Othello is known as a man that respects those who surround him, including women. His counterpart in the play, Brabantio, does not hold anywhere near that same respect for women. Yet Shakespeare still decides to create significant parallels between them. By having Brabantio and Othello mirror each other, Shakespeare is able to illustrate how men will use stereotypical behavior in order to maintain their reputation and establish power over women.
In this case that woman is Desdemona, the lovely daughter of Brabantio and the wife of Othello. The first major parallel that comes up is Desdemona being referred to as a possession. When Brabantio confronts Othello he asks him where he has stowed his daughter (I.ii.80-81). Desdemona is just a precious object in
…show more content…
Brabantio’s life.
He refers to Desdemona in the same manner that someone would refer to a crown jewel or gold. Another example is when Brabantio is on the senate floor. He accuses Othello that he has “abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted [Desdemona]” (I.iii.73). When saying that Desdemona has been stolen from him, Brabantio implies that he regards her as a token possession—one that he holds dear and near to his heart—that has been ripped away from him. He does not look at Desdemona as a human being, she is just property. Othello gets to this point as well. In Act III, Othello is saying he rather be a toad and live in a dungeon than “keep a corner in the thing I love for others’ uses” (III.iii.313-314). There are two key words in Othello’s statement that shows how much he has reverted back into a mindset of a stereotypical male, those words being thing and uses. When a person is referring to something as a thing or something that is used, that thing is not likely to be a human being and more likely to be an object. However, Othello is referring directly to
Desdemona at this point. He has sunk to the level of no longer regarding Desdemona as an actual human being and rather as an object that is used for the pleasure of others. Out of fear both Brabantio and Othello create an environment where Desdemona would not even have a chance of undermining their power or reputations. Even though Desdemona has never given them evidence to do this, Brabantio and Othello value their reputations too much to risk it. The second major parallel is that Brabantio and eventually Othello accuse Desdemona of deceiving them, when in fact she has done nothing wrong. There are two times that Brabantio accuses Desdemona of this. The first time occurs when he discovers that Desdemona has left the house without his permission and he has feeling that he has lost all control over her. This feeling leads him to believe that Desdemona has become dishonest towards him (I.i.184-185). The second and final time that Brabantio accuses Desdemona is in front of her face on the senate floor. This is after Desdemona chooses Othello over her father. He responds by saying bluntly that she has “deceived her father” (I.iii.334). Brabantio does this as one last low blow he can get in towards Desdemona and Othello in order to keep some piece of his reputation alive and well. It is in Act IV when Othello reaches this low point. He is arguing with Desdemona because he is convinced that Desdemona is having an affair. Eventually it gets to the point where he accuses Desdemona as being “false as hell” (IV.ii.48). By having Desdemona put into a position where she has been wrongly accused of being deceitful, it makes it much easier for Brabantio and Othello especially to establish power because they have put Desdemona in a position where she doesn’t want to upset the men she cares about, so she goes along with what they tell her to do. The final major parallel is the theme of Desdemona being silenced by both her father and her husband. When on the senate floor in Venice, Brabantio describes Desdemona as “still and quiet in her motion” (I.iii.113). The same description fits a statue. He is essentially confessing that Desdemona does not have a voice when under his roof. Brabantio then attempts to form Desdemona’s opinions later in Act I. When Desdemona is about to speak for herself he tries to persuade her to say that her obedience lies with him (I.iii.207). By attempting to silence his daughter, it gave Brabantio a chance to do two things. First he had a chance at keeping the power structure he had implemented at home in check. Secondly, he needed to at least try not to have his entire reputation destroyed in front of the senate by his daughter. Neither of the two attempts to silence Desdemona really worked out in his favor. However, they did work for Othello. He uses the same words as Brabantio telling Desdemona in an argument to “be still” (V.ii.56). Desdemona is once again in a position where she is told to be silent and once again refuses to be. This is when Othello takes it upon himself to silence Desdemona in death by smothering her with a pillow (V.ii.105). By being the one to ultimately silence Desdemona, Othello is finally able to establish the power structure he believed that he needed. There is one main reason that Othello resorts to this oppressive behavior: his reputation is on the line. Had a rumor started that the great general of Venice had been cuckolded, Othello’s reputation would diminish within the day. In order to prevent this from happening, he begins to treat Desdemona as if she is a war. Othello feels as if he needs Desdemona to be in a position of weakness. He has personally witnessed Brabantio use the tactic of silencing and belittling Desdemona work when it comes to creating a successful power structure. By resorting to the same stereotypical male behavior Desdemona’s father uses, Othello is able to successfully establish a position of power and keep his reputation as the great and mighty general of Venice intact.
In William Shakespeare’s Othello, unspoken fears of being an outsider and concerns about his public image contribute to the downfall of a tragic hero named Othello. Othello, a general in the Venetian army’s, final monologue reflects the importance of reputation and the conformity needed to fit his surroundings. He is seen as an outsider of the Venetian culture; he is frequently referred to as “the Moor” and is called an abundance of racial slurs by the Venice born natives. Although Othello never voices his internal struggle to feel accepted by the people around him, his image and physical appearance are some of major issues he faces. Even in the moments before he stabs himself, Othello is more concerned with the legacy he is leaving behind than with the death of his wife, Desdemona. Shakespeare uses Othello’s transformation from a heroic military soldier to a tragic figure to warn of the dangers of obsessing over one’s reputation and the need to feel accepted by society.
Othello was a noble gentleman and was known for his greatness. He never compared people to animals or used animals in his everyday language. This changed once Iago began to manipulate and lie to him. As Othello’s character changed from good to evil, he started to use animal imagery. After Iago planted more lies about Desdemona and her relationships with Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, Othello said to himself, “O curse of marriage, that we can call these delicate creatures ours and not their appetites! I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of the dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others’ uses” (III, iii, 270-5). In this quote Othello is talking very negatively about his wife Desdemona. He says to himself that he would rather be a toad, than stay in a relationship with Desdemona. This show’s how his love for Desdemona slowly
Othello is a play that asks us to examine the position of women in society. This play explores issues such as clandestine marriage, accusations of adultery, and it includes three different social classes of women. First, we have Desdemona, this is a woman from a noble family in Venice and has the least amount of freedom. Her behavior was watched very carefully. The perception of Desdemona is created by the language that other characters use to describe her. In Act 2, Scene 1, Cassio refers to Desdemona as ‘a maid/That paragons description and wild fame’; that she
Othello is a man of romantic nature. He fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter.
In the novel Othello, written by William Shakespeare, there are a variety of ways in which women are portrayed. There are strong willed women such as Emilia, who stands up to the men, especially to her husband. If he is wrong she would openly admit that he is incorrect. There are also women who are thought to be a possession as well as extremely submissive to their husbands such as Desdemona. She is the type of woman that will obey her husband to the day she dies. Desdemona believes that her husband is always right and he will never do anything that will lead her into the wrong direction. Many of the women in this time thought the same way. They are viewed as house workers, cooks, and teachers to the children. In addition to those qualities women obtain, having no authority in marriages is also added to the list. In this novel, there is judgment against women because they are “unequal” to men. They are not allowed to do the same as men for the reason that they do not possess the same qualities as men. Men were considered to be superior to women. Women were treated as their “slaves.” In contrast, today’s time women now have power. They have the right to vote, run for office, and even work outside their homes. Women now play the part as the male and female figure in the households. They are considered independent women, not relying on a male figure. Even if they are married now, they do not listen to everything that their husbands tell them to do. It states in the Bible that a male figure is the head of the households; however women today have strayed away from that view that they had back then. They want to be the dominate figure. Times have really changed from the past to the present. W...
Emilia, one of only three female characters in Shakespeare’s Othello, plays a vital role both thematically and in the advancement of the play’s plot. Although her blind loyalty to her husband turns the wheels of this tragedy, it is not a static quality throughout it. When examining the gender roles in the world of this play, the change in Emilia’s allegiances, which determine her actions, reveals the divergence between duty and integrity for women. Throughout most of the play, Emilia is loyal to a fault. She remains subservient to Iago until her duty to him causes her to betray the one she has to her friend and mistress, Desdemona. After becoming cognizant of her involvement in Iago’s villainy, Emilia abandons all loyalty she previously held to patriarchal forces and is motivated exclusively by morality and dedication to Desdemona.
Desdemona is a prime example of how being accused of doing something immoral managed to change the connotation in which Othello thought of her. Othello’s anger towards Desdemona can be seen the way he talks and treats her after he believed to have found concrete evidence of her adultery, “O curse of marriage, That we can call these delicate creatures ours, And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad, …'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: Even then this forked plague is fated to us when we do quicken” (III.iii.273-292). Once Othello believes Desdem...
Brabantio also endeavours into placing a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind as a result of his jealousy. Consequentially Brabantio objectifies Desdemona when he states, “Where has thou stow’d my daughter?” exemplifying how he deems her as a possession, which can be stolen like any other. Othello prolongs this objectification through asserting that he “won his daughter” portraying Desdemona as a prize to be won, and a possession to be owned and argued over by husband and father. Desdemona is depicted early on in the play as the “angel” wi... ...
The portrayal of gender roles in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, demonstrates the inferior treatment of women and the certain stereotypes of men placed on them by society. Both the male and female characters in the play have these certain gender expectations placed on them. In a society dominated by men, it is understood that the women are to be seen rather than heard. The women are referred to and treated much like property. If indeed they do speak up, they are quickly silenced. One woman’s attempt to be the perfect wife is what ultimately led to her demise. The expectations of men are equally stereotypical. Men are to be leaders and to be in control and dominant especially over the women. The male characters compete for position and use the female characters in the play as leverage to manipulate each other. Shakespeare provides insight in understanding the outcomes of the men and women who are faced with the pressures of trying to live up to society’s expectations, not only in the workplace, but also in the home. The pressure creates jealousy issues amongst the men and they become blind to the voice of reason and are overtaken by jealous rage, leads to the death of many of the characters.
During the Elizabethan era women had a status of subordination towards men. They had a role to marry and oblige to their husband’s wishes. Shakespearean literature, especially illustrates how a woman is psychologically and physically lesser to their male counterpart. The play, Othello, uses that aspect in many different ways. From a Feminist lens others are able to vividly examine how women were subjected to blatant inferiority. Being displayed as tools for men to abuse, women were characterized as possessions and submissive; only during the last portion of the play did the power of women take heed.
In Greek, Desdemona means ‘the unfortunate’, perhaps reflecting an ideology that she is not meant to be liked, merely pitied for her misfortune as a tragic victim (commonly defined as someone who dies due to the faults of others). Throughout Othello, Desdemona is presented as pure and innocent – in regards to this, Auden’s comment is unusual as Desdemona is seldom criticised; indeed many critics are complementary, giving her titles such as ‘gentle Desdemona’.
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 meant to be wives and to obey their husbands. Furthermore the act of marriage was described as a purchase, as seen in Act II when Othello says to Desdemona 'The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue' (II.3.8-9), A woman is purchased by her husband and in turn is expected to fulfill his desires as payment for the privilege of being married to him.
In Othello men see women as objects to control, first by their father, and then by their husband. When Iago yells to Brabantio, telling him his daughter has gone off to marry Othello, he yells "Thieves, thieves! / Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! / Thieves, thieves!" (Othello I.i.79-80). Othello has taken away Brabantio's property, his daughter, and is called a thief because of it. Desdemona refuses to be treated like property, however and makes "A gross revolt, / tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes" (Othello I.i.134-135) to Othello. Her marriage to Othello is not an act of a free woman, but a revolt by Brabantio's property. Desdemona is also incapable of independent feelings or thoughts. Othello must have "Enchanted her" (Othello I.ii.63), "In chains of magic" (Othello I.ii.65), because she could never make such a choice on her own. In Brabantio's mind, only he can know what is in Desdemona's best interest and then choose it for her. Brabantio tries to guard her, but Desdemona has "Run from her guardage" (Othello I.ii.70). In Othello the culture of the time treats women as objects to be guarded and watched over, too tender and gentle to fend for themselves in a dang...
During the Shakespearean time women were treated as inferiors. The three women in Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca encountered many degrading and unfortunate situations. They were to be obedient. The women had to comply with the commands, orders, and the instructions of the men. Women were made to believe that they had no rights. The men would publicly humiliate the three women. It was difficult for the women to stand up for themselves due to that time in society. In Shakespeare’s play Othello, he portrayed the three women to be viewed as obedient, loyal, and submissive to their husbands.
Desdemona is portrayed as the highest class a female could accomplish. She is elegant, honest and loyal to her husband as any other good Elizabethan married woman would be. She is presented as the ideal woman. Desdemona symbolizes innocence and helplessness against men. Shakespeare presents Desdemona as a mature and knowledgeable woman for her age as she defends her love for Othello to her father, Brabantio. However this is seen differently in the eye's of the society. Brabantio declares her as "Against all rules of nature"(scene.. line...). This statement reveals what the society believes what is natural and what is unnatural. To the society, "natural" is when a women complies to their husbands and fathers wishes, but it's unnatural for a women to do anything else. Women are referred to as property, clearly stated when Desdemona's father angrily calls Othello a "theif" (scene...line..). Here, Brabantio addresses Desde...