preview

The Perception Of Women In Shakespeare's Othello

Good Essays
Open Document
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.
The male characters in Othello view women characters as…show more content…
Iago controls Emilia and treats her as less when she does not act as a submissive wife. Therefore, Emilia follows to keep Iago satisfy. Further, Iago tells Emilia to steal the handkerchief; which she follows without knowing his intentions, to then be insulted by Iago calling her a “foolish wife” (3.3.313), and demanding her, “Go, leave me” (3.3.330). Apparently, Iago makes Emilia lesser, and she accepts her role as a submissive wife. Moreover, although Othello proclaims loving Desdemona, he perceives her as inferior as a result of jealousy. As in Act 5, Scene 2 where Othello says to Desdemona, “Down, strumpet!” (89), suggesting that he puts her in an inferior position to kill her reflecting his true perception of Desdemona. And likewise Emilia, Desdemona accepts the role of an obedient wife by using her last breath to take the fault off Othello…show more content…
At the beginning of the play, Iago and Roderigo imply that Brabantio’s property it’s stolen by “thieves” (1.1.81) when referring to Othello marrying her Daughter. Furthermore, because Brabantio sees her daughter like a possession, she can only have one “lord of duty” (1.3.185) and acts as if he has passes his property to Othello. In addition to this, Othello refers to his marriage with Desdemona as “The purchase made” (2.3.10), implying buying a possession from Brabantio. In Act 5, Scene 2 Othello kills Desdemona, although it 's believed an act of jealousy, it can be considered that is because his “purchase made” (2.3.10) did not serve the purpose of a wife because “she was a whore” (5.2.146). Similar, Iago decides to kill Emilia because she is no good for his purposes anymore and betrays
Get Access
Related
Get Access