Venetian Women In Othello

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In William Shakespeare’s Othello, characters are constantly manipulated and exploited by the deceptive Iago, leading to the misinterpretation of their actions and relationships. From Brabantio’s credible allegations as a father to Iago’s devious tactics, Desdemona is soon considered a whore by Othello. Since Othello “knows nothing of Venice apart from the few months’ residence during which his courtship took place”, he is obliged to believe anything “Iago, a native” claims (pg. 292), causing Othello to accept that all Venetian women, including his faithful Desdemona, are naturally whores. Even if the stereotype that follows Venetian women is accurate, it does not necessarily encompass Desdemona. As Achidie puts it, “the problem with stereotypes is not that they aren’t true, but they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” Since Othello is misled to think all Venetian women are whores, perhaps reinforced by the rumors that reflect Bianca’s background, Desdemona lives an unfaithful “single story” as a cheating wife in Othello’s eyes. Desdemona’s “single story” begins when Brabantio plants doubts in …show more content…

Iago claims that all Venetian women are unfaithful to their husbands and are full of deceit and deception. When Iago says, “I know our country disposition well./ In Venice, they do let God see the pranks/They dare not show their husbands. Their best conscience/ Is not to leave ‘t undone, but keep ‘t unknown (3.3.232-236)”, he is using his authority as a native Venetian to convince Othello of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Although he does not directly mention her name, Iago begins to plant doubt through words like “see”, “show”, and “unknown” so Othello will form Desdemona’s “single story” as a whore. The second step in Desdemona’s progression of her “single story” begin with Iago’s perceived knowledge of the habits of Venetian

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