Explore the different attitudes towards women in Othello

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Unit 2

Shakespeare’s Othello

Emma Marshall

Explore the different attitudes towards women in the play.

‘Othello’ by William Shakespeare is considered as one of his most well known tragedies.  In the play, there are many types of jealousy explored through love, hate and deceit.  There are three main female characters, Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca, each of them having distinctly symbolic roles in the play.   Desdemona is Othello’s loving dutiful wife and symbolizes purity and fidelity.  Iago’s wife, Emilia, shows frustration and assertiveness while Bianca the court prostitute or courtesan symbolizes sin and ignorance.  Shakespeare characterises the three women through their words and actions and in turn develops their character, showing the attitudes that the other characters have toward them.

Desdemona is a young Venetian woman of high birth.  Her father Brabantio is a wealthy senator and renowned resident of Venice.  She is married to Othello and is loyal, faithful and passionately loves him.  In the play Desdemona is charged with adultery by her true love and husband Othello.  Through the evil doings caused by Iago, Othello’s ancient, Othello believes that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, his lieutenant.  Desdemona considers Cassio a friend and when Othello and Cassio come to blows she defends Cassio and attempts guarantee his lieutenancy, only to fuel Othello’s beliefs of their alleged affair.  Othello eventually strips Cassio of his title and gives the honour of the lieutenancy position to Iago.  Othello eventually kills Desdemona because of her (alleged) unfaithfulness.  It is ironic that this happens as she loves Othello enough to betray her own Father and can not understand why he believes these lies about her.  In her last words she says

                                        “A guiltless death I die”                                                                                  (Act 5, Scene2, 121)

Desdemona is blameless, yet as she dies tragically she is still so devoted to Othello that she denies that he will killed her.  Desdemona chose to elope with Othello over many other worthy men that would have wanted to marry her, knowing that this would anger her beloved father.  This is an example of her unwavering love for Othello, which she continues to show in many instances throughout the play.  Desdemona voices her beliefs to her father, Brabantio

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                                        “…so much duty as my mother showed

                                              To you, preferring you before her father,

                                               So much I challenge that I may profess

                                              Due to the Moor my lord”                                                                         (Act 1, Scene 3, 184)

Emilia is Desdemona’s female servant, one of her closest confidants and is Iago’s Wife.  Emilia is perceived as having a more practical and shrewd sense about her that is more apparent than Desdemona’s.  Emilia pleads with Desdemona to confront Othello about his suspicions and when she discovers Iago’s betrayal, she reveals him, even though he is her ...

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