Women In Othello

She is then disowned by Barbantio with no further words directed to her by him but is referenced as a liar and should be kept on watch for her conniving ways by him towards Othello. Which then begins Shakespeare’s in depth writing on Othello and Desdemona’s relationship where she is as “a child to chiding” (4.2.119-120). Not even a moment after her father leaves Othello commands Iago to tell his wife, Emilia, to tend to Desdemona as a babysitter. Irony occurs within (2.1.169-171) where Desdemona challenges Iago and stands as an independent woman for Emilia objecting to his conclusion, that women no matter how beautiful or intelligent play the same “foul pranks”. However, as Othello’s jealousy and rage arises throughout the play it seems as her character has to fight even harder to breathe under his control; symbolic for her death of suffocation. Desdemona is a gentle women living under her love’s control with no power to object even if she had opposed this type of controlling relationship. As a higher class woman she had more power and respect over other women characters such as Emilia or Bianca, but is this dominance enough to feel in control of oneself? It is believed that Shakespeare added the 2 other

When one sacrifices their independence and sense of self-worth in order to appease another, they quickly lose sight of their true self and original intentions. This idea is thoroughly explored in William Shakespeare’s “Othello” as Desdemona, an upper class member of Venetian society, deliberately surrenders her freedoms and independence as an individual after marrying Othello, a Moor general of the Venetian Army. While Desdemona and Othello maintain a respectful and equal relationship at the beginning of the play, Othello soon begins to treat Desdemona in a cold-hearted and vindictive manner. Desdemona’s value of the institution of marriage above her own personal well-being leads her to sacrifice her once strong held values of independence,

“Othello” begins in middle of an argument between Roderigo and Iago. Desdemona and Othello’s wedding is the main topic of their argument. Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who is treated as a possession of her father, Brabantio, but by marrying an outsider Othello, she goes against the tradition of venetian custom which she is expected to marry a rich man to maintain her family’s honour. Iago reports Brabantio that his daughter is being stolen by Othello. “Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves, thieves!” (1.1. 76). This quote depicts how unmarried women were treated back in 16’s century. However, while everyone in the play thinks that Othello has stolen Desdemona to marry him, Desdemona speaks herself to prove that she truly loves Othello. “That I love the Moor to love with him” (1.3. 246). Also, she even asks for her permission to go to Cyprus with Othello because she can’t stand the thought of remaining at home, which doesn’t have any adventure. There is a comparison between her social class and her

In the play ‘Othello’ written by William Shakespeare, we see not only the main male character leads. But we also see the female characters, Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. These three women were portrayed in ways that showed them being inferior to the other male roles as well as society during the Elizabethan Era. But Shakespeare made each of these individual ladies characteristics quite unique to one another having the traits of a feminist. Even though in the play we read how the male characters did somewhat control them and made them look weak compared to them, there were moments where Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca stood up for themselves.

Shakespeare's Desdemona is a sweet, naive victim. Othello does not have money, beauty or good manners, but to Desdemona, he is perfect. She loves him for what he is. She respects him, as well. Desdemona is a loyal spouse who will do absolutely anything for her husband. Emilia tries to teach the innocent Desdemona about the evils of life. Carefully watching over her, Emilia constantly tries to warn her that jealousy is a "monster." She is not at all afraid of men and does not think twice about defending Desdemona's honor to the raging Othello.

Brabantio’s rage, among other reasons, necessitate that Desdemona live with Iago and Emilia during the Moor’s campaign in Cyprus against the Turks. While awaiting the arrival of Othello’s ship at the seaport of Cyprus, Desdemona shows herself an intelligent, educated debater. She grows tired of Iago’s derogatory comments directed at his wife, and she quite matter-of-factly states her mind: “O, fie upon thee, slanderer!” She continues to critique the ancient’s answers to her questions:  “These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh i' the alehouse” and “O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best.” She is not fearful or reticent in the least.

In order to succeed requires taking chances. Taking chances requires courage. Many are held back from expressing their courage because of what society has shaped civilians. Women, especially, are entitled with fragile or emotionally unstable compared to men. Therefore, women rely heavily on men in order to achieve happiness. However, Mary Wollstonecraft, a feminist who wrote From a Vindication of the Rights of Women, who beliefs are opposite from society believed that all women have the full potential to do the same challenges as men. Having said that the play Othello, by William Shakespeare, only has three female characters throughout the play which can conclude how women are overshadowed by men.

Desdemona symbolizes innocence and helplessness against men. Shakespeare presents Desdemona as a mature and knowledgeable woman for her age which is shown when she defends her love for Othello to her father, Brabantio. However this is seen differently in the eye's of the society at the time compared to present times. Brabantio declares her as "Against all rules of nature" (1.3). This statement reveals what the society believes what is natural and what is unnatural. To Venetian society at the time, "natural" is when a women complies to their husbands and fathers wishes, and it would be unnatural if they did not do so. Women are referred to as property, which is stated when Desdemona's father angrily calls Othello a "thief" (1.2). In the court of the Duke of Venice the male characters have an extensive colloquy that does to a great extent objectify the character of Desdemona. She is weak in the sense that she is unable to defend herself against her husband’s claims or his anger at the end of her life. She is also unable to realize that it is her behavior towards Cassio which is further contributing to Othello’s anger. She does not seem to think about her actions; instead she simply behaves exactly how Iago thinks she will based off her predictable women nature. This lack of critical thinking on her part may have contributed to her demise. The male characters showing their contempt

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, we witness Desdemona, one of the main characters, go through a sequence of emotions that really furthers the play. Women of the time were taught to respect their husbands no matter what and that can lead to a point where they don’t know how to return to making their own decisions. Desdemona has been taught to respect her husband without fail, which leads her to being so naive that she can’t think of herself even when she is dying. Throughout the story, Desdemona’s respect for Othello progresses from a normal amount to an amount that is enough to kill her.

“I do think it is their husbands’ faults / if wives do fall,” Emilia says to Desdemona the night of their murders (4.3.82-83). However Desdemona goes and passively takes blame and only Emilia follows her ideology and fights back against the men. While both characters have their own distinct personalities, their choices boil mostly down their contrary senses of loyalty and justice. In Shakespeare’s Othello, although Emilia and Desdemona are both characterized as loyal and judicious, through their differing statuses, opinions of men, and trust in their husbands, Shakespeare shows Emilia to be more honorable.

Desdemona’s action, instead of asking her father’s permission, eloped with the Moor, Othello, is another form of social transgressive action. It seems she denies her father any right in choosing or granting, instead she decides in her own, to marry Othello. This act of independence illustrates Desdemona’s transgression to perform her role as daughter, and reflects icons of masculine which is considered as “incorrect” gender performance. Marrying Othello has also proved that Desdemona breaks the social norms of women’s passivity during her time.

In Shakespeare’s play “Othello” the main characters Othello and Desdemona suffer a tragic fate due to their actions and unforeseen circumstances. A majority of Desdemona’s suffering is down to Iago’s manipulation. However, it could also be argued that Iago is not completely to blame for the misfortune of Desdemona. We as the readers can see evidence of this at certain points in the play where Iago has planted the seeds of despair and Desdemona and Othello have fallen for his plans. In this essay, I will look at key moments in the play where Desdemona is presented as a tragic victim by the writer and justify why she is a tragic victim using quotes from the play.

She continues on to explain that men and women also share the same desires and affections, but the only difference is men are weaker mentally. This conversation takes place privately and Emilia does not

The male characters of the play view women in varied ways. Cassio often idealizes Desdemona, praising her positive characteristics, even believing that she is "perfection" (2.3.25). Iago's attitude towards women is largely critical and negative. He tells Emilia that women are "pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds" (2.1.111-114), meaning that women are often deceptive. He later says, "She never yet was foolish that was fair, For even her folly helped her to an heir" (2.1.137-138). Iago's cynical attitude towards women continues throughout the play, as he talks of women as being foolish and unfaithful creatures. Othello's views on women are more complex than Iago's. Othello loves and praises Desdemona often in the play. He tells Iago, "But that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and

Desdemona can easily be seen to embody an example of the perfect women in an Elizabethan society, being beautiful, obedient, and high born. Her submissive nature is often seen through her own lines in the play, for example “I am obedient” (III.3.89) and her statement in act 4 when Othello tells her to go to bed she replies with “I will, my lord” (IV.3.9). She continues to comply throughout the play, and even in her last moment she lies for her husband saying that she took her own life. Emilia is the female character who’s strength is more obvious than the rest, shown by her open willingness to betray her husband even though she is aware of that it is not the proper thing to do. “Tis proper I obey him, but not now” (V.2.195). However she