are given to make the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The women attempt to act unfazed by this in an attempt at not seeming weak or vulnerable.
Desdemona does acknowledge this disrespect and lack of reason when Othello is accusing her of
being disloyal to him. "Heaven stops the nose at it and the moon winks" (4.2.88). This roughly
translates to "Heaven has to block his nose when you are around and the moon must close his eyes".
Othello dumped all of his anger on Desdemona without asking her, nor Cassio for their opinion on
the topic, leading to catastrophic results. Desdemona, understanding her position in society as a
woman, didn't fight back and accepted that she was unable to do anything about it. Othello is using
the power that is granted towards him by the society to aggressively let Desdemona know that she
did something wrong. Contrary to what Desdemona did in this situation, some women decide to
defy the odds of gender stereotypes. When Emilia is livid about Desdemona getting accused by the
Moore of being a whore and ends up calling out her own

Women In Othello Essay
Throughout history, there have been social hierarchies imposed upon society. Perhaps one of the
most influential was the imposition upon women during the Renaissance era. Women during the
Renaissance patriarchy were expected to be proper, pure, and above all else, mindful of the men in
their life. In her essay, "Women in Othello", Farah Karim–Cooper argues that William Shakespeare's
play, Othello, creates complicated dynamics and roles for the women within it, due to the fact that
Shakespeare himself did not believe that women fit easily within the roles that they had been
assigned. This essay will seek to prove, in agreeance with Karim–Cooper, that Desdemona and
Emilia do not, in fact, fit neatly into the boxes that the Renaissance ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Desdemona is originally portrayed to readers as beautiful beyond words, but also wicked, because
she goes behind her father's back in order to marry the Moor, Othello. In act 1, scene 3, Desdemona
is brought before the Senate, the Duke, her father, and her new husband, Othello. The expectation of
women during this period was, as Karim–Cooper puts it, that: "They should not speak very often,
and certainly not about matters of state or important issues that only men would be able to discuss"
(Karim–Cooper 1). Desdemona, contrary to the publicly imposed gender roles, spoke up when
asked about what her intentions and feelings were. After her father accuses Othello of stealing his
daughter, she says,
My noble father,/ I do perceive here a divided duty./ To you I am bound for life and education;/ My
life and education both do learn me/ How to respect you. You are the lord of duty;/ I am, hitherto,
your daughter. But here's my husband, / And so much duty as my mother showed/ To you, preferring
you before her father,/ So much I challenge that I profess/ Due to the Moor my lord (1.3.179–88).
By saying this to her audience of men, she directly goes against almost all the ways in which a
woman was expected to act. In speaking up for herself and her marriage in front of such important
men, she is throwing away the idea that women should be seen and not heard. She is also
disappointing her father by saying that she is no longer loyal to him, but to her husband, Othello,
whom

The Role Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
=In William Shakespeare's tragic drama "Othello", Shakespeare puts emphasis on the role of the
female characters and their influence on the male protagonists. Othello's love and jealousy regarding
his wife made this play a tragedy. There are only three women in the play Othello; Desdemona,
Emilia and Bianca. The way in which these women behave and present themselves strongly reflects
the ideological expectations of women within Shakespeare's imagined Venetian society as well as
the Elizabethan society in which he lived. This patriarchal Venetian society presented in the play
depicts women as possessions of men who should remain submissive and meek at all times. They
lived in a society in which a woman was either a whore, or a good, angelic wife. The women are
expected to unselfishly and unreservedly devote their lives to serving their fathers and or their
husbands'. The wife of the protagonist, Desdemona, is the main female character. These three
female characters all vary in their personalities and roles, yet they all share one common trait, in that
they are all women living in a patriarchal society and thus by suffering together, their female bonds
become stronger.
Othello is a self made man who has reached a position of authority while Desdemona is of a higher
class and is depicted as a fair and pure woman. In contrast, Othello is a much older man from North
Africa (hence why he is referred to as a Moor), he has been a slave, soldier and a killer throughout
his

Women In Othello
In medieval literature women are portrayed in many ways, two of which are exemplified in
Shakespeare's works. In Shakespeare's Othello Desdemona epitomizes the ideal wife, while Emilia
portrays opposite qualities although both women love their husbands. Through this story, and many
others, a reader may learn how authors of medieval literature viewed women in their time, forever
encapsulated in literature. Even in the beginning of Othello, one can tell that Desdemona is madly in
love with Othello. She epitomizes the ideal wife by pledging her love and allegiance to her husband
over anyone else, including her father. When she got married Desdemona told her father that she
had a "divided duty" to both him and Othello. She chooses Othello over ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
Emilia married Iago, the antagonist in Othello. While most women seem to know their husbands
better than they know themselves, it does not seem that way between Emilia and her husband Iago.
She is deceived by her husband, who deceived not only her, but all the other characters in Othello
(Fallon, 217). Though one may not see Emilia as the ideal wife, she meshed well with Iago, even
going to the lengths of stealing for him, to please him (3.3.333–363). She heightened the theme of
infidelity when talking about furthering the power of her husband. At one point in Othello, Emilia
and Desdemona talk about sleeping with other men, and Emilia says, "Who would not make her
husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't" (4.3.85–87). This
shows contrast between the two womens' characteristics and mannerisms when talking about their
marriages and husbands. Desdemona would not spend the night with another man but Emilia would
be unfaithful to her husband and make their marriage impure if it would help further his power.
Also, Desdemona could tell when her husband felt insecure about their relationship and tried to
calm him saying that she never loved anyone else (5.2.74–76) but when talking about Iago, Emilia
"failed to suspect the depth of his treachery" (Maurer, 23) and she could not notice the change in his
loyalty to

Treatment Of Women In Othello
William Shakespeare's play "Othello" shows us the different status and social values of women in
the society. Marriage and trust play a big role in this play. Women had a low position, they were
expected to keep their ideas to themselves and be obedient to their husbands, brothers, fathers and
all men in general. The patriarchal time serves as a natural order, because women were supposed to
be physically inferior to their men. The three women are Desdemona who is Othello's wife, Emilia
who is Iago's wife and Bianca who is seen as a prostitute. These women are treated as possessions.
Desdemona the main woman character herself states that "I am obedient" (III.3.89) by showing all
her love to Othello, and choosing his stories, that made her feel pity for him, and his power over her
father's will. In number of occasions, when Othello is convinced of Desdemona's betrayal with
Cassio, he breaks out into abusive words. He refers to her as "whore" (III.3.356), a "subtle whore"
(IV.2.20) and a "cunning whore" (IV.2.88). Following this Desdemona leaves the room hurt and
shocked by Othello's action and distrust. In ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
When Cassio scorns her by disputing that "I must be circumstanced' (III.4.199), she feels pressured
by the rules of society. In Shakespeare's language to be 'circumstanced' means to 'put up with it',
implying that she has no other choice, but do what a man, in this case Cassio tells her to do. Iago
verbally abuses her as a "housewife" (IV.1.95) and "strumpe"' (IV.1.97), while there is no evidence
to prove that she actually is a prostitute. He brings up a stereotype by saying that all women are not
as they appear. He seems to believe that all women are essentially "wild–cats" (II.1.109) and
"housewives" (II.1.111). Society makes it very difficult on these women, their role is to comfort
their men and at the same time to obey them, even if the actions of the men are

The Role Of Men And Women In Othello
Introduction:
Main Idea: Shakespeare was not a sexist: All though the main three females in the play were seen as
important and contributed tremendously towards the plot of the play. The readers see Shakespeare
pushing the ideology of men and women being equal with the slow occurrence of many plots
towards the play, and how it all unravels itself. These were proven in the play by when;
Theses: women's voices and opinions being suppressed, men being able to hold females as property,
the double standard of males and females.
Paragraph One – women's voices and opinions being suppressed
While the readers, read the play, they feel a suspense, for Othello to just ask his wife is what Cassio
speaks is true. Othello choices to believe Iago, someone who till recently he did not know that well
rather than the women he married. Desdemona constantly asks, "what is the matter my love," to
which Othello never gives an answer. He feels that she does not deserve one in the sense he believes
she has cheated on him with Cassio upon Iago's words and description of their relationship.
Desdemona is persistent, in telling Othello that what he thinks is false and that she indeed is loyal
and has always been to him. "good Christian women," (act 4, sc. ) She tries to prove her innocence
to him by consistently telling the truth. Othello still blocks out what she has said to him, believing in
a third person's story rather than the women who he is in a relationship with.
Desdemona was not the

What Is The Role Of Women In Othello
Of the three female characters in Othello, which one may be considered the most emancipated?
Analyze the implications of the answer to this question across the entire play.
Othello is a tragedy written by Shakespeare and it revolves around four main characters: Othello,
Desdemona, Cassio and Iago. Othello is one of the most loved works of Shakespeare and is still
performed in various theatres around the world. Shakespeare often describes the women in his plays
as strong and confident. The women in his play are quite different from the stereotypical women of
the time period he lived in. The women of Othello too are displayed with characteristics of a modern
woman. Emilia, Desdemona, and Bianca have to defend themselves from the vicious men ... Show
She makes use of such power when she is explaining to her father, in front of the Venetian senators,
that her 'duty' is to Othello and not to him. Desdemona is a courageous and decisive woman who
pursues Othello, falling in love with his intrigued stories of adventure, seeing "Othello's visage in
his mind, and to his honors and valiant parts" refusing the attempts of other suitors such as
Roderigo. When Shakespeare wrote Othello, women had very few rights and Desdemona is not
portrayed as one of those women. Women of that time had no right to chose their husband but
despite receiving offers from various suitors and public discouragement, Desdemona married
Othello and made it evident that her duty was no longer to her father but was to Othello just as
"Duty my mother showed to you" . However there are instances when Desdemona is portrayed as a
possession and her character becomes weak. We see the role of a women after marriage in Othello's
loving words to Desdemona, "Come, my dear love, The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue" . It
signifies that the man buys the woman by marriage. She is also referred to as a 'whore', a 'subtle
whore' and a 'cunning whore', in addition to multiple references to her as a

The Dehumanization Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello
In Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, the title character is a 16th century Moorish general of the
Venetian army who, because of the cultural and historical background of the play's setting, the
playwright, and the original intended audience, is portrayed as both well–respected for his military
prowess and disparaged for his race which eventually makes Othello become insecure which then
leads to his destruction. Similar to the contrasting portrayals in Othello, America's history of
dehumanizing women while at the same time expecting them to be the backbone of the household
create a change in how women are viewed to men and to other women. Women in today's society
are both highly regarded for fighting to be seen as equal to men because they fought for their rights,
but are also constantly stereotyped as dependent on men. ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
At the end of Act 4, Emilia (Iago's wife) talks to Desdemona about how women and men are
actually equal in many ways. She says, "Let husbands know Their wives have sense like them; they
see and smell, And have their palates both for sweet and sour As husbands have." In addition to
saying that men and women share similar physical characteristics, she goes on to say that they also
share similar "affections, Desires for sport, and frailty" (Act 4, Scene 3) as do men. She then also
points out that though women and men do share similarities, the only difference is that men are
mentally weaker. She says in Act 4, Scene 3, "frailty that thus errs" which then links to her earlier
description that men "eat us hungerly, and when they are full, they belch us (Act 3, Scene 4). This
explains how men are not able to control their want for things with logical thought and instead make
reckless decisions in order to get what they want while women on the other hand think about things
before they do

Denigration Of Women In Othello
In many stories from many different time periods, authors use the plot of women being mistrusted,
deceived, and denigrated by men, and them falsely blamed for causing conflicts and even downfalls,
in order to make the antagonists behind look more evil, or cruel. It is clearly illustrated in stories
such as Othello, Oedipus, Catcher in the Rye, the Japanese Creational Myth, and the Story of Eden.
All of them are in different genres, and are from many different time periods and places, but they all
take the type of conflicts of either man vs man or man vs nature. Women could often be
criminalized by men's deception, or get falsely accused of causing conflicts as a result of men's
mistrust and denigration, even though what is ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This victimization of women makes the antagonists look more evil or cruel for to the readers. In
Othello, there were various cases of those deception, mistrust and denigration of women by men,
which all were caused by Iago. The most significant case in this story would be the denigration of
Desdemona. In order to bring downfall to Othello, Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is being
faithless. He uses Emilia, his wife, to steal the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona, and
uses it as an evidence to prove Desdemona's faithlessness to Othello. In the end of the story, Emilia
reveals, "O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak'st of. I found by fortune, and give my
husband– For often, with a solemn earnestness (More than indeed belonged to such a trifle), He
begged me to steal 't." Emilia was deceived by her husband, Iago. As a result, she became a part of
the cause of the death of Desdemona, who she was most royal to, and the downfall of Othello, even
though she did not intended to be. This is one clear case of a man deceiving a woman and making
her look an evil. When Othello finally reveals the reason of his anger to Desdemona and tells her
that he

How Are Women Portrayed In Othello
Women in Othello
The role of women and gender representation in Othello challenged the male dominated society in
that time period. Women in Shakespeare's time were seen as being loyal and submissive to their
husbands and not going against their husband's judgment. Shakespeare developed complex and
varied female characters in his plays, especially the women portrayed in Othello. In the play,
Shakespeare introduces three female characters: Desdemona, Othello 's wife, Emilia, Iago's wife and
mistress to Desdemona, and Bianca, a prostitute who is interested in Cassio. The play examines the
positions each woman has in the social hierarchy and also reviews the issue of adultery.
Desdemona would be considered the ideal woman of that time period. She is sophisticated and
honest with her love for Othello, as she claims that "our loves and comforts should increase even as
our days grow" (2.1. 193–194). Throughout the play she symbolizes innocence in her marriage. She
is also submissive and fails to speak out about certain things such as the missing handkerchief in
fear of hurting Othello's feelings. Her role is determined by her relationship to the male characters,
and her behavior is directed by the males as well. "Some Shakespearean characters illustrate the fact
that in some instances victims play no role in their victimization, and that they may become victims
because of their sociological characteristics–for example, being females" ( Corbett 6) . She cares
about the other

Assimilation Of Women In Othello

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