More handpicked essays just for you.
Portrayal of women in the play othello
How were women portrayed in othello
Portrayal of women in the play othello
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Shakespeare has written some of the most outstanding pieces of literature through out history that have lasted through out the ages. But, critics often critique Shakespeare as being sexist towards women in his work. He often portrays them as weak minded, evil, or as sexual objects. Ophelia, Queen Gertrude, Lady Macbeth, and Juliet Capulet are just a few female heroines that are accused of being feeble or heinous. Shakespeares Othello represents Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca as weak characters that do not become triumphant by the end of the play. While they have ardous intentions, none of them ever defend themselves. Desdemona is a passive victim who lets Othello abuse her, Emilia allows herself to be abused by Iago, and Bianca lets Cassio take Desdemona demonstrates weakness in her love for Othello and by taking his abuse. At the beginning of the play, Desdemona feels she must accompany Othello to Cyprus in war. This can be looked at as her being a strong woman, but she truly is not since the real reason she wants to go is because she can not be seperated from Othello. "If I be left behind A moth of peace and he go to the war, The rites for which I love him are bereft me,And I a heavy interim shall support by his dear absence. Let me go with him." (Act 1, scene 3, line 250) She feels that she loves him so much, she can not be alone or without him. This is a trait of the stereotypical damsel. When Othello hits her in public, she does not get angry with him but begins to cry. " 'Tis very much.Make her amends, she While she does have good intentions through out parts of the play and is a kind hearted woman, she never defends herself to her diabolical husband. Iago constantly makes hateful and degrading insults towards Emilia. "Come on, come on. You are pictures out of door, bells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds." (Act 2 scene 1 line 119) Not once does she ever defend herself. In fact, she is nothing but eager to please her husband to win his affection. "I nothing but to please his fantasy" (Act 3 scene 3 Line 343) She betrays her friendship with by stealing her handkerchief and gives it to Iago hoping to satisfy him. This utterly fails leaving Emilia with the desire to continue to try to please him. "Who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't" (Act 4, Scene 3, line 85) She is a representation of an abused woman who does not have enough self respect to defend herself. It is evident she makes herself a slave to Iago by consistently trying to make him happy despite his malevolent behaviour. Emilias lack of self confidence and passiveness proves that the women in Othello are powerless and
In Othello, Act IV, scene ii and iii, Emilia, Iago’s wife, reveals her opinion about relationships to the reader as she attempts to comfort Desdemona. She indefinitely believes that many men, as well as women, are frequently guilty of deception and betrayal of their partner. By this part of the play, Othello’s suspicions of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness have greatly increased, and he begins to accuse her of cheating on him. When Desdemona persistently denies his accusations, Othello becomes enraged. He sarcastically asks for her pardon and claims that he took her to be the “cunning whore of Venice” (Act IV, scene ii, line 88). Desdemona is heartbroken by her husband’s mockery and seeks Emilia’s kind words.
Throughout the play Othello is convinced by Iago that Desdemona has had an affair with Cassio, when really Iago is trying to bring as much misery into Othello’s life as he possibly can. At one point Othello, Desdemona, and a few others are talking with Desdemona’s cousin and everything that Desdemona says helps to convince Othello that she is in love with Cassio. Eventually Othello gets mad enough and slaps her in which she reacts in a much different manner than most women of that time period would have. “Othello: I am glad to see you mad. Desdemona: Why, sweet Othello - Othello:Devil! [Strikes her.] Desdemona: I have not deserved this (4,1,217-220).” This is not the only time we see Desdemona tell Othello that he is wrong in his actions. Later, in act four, he calls her a “whore” and accuses her of sleeping around and rather than taking the heat and dealing with the verbal abuse Desdemona speaks out. “Othello:...Impudent strumpet! Desdemona: By heaven, you do me wrong! (4,2,81-82).” Desdemona tries throughout the rest of the play to convince Othello that she is faithful to him and loves him, but as hard much as she tries Othello does not believes any of it and ends up killing her. Shakespeare has made this very vocal female character to show women that even if they were to speak their mind and try to defend themselves no man would ever believe
First, in order to defend Desdemona's chastity, Emilia challenges the societal norm of silence. Recall the incident when Othello calls Desdemona a "whore" for cheating. In response, Emilia protests loudly against Othello and attempts to disprove his belief that Desdemona is not chaste: "A halter pardon him [Othello]! And hell gnaw his bones! / Why should he call her [Desdemona] whore? (4.2. 143,144). Instead of Emilia conforming to the attribute of Renaissance women as silent, she condemns Othello for his false accusations against her mistress, Desdemona. Later in the play, after finding Desdemona killed, Emilia challenges silence again: "As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed-... / The Moor hath killed my mistress!" (5.2. 171,174). Although Othello tells Emilia that it would be "best" for her to remain silent, she ignores his request and ridicules him for killing "sweet" Desdemona (5.2. 169).
Many may say Emilia was not aware of how she is supposed to treat by her husband conversely, a comment made by her states otherwise. “Tis proper I obey him, but not now’ (Shakespeare V.ii.195). Towards the end of the story she explains to Othello how her husband asked her to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona She clearly states she know it is the right to obey her husband, but she was not going to support him in his wrong. She is one of the few in this time period to disobey their husband. Emilia is not the type of wife to support him in his wrong-doing. She stands up to her husband.
Emilia, while lying next to her best friend on her deathbed, began to suppress her passive nature and attempts persecute the murderer. Nonetheless, the only woman who stood up for herself got killed in the end by her own husband. Othello and Iago’s wives were thought to be disloyal to their husband, while only one of them was correct in this accusation, Desdemona and Emilia were both murdered by the people they pledged their allegiance to. But, Emilia was the only woman who denounced the authority men had over women and compares the qualities of both men and women. She is fully aware of the gender
While there have been a great number of changes in the world since Shakespeare wrote Othello, there are a few truths about humanity and society that remain true. Othello is notorious for it’s examination of race, but is not given enough credit for its observations of gender. Iago embodies masculine gender roles in a severe and exaggerated way, allowing his desire for proving his masculinity to corrupt him morally. Iago then turns and uses his own fears of inadequacy against Othello as the root of his revenge and to improve his own self-image. Desdemona is hurt most by the need for gender roles, which ultimately ends up in her death. The characters in Othello are severely harmed by the gender roles they feel the need to adhere to.
In the end, we can conclude that Shakespeare used a very conservative world view in his play, “Othello”. Using the characters of Othello, Desdemona, and Iago, Shakespeare reinforced the stereotypes of his time. In conclusion, gender expectations have greatly impacted the outcome of Shakespeare’s play, “Othello”, because the script of the play has reinforced the stereotypes such as girls who resist their fathers die, women who marry different race, class, and cultures die, and women who decide their own destiny die at the end. Through “Othello”, Shakespeare portrays women in a patriarchal system, and the result of the play is the consequences of gender disruptions. Therefore, there is no doubt that the gender expectations placed on both male and female characters have greatly impacted the outcome of Shakespeare’s play “Othello”.
During the Shakespearean times, 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.
Emilia is not necessarily naïve nor is she stretching her reach often. She shows respect to her husband Iago despite disagreeing with him “Emilia steals the handkerchief for the sake of Iago’s “fantasy” (III.iii.303) and assures the success of his plot.” (140). She is loyal and kind to her lady Desdemona and gracefully takes on situations. Still Emilia is prudent “She rejects identification with Bianca yet sympathizes with female promiscuity. She corrects Desdemona’s occasional naivety but defends her chastity.” (Neely.140) Bianca so there is clear understanding why Emilia does not associate with her. Still Emilia shows empathy to the lady’s situation she does not turn a blind eye and snub her. With Desdemona, she is quick to offer advice and encourage right actions. She shows toleration and kindness to both ladies, even with the men she has a measured reaction for most of the play. Emilia isn’t blind to the situations facing both the girls still “Although she comprehends male jealousy and espouses sexual equality, she seems remarkably free of jealousy herself.” (Neely.
The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society where women are only recognized as property; objects to own and to bear children. Women in the Elizabethan society and in Shakespeare society were not seen as equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, be respectful, and to not go against their husbands judgements or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia , and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan time where they were judged based on their class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare makes his female characters act the way they would be expected to act in an Elizabethan society. The role of these women in Othello is crucial because they show how women were treated and how unhealthy their relationships between men really were in both Elizabethan and Shakespeare's society.
Global feminine icon Ani DiFranco once stated, “Feminism is self-determination, and it's very open-ended: every woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do.” Commonly throughout history and in society women are viewed as inferior to their male companions, and individuals frequently say that the world functions as a male- dominated society. Over the years the idea of feminism, or the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of society, has sparked interest in the female population, and women are often found standing up for what they believe in and not falling custom to adhering to the male population. DiFranco’s quote depicts the morals of feminism, as it supports how women have evolved into an ever powerful force that has become custom to influencing society. Author William Shakespeare agreed with DiFranco’s ideals, even when residing during the Elizabethan era where society was male dominated. In his novel, Othello, he uses the courage of the women in his literature to depict how women should be treated, and to contrast from how little respect they once obtained. The society in Shakespeare’s Othello is strongly dominated by men who are the political and military leaders of their homeland during the Elizabethan era. These men are expected to stay loyal to their reputations and to uphold the strong sense of character that earned them their positions in the first place. In contrast, during the Elizabethan period of time women were viewed as weak second-class citizens and inferior to males, with their only job being to serve their men. Shakespeare’s views of these expectations are contrary to the standard view of women’s roles during his play, for he demonstrates his malaise over the way gender relationsh...
Masculinity and the male-dominated Venetian society play a major role in Othello's jealousy. During the sixteenth century, men typically ruled society, especially in Italy. Women were typically submissive. Desdemona and Emilia, the two main women in the play, are both benevolent figures. Desdemona must deal with Othello's jealousy and Emilia must deal with Iago and all of his hatred. The gender roles can be clearly noticed during the interactions between Desdemona and her father and between her and Othello. Desdemona is berated for going behind her father's back and marrying her love. She is scolded and branded as a whore by Othello despite doing anything wrong. This culture creates social tensions that "produce the masculine subject"
...irl she always, throughout the end of the play, tends to bow down to her lord with no opposition showing the claim of her character being nothing more than an object for the men in the play to use as a slave with no pay as well as a consistent source of sexual desires.
As a wife during this time, Emilia is viewed as her husband’s property, and therefore should carry out his every whim. Emilia is fully aware of her duties to her husband, and remains loyal to him, but also feels an intense loyalty to her mistress and friend, Desdemona. Once these loyalties conflict, Emilia must choose between her husband and her friend. At first, Emilia is suspicious of Iago’s intentions with Desdemona’s handkerchief, asking, “What will you do with ‘t, that you have been so/ earnest/ To have me filch it?” (3.3.360-362), but inevitability resolves to give him the handkerchief in order to carry out his will and fulfill her duties as a wife. Emilia understands that Iago only uses her in order to perform such tasks, and generalizes this idea to all men, stating that, “They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;/ They eat us hungerly, and when they are full/ They belch us” (3.3.121-123). Regardless of how men behave, Emilia still continues to carry out their will as she understands her role as a woman in relation to men. However, her falter in Emilia’s loyalty to Desdemona ultimately causes her mistress’s death. Emilia, in realizing her mistake far too late, denounces her loyalty to her husband by exposing him as the villainous snake he truly is. In doing this, Emilia brings forth her own death by the hand of her horrid husband. However, Emilia redeems herself as a loyal friend
In conclusion, throughout the play, Emilia remained obedient and maintained her role as a wife, yet her duty as a woman became more important when her husband deceived and destroyed innocent lives. As Emilia's outspoken behavior and passionate voice grew stronger throughout the play, so should the women of Shakespeare's time. During the time of Shakespeare's tunnel-vision Renaissance England, women progressed very slowly towards a more equal position in society. Men were frightened of strong women and thus, just as Iago killed Emilia, attempted to keep them silent and in a subordinate position meant to discourage advancement. With Shakespeare as an advocate for women's voices, Emilia is able to be looked at with pride and honor rather than ridicule and disgust.