Othello: Through the Eyes of Two Women
Othello, by Shakespeare, involves two women; Desdemona and Emilia. These two women have a lot of things in common. Both have husbands who are full of adventure and physically powerful. Desdemona is the wife of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Emilia’s husband is Iago, is youngest of the two men, employed as a confidante to Othello. Iago is filled with so much guilt towards Othello; he wants total revenge and makes Othello’s life a living hell for him and anyone he loves. Othello doesn’t know any of this revenge and confides in Iago and trusts him with everything, because he is “the most honest” (2.3.6). While all this deceit is going on around them, both women are oblivious to it, and Emilia doesn’t
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He tells her, “Heaven truly knows that you are false as hell” (4.2.39). Desdemona wants to re-assure Othello that she is not lewd and wants to please him and ease these thoughts, and she tells him: “And have you mercy too! I never did / Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio / But with such general warranty of heaven / As I might love. I never gave him token” (5.2.58-61).
Desdemona pleads with him and tries to convince him that she would never betray him and that she has never proclaimed love, neither physically or verbally, to Cassio. No matter how much she tries to convince Othello, all fingers point to Cassio because they find the handkerchief in his possession.
Emilia also wants to please and show her loyalty to her husband, just as Desdemona did, by giving the handkerchief to him because she remembered how many times he had asked for her to get it and give it to him. “I am glad I found this napkin; / This was her first remembrance from the Moor, / My wayward husband hath a hundred times / Wooed me to steal it; but she so loves the token / (For he conjured her she should ever keep it) / That she reserves it evermore about her / To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out / And give it to Iago. / What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; / I nothing but to please his fantasy”
Many may say Emilia was not aware of how she is supposed to treat by her husband conversely, a comment made by her states otherwise. “Tis proper I obey him, but not now’ (Shakespeare V.ii.195). Towards the end of the story she explains to Othello how her husband asked her to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona She clearly states she know it is the right to obey her husband, but she was not going to support him in his wrong. She is one of the few in this time period to disobey their husband. Emilia is not the type of wife to support him in his wrong-doing. She stands up to her husband.
Emilia displays to Desdemona a helping hand and says to leave Othello if she is so hurt by his “understandings”. “…Having the world for your labor, ‘tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right” She is basically explaining to Desdemona to leave Othello for his ludicrous antics.
Pray you let Cassio be received again.” (Shakespeare III.IV 81-83) At this point in the story, Othello is demanding that Desdemona present his handkerchief, a gift which he gave to her. In Othello, the manipulation, and whole story, revolves around a select few individuals.
Desdemona's naivety is the prime cause of the conflict in "Othello" because she doesn't know that Iago is depriving her in Othello's mind by using her actions against her. Desdemona loves Othello, but also is benevolent in helping anyone even if it might be practiced against her. Cassio asked Desdemona if she can help get Othello's trust back, only as Othello and Iago enters they see Cassio leave and gets a bit
The death of Desdemona is a result of the lies and manipulation of Othello and Cassio by Iago. Through his suggestion to Cassio, Iago can now be certain that Cassio will entreat Desdemona to petition for him with Othello. Cassio does implore Desdemona and she responds, “Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf” (Act III Scene III). Iago manages to obtain the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona that had strawberry patterns on it from Bianca.
Also in this scene, we see how much Othello had trusted, loved, and believed in Desdemona. He says, "I do not think but Desdemona's honest" and "If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself! I'll not believe't"(3.3.223, 275-6). But he does suspect her, and it seems these statements are only there to convince himself that she really is true.
While Desdemona is not aware of why Othello is so angry with her, she continues to do the good deed of attempting to get Cassio his job back. Desdemona speaking in front of Othello, explains to her cousin Lodovico “A most unhappy one. I would do much/ T’ atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio”(4,1,219-220). Proving that she cares for Cassio and that him receiving his position back should be up for consideration. Thus, Othello “strikes”(4,1,232) Desdemona thinking she loves Cassio due to her showing friendly affection towards him. This displays Othello allowing his jealousy to suppress his love for Desdemona by hitting her because of his thoughts that she is having an
Emilia, while lying next to her best friend on her deathbed, began to suppress her passive nature and attempts persecute the murderer. Nonetheless, the only woman who stood up for herself got killed in the end by her own husband. Othello and Iago’s wives were thought to be disloyal to their husband, while only one of them was correct in this accusation, Desdemona and Emilia were both murdered by the people they pledged their allegiance to. But, Emilia was the only woman who denounced the authority men had over women and compares the qualities of both men and women. She is fully aware of the gender
Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief. The handkerchief had been given to Othello’s mother by an Egyptian charmer. Desdemona is unable to present the handkerchief to Othello Othello continues to demand the handkerchief while Desdemona continues to plead for Cassio’s return to service. “Fetch me the handkerchief! — my mind misgives” (Othello/Otl. 3, 4, 85) Filled with anger and doubt, Othello exits the...
Although she fights to bring out the truth in the end of the play, her actions end in unfortunate results leading to her death. Emilia innocently steals Desdemona’s handkerchief, remembering that Iago had always asked for it. “I am glad I have found this napkin/ this was her first remembrance from the Moor/ My wayward husband hath a hundred times/ wooed me to steal it” (3.3. 334-337). Emilia had also fallen for Iago’s lies and schemes, unaware of the truth and the consequences for it. The handkerchief is seen as a powerful symbol, which represents betrayal and plays the role of “proof”. Iago uses this symbol to convince Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Innocent Emilia did not the reason behind Iago’s desire for the handkerchief. This becomes Iago’s final step to his evil scheme, as Othello vows to kill Desdemona and Cassio with the contribution of Iago. After Desdemona’s heart-breaking murder, Emilia builds up the courage in herself to pour out all her feeling and emotions, pointing at Iago and Othello for their villainy, while defending the innocent Desdemona. She cries to Iago, “You told a lie, an odious, damned lie! / Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!” (5,2, 216-217). Emilia exposes Iago’s venomous plot against Desdemona, as she is the only person to know the truth behind the handkerchief. Due to this, Emilia’s
In Shakespeare’s play Othello, the male characters perceive women as adulterous and property, treating them as inferior that need to be submissive and obey. Iago creates a false perception of his wife thinking she is promiscuous. Also, Othello sees his wife as promiscuous, an impression created by his jealousy and one he has convinced himself of it. Furthermore, Iago and Othello perceive their wives as inferior, and by his words, the reader can see that they are both their wife and subordinate. At last, the male characters refer to Desdemona’s marriage as a “steal” and “purchase” of property, then, Iago and Othello end their wives’ lives because they see them as possessions of no good.
From this point on, Othello insecurity manifests into a seemingly irrational fear of being cuckolded, and his self-perceived worth diminishes exponentially. Othello comments on the likelihood of Desdemona cheating, by explaining how it may be “for [he is] black / And have not those soft parts of conversation / That chamberers have…” (3.3.280-282) Othello’s frustration with the threat of being cuckolded puts strain on his relationship with Desdemona, and she quickly becomes a victim of domestic abuse. For example, Othello acts as an interrogator, demanding to see the handkerchief which he gave her that symbolizes faithfulness and commitment towards Othello. (Quotation) When she is unable to produce their symbol of trust, Othello’s anger manifests inside him. The audience is shown a stark contrast to Othello’s typically cool, collected and composted nature. This abrupt and irrational change in behaviour is emphasized when Othello strikes Desdemona in front of Lordovico, (4.1.245) Othello’s
Women are either considered a good wife or a whore. There are only three women in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. Desdemona is the passive wife of Othello, who has a quite idealistic take on life and marriage. Emilia is the cynical, perceptive woman who seems to have a bitter take on her marriage to Iago. Bianca is portrayed as the whore of the play, and she has relations with Cassio.
The women in Othello are synonymous with Venetian societal standards. Only three women are characters in Othello: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca but the roles these women play give the reader an idea of how women were portrayed, not only in Shakespeare's Othello but in society in general.
...haracters. When Cassio asks Desdemona to speak to Othello on his behalf she makes a bold promise, 'I give thee warrant of thy place'. Desdemona then goes on to say, ' My lord shall never rest,/ I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience'. Desdemona will keep on arguing Cassio's case. This amplifies her strong will and passion. Additionally due to the brawl caused when Cassio is drunk, the audience sees Othello's sense of fairness and justice, since he fires Cassio from his position as lieutenant even though he is his friend, ' Cassio I love thee,/ But never more be an officer of mine.'