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Unjust Standards Of Women In Othello

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Unjust Standards Of Women In Othello
While the role of women in society is a very controversial topic, we can all agree that the theme of “a perfect wife” is one that goes back centuries, but over time it has changed a great deal. During William Shakespeare's time, also known as the 16th century, women did not have the same freedoms they do today. The “perfect wife” was one who was soft-spoken, obedient, and knew that their main purpose in life was to serve men. In William Shakespeare’s Othello, Shakespeare criticizes the unjust standards that were set for women, and their devotion and perceived inferiority to men. Shakespeare shows the unjust standards for women through Desdemona, who is considered “the perfect wife”. Desdemona is a soft-spoken and obedient Venetian beauty who understands that her purpose is to serve the men in her life. When Desdemona is not devoted to serving her father anymore, she is now obedient to Othello, which leaves her with little time to do anything else, but she gladly accepts it. For example, after Othello yells and Desdemona and slaps her, she still replies with the submissive “My lord?” (4,1,81) when he calls her back. This shows that no matter what the circumstances, a perfect wife during this time knew it was her duty to remain firm in her love for her husband. After this, Desdemona tries to figure …show more content…
Shakespeare, along with his audience, understand the unjust roles of women at this time. This theme throughout the book is hinting at feminism, which is a major topic of our current society. In modern society, we know that men and women are equals and they deserve the same rights and freedoms, but this was an absurd thought in Shakespeare’s time. The role of women has come a long way since Shakespeare’s time, but it will always be a topic of
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