Feminist Expectations Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello

The society presented in Othello, based on the ideology of Elizabethan England, seems to treat women as second-class citizens. Men view the women in the play as possessions, who they believe should be seen but not heard. The only power that women do seem to be able to hold in Othello, their sensual power, is thought to be an ‘evil’ which must be resisted by the men in society. There are only three female characters in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. The way that these women behave and conduct themselves is undeniably linked to the expectations of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan society that he creates. Throughout Othello the three women characters are treated with apparent sexism, portrayed as objects to be bought, and push to combat these

Emilias views on marriage and the role of women differ significantly than the other characters in Othello. Her troubled marriage is a perfect juxtaposition to Desdemona's seemingly perfect marriage. Throughout the course of the play Emilia is accused of being unloyal to Iago and cheating with Othello, even though her character is completely loyal. There is little to no feminism within Othello and Emilia is arguably the most feminist character. She even breaks society's ideals for women by defying her husband Iago and saying “Tis proper I obey him, but not now” (V.II.195). She goes on to express her rights by explaining that women are no different than men. 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” (IV.III.92-5). Emilia suggests that men are savage and unable to control their desires with logic and thought. It is arguably very ironic that the actions of Iago and Othello in this play confirm her

From Othello we can see that women were not only treated as possessions to be bought but also feared when presented with any form of power. The character of Desdemona represents how women are perceived as mere possessions to be purchased with jewels or other material items. Emilia represents a feminist at the time, disobeying her husband and exclaiming that women are no different than men. The last female character Bianca provides the audience with an example of how women can be feared when in a position of power over