The Elizabethan Treatment Of Women In Othello

Female activist and humanitarian, Malala Yousafzai, declares to her followers, “When God created men and women, he was thinking, ‘Who shall I give the power to, to give birth to the next human being?’ And God chose woman. And this is the big evidence that women are powerful” (Yousafzai, 2014). Malala Yousafzai celebrates the power of women and their importance in this world. She reminds all females that they are powerful. Yousafzai’s words challenge the characteristics portrayed by the male characters of William Shakespeare’s play Othello. The male/female relationships within the play provide a critical commentary on the Elizabethan treatment of women as objects. Emilia makes her best effort to show her husband respect, like the perfect Elizabethan

She goes against her nature in loving Othello, by ignoring the obvious differences in many aspects, such as age, race, and status. Although Desdemona is the perfect woman, she is still subject to objectification by her husband, Othello. Being this figure of perfection, she adheres to the concept of the Elizabethan wife and husband relationship, by admitting to her father that she owes herself to Othello. In the Duke’s council chamber, she declares to her

(5. 2. 3-6)

This obligation is derived from the Elizabethan view of relationships, saying that women are owned by men as objects. Although Othello, in his final moments with Desdemona, speaks of her with words that create images pf beauty, ultimately he knows that she must be killed. Othello feels that since she is a possession of his, he is the only man who has control over how she is treated. Othello’s authority over Desdemona, and her willingness to accept the role of the perfect woman, lead to the expected relationships where women are dominated by their men. The women of the play all have very diverse, strong and powerful personalities and all have good intentions, but tend to get stepped on by the men that they are associated with. William Shakespeare provides his own critical opinion of the male/female relationships of the Elizabethan era, within the play Othello. Emilia struggles to please Iago while he gives her no acknowledgement of her efforts. Bianca seeks Cassio’s affection, but is constantly laughed at and called a whore. Desdemona is owned by Othello, as she accepts the typical role of an Elizabethan wife. Overall, women around the world should break free of the men that strangle them, and hold them back from reaching their full potential, such like the women of the play. Ultimately, we should listen to Malala Yousafzai when she declares that women are powerful, and take these words into consideration so that women