The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading There are only three women in ‘Othello’: Desdemona‚ Emilia and Bianca. The way that these women behave and conduct themselves is undeniably linked to the ideological expectations of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan society and to the patriarchal Venetian society that he creates. These notes will explore some of the ways in which the female characters are presented in the play. Women as possessions Following his hearing of Brabantio’s complaint and Othello’s
Free Othello Iago Woman
Treanesha Dailey AP Lang/Comp -7th hour Othello Essay 1 April 2013 The Female Roles in Othello Each role that the women in Shakespeare’s Othello play illustrates different aspects of the female personality based off of the nature of their relationship. Desdemona plays the role of a woman who is dedicated to her marriage. Emilia role is of a woman trying to amend her faulty marriage‚ but eventually gives up having made a deeper connection with someone else. Bianca’s character is a representation
Premium Othello Iago Desdemona
The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading William Shakespeare’s "Othello” can be read from a feminist perspective. A feminist analysis of the play Othello allows us to judge the different social values and status of women in the Elizabethan society. Othello serves as an example to demonstrate the expectations of the Elizabethan patriarchal society‚ the practice of privileges in patriarchal marriages‚ and the suppression and restriction of femininity. According to Elizabethan or Shakespeare’s
Free Othello Iago Gender
Shakespeare’s "Othello" can be pursued from a feminist perspective. A woman’s comprehension of the play Othello grants us to judge the distinctive social qualities and status of women in the Elizabethan society. Othello serves as a case to demonstrate the goals of the Elizabethan patriarchal society‚ the act of benefits in patriarchal community‚ and the concealment and limitation of feminism. According to Elizabethan or Shakespeare’s overall population based upon Renaissance feelings‚ women were inferred
Premium Othello Iago Elizabethan era
Women have more rights and freedoms in today’s society than in previous eras. The lines between social classes are more relaxed‚ expectations have been lowered‚ and a woman speaking out has become more accepted. Today‚ women are allowed to do whatever men are. This‚ however‚ was not always the case. Take‚ for example‚ William Shakespeare’s play Othello. There are two main female characters in the play: Desdemona‚ Othello’s wife; and Emilia‚ Iago’s wife. Both of these women fit into a certain social
Free Othello Iago
Ideals of Women in Othello What is the ideal woman? The response to this by today’s society might differ to that of Renaissance society. In the Renaissance‚ women were seen as possessions. Their duty was to marry a man and show obedience and chastity. These expectations of women are shown in the play Othello‚ by William Shakespeare. In the play‚ the two prominent women‚ Desdemona and Emilia‚ both recognize the expectations of women at the time. However‚ the two women disagree in their views on
Premium Iago Othello William Shakespeare
As Othello is constantly being told his wife is unfaithful he begins to believe the notion that his wife is cheating and begins to become angry with her. He makes a comment towards the end of the play which illustrates the feelings he is developing for Desdemona and the actions he believes she is performing. He says‚ “Damn her‚ lewd minx! O‚ damn her!/ Come‚ go with me apart; I will withdraw‚/ To furnish me with some swift means of death/ For the fair devil” (3.3). Othello wanted to take
Premium White people Black people Race
Discuss the representation of women in the patriarchal world of Othello Shakespeare’s play‚ Othello‚ represents women as victims of the patriarchal society in which they live. Early modern England‚ founded on Christian theology‚ viewed women‚ daughters of Eve‚ as sexual temptresses who needed to be ruled over by men in order to have their innate tendency of lasciviousness restrained (Marriot 10). Consequently‚ social expectations were placed on women to be chaste‚ silent and gentle in demeanor
Free Othello Iago
Othello written by William Shakespeare is a very interesting and double-minded play. I chose the passage of Emilia’s speech to Desdemona not because it was odd but because Emilia stood out to me as a very opinionated woman. I wanted to work with it more closely because Emilia captured my attention with her slightly exaggerated opinions on men. I got a strong sense of inequality with this whole scene (4.3). Emilia thinks that it is the husbands’ fault for their wives to be cheating: “But I do
Premium Othello Iago William Shakespeare
female characters of Othello endure it is clear that Shakespearean society viewed women as lesser beings who existed only to serve the men in their lives‚ and who were supposed to subservient‚ submissive‚ pure and above all else obedient. Obedient to their husbands‚ father‚ brothers and all men. Patriarchal rule justified women’s subordination as the natural order because women were thought to be physiologically and psychologically inferior to men. Although the women in Othello are measured against
Premium Woman Gender Gender role