Women In Othello

Shakespearean Women: How are they Portrayed? There are several words used to describe the women in Shakespeare’s plays. Critics tend to describe Shakespearean woman this way without true knowledge of the meaning. Passive is a term commonly used in reviews of Othello describing Desdemona, meaning she is uninvolved and showing little to no reaction to what is happening around her. Submissive; being unresistingly or humbly obedient, is another example of how she is portrayed. Other terms such as obedient and rebellious are also used to describe her character in the play. Though the four major characteristics used to describe Desdemona’s character all appropriately portray her, submissive and passive would be the most accurate depiction. Carol

Emilia for example has no trust in Iago and sees him as a horrible person. Though she loves her husband, she is rebellious in efforts to show him that she is her own person and not all women do as they are told. Desdemona on the other hand is nothing like the other women. She “is neither jealous nor envious nor suspicious. She is not suspicious or possessive about Othello’s job, his intimacy with Iago, or his “love” for Cassio but supports all three” (Neely 145). The other women however, would feel uncomfortable or suspicious with how close their husbands may be to others, but Desdemona finds it pleasing. Neely mentions that she doesn’t have much sense or concern of class and rank like the men. She treats everyone with the same amount of respect as she would the Duke. Desdemona has no recognition of the secretive and tactful things going on around her or even involving her. When Othello confronts her in their chambers (V, ii, 23-83) Desdemona is startled and dumbstruck as to the accusations being brought upon her. Her passiveness comes into play at this particular time mainly because she has absolutely no clue that people could be so horrible as to lie about one another in a manner such as this one. She seems to believe that all men are honest and good. The absurd fact of her husband believing she betrayed him because of lies he has been told, is a complete shock to

Neely gives great insights to support the visualization of her passiveness along with self-realization of her true personality portrayed in Shakespeare’s play. Though points and opinions are given on how “innocent” Desdemona may seem she still plays the role of an unaware damsel. She is a truly kind and loving person which is shown throughout the play by how she treats a wide array of people, rich and poor. Her ignorance of hierarchy and rank just shows how passive she is about her government and how things truly worked in that time period. She continually plays the passive role though, her submissiveness comes into play the longer she is with Othello. The severity of Desdemona’s submissiveness towards Othello may be perceived in many different ways. His effect on her behavior however, is stunning. Desdemona is a strong and big hearted woman which falls outside of the realm of normal Shakespearean characteristics. It is seen throughout this play that Shakespeare did not intend for Desdemona to be like all of the other women, he did not want her to be rebellious and unfaithful. He intended her to be just how he portrayed her, submissive to her husband and passive towards all things