The Role Of Women in Shakespeare's Othello

The Role Of Women in Othello

In Shakespeare's Othello, as in most writings of his time, women are viewed as trophies or objects to capture the attention of men. I do not doubt that these men do love their wives, but the love, respect and admiration for their women is much different that of our time. It seems modern women are much more capable of having what could be known as an "equal opportunity" marriage. In the days of sacred virginity, and honesty of one's word, well off women such as Desdemona were not given responsibility. Women in her position sat back and left the work up to their men and their servants. In due time they were given respect and admiration, and were seen as angels to be loved and cared for, but what does this really matter when one is unable to care for themselves, or have the power to accomplish without being told that someone supposedly more powerful will take care of it for them? I feel that this misogyny and sexism is eternal and even now, our world suffers from it. Many say this has to do with the "times" and the period in which Shakespeare was writing. But still, in these times as many others, there were people even then, that knew that misogyny and sexism were wrong, and must be changed. Unfortunately, it was not a general consensus.

In this play, the roles of women are perfectly laid out. There's the well off good girl, the cute middle class girl who waits on the well to do girl. Then at the bottom of it all, there is the prostitute, slut that every man and boy has fantasized about. So in essence, men have it all in this play, every major fantasy, war, violence, and betrayal. So we see who Shakespeare’s writings catered to. ...

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...!" They depend on their love for their husbands, and their husbands use it as power against them, abusing the ideals of trust and morality. (P.165)

Another issue that most do not deal with when it comes to writings like Shakespeare is the language used towards certain genres of people, especially women. In many occasions do male characters in this play call women "wenches" (p.139) or "wreches" (p.123). Then the men (Othello) say things like "Nor from mine own weak merits will draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, For she had eyes, and chose me." (p.131) Men are praise when they do the slightest of "gentlemanly" acts, but never punished for speaking badly towards women. There needs to be some sort of revolt or revolution for these women and they would not be trapped in situations where they are not comfortable with themselves or their surroundings.