The Oppression Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello

The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare is a tragedy about a man named Othello being manipulated into thinking that his wife is cheating on him. Othello is so convinced that his wife is guilty that he kills his innocent lover Desdemona. Desdemona’s best friend Emilia was also betrayed by her husband Iago. Iago stabs and kills Emilia in order to escape from the angry group of people that just found out Iago was the man that manipulated Othello. Desdemona and Emilia both have a common role in this play, but they each have a different stereotype. Emilia is a wanton women, and Desdemona is the quiet women. Both women were treated as property and died of betrayal by their husbands. All women in this play share the common role of being treated as if they are nothing except a man’s property. This was very common in this time period and it is shown several times throughout the play. Iago often refers to his wife Emilia as a whore. He says “You rise to play, and go to bed to work” (II.i.115). Othello killed Desdemona for a sin she did not commit, and he refused to hear her side of the story. Women were supposed to keep their mouth shut, so Desdemona quietly took her undeserved punishment. A good wife was known as “the tongue of silence” (Breton 38). The women in this play

A wanton women is known as someone whose “vowes diffimulations” and “Bed is ruine” (Breton 28). Iago often makes sly comments about Emilia deeming her a whore because he suspects that his wife slept with Othello. Although there is no proof that Emilia slept with the moor, she does suggest to Desdemona that she would consider cheating on Iago in exchange for a large reward. Emilia refused to keep silent, and that ultimately lead to her death. She exposed her husband’s evil plans which caused him to stab and kill her. Emilia’s refusal to stay quiet, disobedience of her husband, and possible infidelity all point to her being a wanton