Female Characters in William Shakespeare's Othello

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Female Characters in William Shakespeare's Othello

Throughout history, women’s place and role in society has vastly changed, as well as their sexuality. In the Victorian era, it was considered abnormal for women to masturbate or feel pleasure from sexual intercourse with her husband. They were led to believe that they were sick, and thus went to their doctor who would “rid” them of their “fever” through vaginal stimulation. The patriarchal society did not want women to know or understand their sexuality because that would give them power and control over their bodies. Additionally, in many African tribes, when a girl reaches womanhood, it is custom to mutilate her genitals in order to keep them chaste until they are married. During the Elizabethan era, women were considered second-class citizens. They lived in a society in which a woman was either a whore, or a good, angelic wife. The three female characters in Othello, Emilia, Desdemona, and Bianca, all vary in their personalities and roles, yet they all share one common trait, in that they are all women living in a patriarchal society and thus by suffering together, their female bonds become stronger.

Emilia is a very outspoken, strong, independent women who believes her husband Iago, to be a mischievous, deceitful, idiot. Although Iago treats Emilia rather badly, she still stands up to him. In Act 3, scene 3, Emilia has discovered Desdemona’s handkerchief and brings it to Iago in which Iago call his wife “foolish” and a “wench.” Emilia stands up to Iago by defending Desdemona’s keepsake by questioning Iago why he wanted her to steal it in the first place, and then finding out his cruel intentions, “What will you do with’t, that you have been so earnest t...

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...owever, after looking at Iago’s harsh portrayal of Bianca, he clearly does not understand the situation Bianca is in, and thus Bianca shares the secret life of a female as does Desdemona and Emilia and therefore indirectly, establishes the female bond.

The women of Othello have different characteristics, yet all share one common bond. Desdemona is submissive, but loyal and true to the men in her life. Emilia thinks quite low of her husband and is a strong, smart, assertive woman. Bianca knows her place in society and was unfortunate to succumb to a life of prostitution. However, all these women share the same knowledge, which brings them together as females. They all live under a harsh patriarchal society that does not allow them to think and act freely and naturally as men do, even though unlike the men, they know they are of equal human qualities.

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