Othello Feminist Analysis

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Feminist criticism interprets the relationship between genders; it does so by examining the patterns of their thoughts, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and the power one has within the relationship(s). William Shakespeare's play, Othello, tells the tragic love story between Othello of Morocco and Desdemona of Venice whose lives and marriage are sabotaged by a deceitful and envious soldier, Iago. A feminist viewing of Shakespeare’s play would best communicate the message that loyalty and betrayal hang in the balance of love.
The feminist literary criticism highlights the stereotypes attached to the representation of women, such representation could be chatty, playful, indecisive, and being dependent on others. Majority of the time women will …show more content…

Desdemona’s conversation with Brabantio shows the strength that she has a woman: “My noble father, / I do perceive 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 is my husband. / And as much duty as my mother showed / To you, preferring you before her father, / So much I challenge that I may profess / Due to the Moor my lord.” (1. 3. 208-218). With this being her most important speech within the entire play, Desdemona shows her powerful capacities as a woman. She is informing her father that she’s decided on remaining loyal to Othello as his wife and she’s unwilling to change her mind on that decision. Within the speech she compliments her father ways of raising her and shows appreciation of everything he’s done, therefore retaining the respect she has for him. Her persuasive speech was done with the purpose of convincing her father that she was not purposely trying to offend or hurt him, but also as a way to make others realize her actions were completely justified and should not be questioned by …show more content…

“So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, / A moth of peace, and he go to the war, / The rites for why I love him are bereft to me / And I a heavy interim shall support / By his dear absence. Let me go with him.”(1. 3. 290-294). The very last sentence in her speech conveys her resistance on her decision to go with Othello wherever he be, and it also comes to show how stubborn she really is. Instead of asking politely to remain at his side, she commands the Duke of Venice; thus showing the determination she had to get her way in this

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