However, near the end of the play she learns to love and respect Petruchio. It is evident that she honors Petruchio as her husband through her drastic change in attitude towards her family and friends. Before Katherine was married to Petruchio she was stubborn and resentful of her entire family. She believed that her father, Baptista, did not care for her as much as he did for her fairer sister, Bianca. She did not want to hear anybody’s opinions or advice, and she felt as if no one would ever want to marry her.
In act 3, scene 3, Othello says to himself, "...This honest creature doubtless sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds" (Johnson 1298). This statement of Othello telling himself that Iago is honest and doubtful shows the readers that he trusts Iago too much, when in fact, Iago is his main enemy. Another reason Othello is unaware of the truth is because he lacks trust in his wife, Desdemona. Othello has been manipulated by Iago to believe that Desdemona is committing adultery acts against him. When Othello confronts Desdemona, she is shocked and tell him the truth she knows.
Ophelia's weakness of mind and will, which catalyzes her obedience to her father and thus destroys her hope for Hamlet's love, finally results in her insanity and eventual death. When her father had challenged the honor of Hamlet's intentions, Ophelia could only reply "I do not know, my lord, what I should think" (III, iii). Used to relying upon her father's direction and brought up to be obedient, she can only accept her father's belief, seconded by that of her brother, that Hamlet's "holy vows" of love were simply designed for her seduction. She was to obey her father's orders not to permit Hamlet to see her again. Her father also wanted to prove Hamlet's madness to the king.
It is an immature response, but the only one she knows, and it serves for her dual purpose of her hurt and revenge. The transformation that she undergoes near the end of the play is not one of character, but one of attitude. She alters dramatically from the bitter accursed shrew to the obedient and happy wife when she discover that her husband loves her enough to attempt to change her for her own good, as well for his. The other main character is Pretruchio her husband. On the surface he appears to be a rough, noisy, and insensitive, one who cares nothing for Katherine's feelings so long as she has money.
Shakespeare uses the characterization of Kate to demonstrate how she defies traditional gender roles by being the only person to speak in iambic pentameter. This demonstrates her intelligence unlike many women. In addition, Kate doesn 't enjoy receiving orders from others. When her father leaves with Bianca and tells Kate she may stay, she gets angry. "Why, and I trust I may go too, may I not?
In other words, she is grateful to her father for what he has given to her but will stand by the side of her husband, as any women should. Even while Othello is accusing her of having an affair with Cassio, and insulting her calling her a whore, her responsibility of standing by her man and trying to understand him still remains. As angered as she may be with what he just called her, she questions him politely, as to why he is saying ... ... middle of paper ... ... The role these women had to take on in this play, was probably not to far from the way it really was for women during that time, and for some couples, the way it is today. I would hate to think that men can still have this philosophy, but I know it still exists.
Desdemona and Emilia can be perceived as a foil to each other because of their different beliefs for women’s roles in marriage. Her obedience toward her husband causes her to steal the handkerchief and give it to Iago, so he can falsely set Cassio up with it. Without Emilia, Shakespeare could not have exposed his view on women’s roles and marriage, and the storyline for his tragic play Othello could not have been achieved. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Othello.
(I.i.75-76) and later treats her father in the most reprehensible manner, Cordelia denies Lear's unnatural request saying, "Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters/ To love my father all" (I.i.103-104). Her truthful refusal to proclaim total love for her father proves her to be the actual loving daughter but results in her banishment. From this first scene, the characters' alliances and allegiances are forged and all that follows is directly resultant. In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth must be evil in order to advance the plot. The strong love and bond between herself and Macbeth enables her to influence him and spur him to action.
Additionally, as a daughter, Desedmona was required to ask permission to be married, and because she did not she turned away from society’s expectations. However, by saying that she is now loyal to her husband more than to her father, Desdemona sticks with society’s expectations. But the shock of her marrying without permission was enough to anger and sadden Brabantio, the symbol for society in the beginning of the play. Once Iago has poisoned Othello’s mind with lies about an affair between Cassio and Desdemona, Othello becomes suspicious and distrusting of Desdemona. He is convinced that his wife is a whore, but never speaks to her about his suspicions.
Continuing on, Lady Macbeth is shown to be confident and coy. Her husband's inability to remain confident proves that he is not as ambitious as he thinks he is and Lady Macbeth is the true power behind the throne. As the story progresses, Macbeth’s personality goes from humble to evil and is later on hated by others for reasons encouraged by his wife. For all of these reasons, Shakespeare shows Lady Macbeth and Macbeth to be entirely opposite from the traditional gender roles. Secondly, Lady Macbeth’s person... ... middle of paper ... ...h from gender roles of common men and women, slowly and subconsciously succumbing to her power over him.