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How does Shakespeare present women in Othello?

Throughout Othello, the attitude towards women in the Elizabethan era is


also portrayed. Women were seen as nothing more than objects or prized
possessions which belonged to men. The Elizabethan society was
patriarchal as the men dominated every aspect of it. Women were
considered the weaker sex and always needed protection which was the job
of husbands. Women were considered inferior to men and therefore they
were expected to be silent, chaste, and obedient to their husbands, fathers,
brothers, and all men in general. A few examples from the text include:
Iago wakes up Brabantio by yelling Zounds, sir, youre robbd; for shame,
put on your gown; Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul. These
lines indicate that Desdamona was his property and Othello (the thief) has
robbed him and he should go and hunt for the thief and punish him for
stealing. Also when Iago tells Cassio that tonight he heath boarded a land
carrack If it prove a lawful prize he is referring to Othello as a pirate and
Desdamona as a treasure (land carrack) which Othello has found and
therefore belongs to him.
In Act 1 Scene 3 the Senator wishes Othello well by hoping that he will use
Desdamona well. The connotation of the word use is look after but it
also portrays the Elizabethan attitude towards women as they are expected
to bow to the will of their husbands who can utilize them in any way they
want. We also see that Iago wants revenge on Othello because he believes
the rumors that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia. Iago does not even
know if the rumors are true but he still wants revenge as Othello has used a
possession which belongs to him (The lusty Moor/hath leaped into my
seat). In these few lines Iago has insulted and objectified his wife as he
has referred to her as a seat and an office. Also in Act 2 Scene 1 Iago
hopes to be evened with him, wife for wife which suggests that he should
sleep with Desdamona so that he and Othello will be equal. The feelings of
Desdamona and Emilia are not taken in consideration at all in his revenge
plot. He believes that women are objects that are meant to be used to
further mens desires.
Throughout the play we see women are portrayed as submissive towards
their husbands with
Desdamona being the prime example of that. In
Act 1 Scene 3 she states that she was bound to her father as her gave her
life and education and therefore she had to obey him but now that she is

bound to Othello she has to obey and respect him. In Act 4 Scene 1 we
see that when Othello hits her she tells him I have not deserved this. This
indicates that Desdamona thinks that women should be hit only if they
deserve it. Although Emilia is portrayed in as a stronger character. In Act 3
Scene 4 Emilia says that 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man. They are
all but stomachs, and we all but food. To eat us hungerly, and when they
are full, they belch us. Emilia thinks that men are brutish and vulgar and
cannot control their desires. She uses a metaphor to indicate that the role
of women is to satisfy the never-ending hunger of men. Men use women
and then belch them out. These lines also state that Emilia is more aware
of the truth of womens role in society than Desdamona but there is nothing
she can do about it.
In Othello, the word whore is often used when describing all three women.
We are introduced to the prostitute Bianca in Act 3 Scene 4 which is much
later in the play. Bianca is a prostitute who is in love with Cassio but he
treats her like garbage. Bianca genuinely believes that Cassio loves her but
in Act 4 Scene 1 we see that he does not and describes her as a monkey
and a fool for thinking that he would marry her. Later on when she enters
the room he calls her a fitchew which is another word for whore. Iago also
refers to her as a strumpet. Othello calls Desdamona a whore multiple
times in Act 3 Scene 3, a cunning whore and a subtle whore in Act 4
Scene 2. Emilia is also referred to as a villainous whore by her husband
in Act 5 after she reveals his villainous plans. All three of the women in
Othello have been described as whores even when there is no proof of
their infidelity. In Act 2 Scene 1 Iago gives a big speech on his thoughts
about women where he insults Emilia in front of Desdamona and Cassio. He
thinks that all women behave in the same way. They look beautiful when
they are out in public but are noisy like bells when they are at home. They
act like wild cats when they are in their kitchens and sound like saints when
they are complaining about something but act like devils when someone
offends them. They dont take their jobs as housewives seriously and they
are housewives in your bed. All women according to Iago use their looks
to get what they want. Even the ugly and stupid women use the same dirty
tricks as the pretty and smart ones. Even if there is a truly good woman

who never spoke her mind, who overlooked it when people hurt her and
who would refrain from flirting with other men should be raising children.
These few lines spoken by Iago accurately sum up Elizabethan views on
women in society. The only power which women have is the sexual power
which should be resisted by men. Men are able to call women whores and
get away with it as it deemed natural in society.

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