Othello Essays (1265 words) - Othello, Emilia, Iago,

Othello Q-Why is a bride's dress always white? A-To match the appliances! Even though society has made great strides in trying to equalize women and men, there was a time when women were viewed as nothing more than a man's property. Shakespeare in his play Othello writes his male characters to view women in much the same demeaning way. In this play one can see two examples of women and the view their husbands place upon them. Both Desdamona and Emila are victims of the chauvenism of their husbands. Marriage is the vow between two people, to be there for one another, to share in pain and suffering, to share in the good times and the bad times, and to share equally in life's experiences. If this is so then why does Desdamona come across as property? Better question is why does she except this role! In this time era women were consider servants bonded by love to their husbands. Desdamona explains this clearly when she says: But here's my husband, And 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 (Scene 1, Act 3, Lines 182-187) She talks about duty to her husband. This duty is to obey him and respect him. Then she again describes herself and her position: Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm, Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit To your own person (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 77-80) This is the typical view of men in this era, a position of seen, but not heard. Shakespeare takes women places them in his plays in order to give motive. In both Macbeth and Othello women are the cause of the man's fall. In Othello if it were not for Desdamona, there would not be any jealous murders. She is the center point at which the book revolves. Even though her actual part is small her presence makes the play be possible. Desdamona's place in this play is to stand there with minimal verbal interaction and to represent the high-class romantic women. From this Shakespeare will take a man's jealous nature and twist it into a motive. Equality? No, but it common of this era and it suites Shakespeare's purpose in this play. The man is the head of the family? In Shakespeare's time, yes. Not only is Othello the head of the family, but he also has his own views of women. He makes this pretty clear with his conversation with Iago, where Iago is speaking of his wife's little escapades with Cassio. To this Othello response And yet, how nature erring from itself-(Act 3, Scene 3, Line 227). Meaning that because she is a woman, she can not resist herself from temptation. Then later when his jealousy is a rage he slaps his wife then gives a speech, which explains how his wife obeys his every whim. Ay! You did wish that I would make her turn. Sir, she can turn, and turn, and yet go on And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep; And she's obedient; as you say, obedient. Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears. Concerning this, sir-O well-painted passion! I am commanded home. Get you away; I'll send for you anon.-Sir, I obey the mandate And will return to Venice.-Hence, avaunt! (Act 4, Scene 1, lines 252-260) This must be one of most Chauvinistic comment of the entire play. This sums up the entire Othello opinion that starts off hidden at the beginning of the play, but emerges under anger. Thank God society has evolved above such opinions as that of Othello's. The stereotypes of women's positions in this society were not stopped by the boundaries of economic class. Emilia is a perfect example of this. She is a hard working middle class woman, who still bears the burden of her husband's sexiest attitude. She believes that the purpose of a women is to strengthen her husband, through any means necessary. She gives an example of this when she says: Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't(Act 4, Scene 3, Line 77-79) What she is saying, is that she is willing to