In modern society women have equal respect from men. Women do not need to be compliant to men and are free to express themselves. Although some pockets of discrimination exist in present-day society, it was not the same in Elizabethan England The disrespect that women received was unparalleled. Different levels of society bolstered this dramatic inequality of people, especially women to new heights. William Shakespeare writes influential books on the life of people living in Europe in the Elizabethan time period. William Shakespeare's Othello shows the identity of women to portray the injustice of unequal status of women expecting them to be blindly obedient to men.
The identity of women mirrors how society portrays them. A woman can be identified as the results of her action. When Othello marries Desdemona, she became his "captain's captain"(II.i.74); however, Othello chats with Iago, a trusted male comrade, he discovers that his captain has allegedly committed adultery with other men. Othello goes as far as to "strike his wife."(IV.i.270) The violent outcome became her downfall. The male-oriented society can greatly impact the identity of women. Desdemona was portrayed as a very noble woman; however, as Othello changed his view on her it started to destroy her identity in the relationship. Desdemona had great respect for Othello; even guides his decisions. Her treatment was honourable until Othello was tricked and the degradation of Desdemona began. Women do unlawful feats in a Christian society. When Desdemona dropped her handkerchief "by negligence" Emilia "to the advantage… took't up "(III.ii.313-314) and did not return it. She can be seen as a common thief. As a woman is seen not law abiding, it can only be compared to a ...
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...his effect can ruin the respect of a woman from men. A big role in gender inequality is that woman are manipulated to believe men are gods, which they are not. The impact that men are considered as gods only devalues the life of a woman. Even as death approaches, the obedience that the woman have is extraordinary. They show their true loyalty to men. Although some men torment women mentally, the woman is obligated to be loyal. This only makes women suffer even though it is the fault of men. The contents of this book show the reality that was in the past. As humans develop their intelligence, the equality, identity and loyalty to a woman should be equal to men. The woman has great power in society since behind every great man is an even greater woman.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William, and Roma Gill. Oxford School Shakespeare. Glasgow: Oxford UP, 2009. Print
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The Elizabethan era gender roles were much different than they are today. Women were regarded as the weaker sex, and men were always dominant. These “rules” are shown prominently throughout Romeo and Juliet, and paved way for obstacles they went through in their relationship. The gender conventions for women and men were prodigiously stereotypical and unreasonable, as they made men out to be the superior gender. Women should not have been perceived as inferior to men, and these unwritten rules for masculinity and femininity were shown throughout the play. Romeo acted very feminine which contradicted his gender conventions while Juliet did not abide by rules and disobeyed her parents. Romeo and Juliet had many ways in which they followed and
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello there are numerous instances of obvious sexism aimed at the three women in the drama -- Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca – and aimed at womankind generally. Let us delve into this subject in this paper.
While there have been a great number of changes in the world since Shakespeare wrote Othello, there are a few truths about humanity and society that remain true. Othello is notorious for it’s examination of race, but is not given enough credit for its observations of gender. Iago embodies masculine gender roles in a severe and exaggerated way, allowing his desire for proving his masculinity to corrupt him morally. Iago then turns and uses his own fears of inadequacy against Othello as the root of his revenge and to improve his own self-image. Desdemona is hurt most by the need for gender roles, which ultimately ends up in her death. The characters in Othello are severely harmed by the gender roles they feel the need to adhere to.
The portrayal of gender roles in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, demonstrates the inferior treatment of women and the certain stereotypes of men placed on them by society. Both the male and female characters in the play have these certain gender expectations placed on them. In a society dominated by men, it is understood that the women are to be seen rather than heard. The women are referred to and treated much like property. If indeed they do speak up, they are quickly silenced. One woman’s attempt to be the perfect wife is what ultimately led to her demise. The expectations of men are equally stereotypical. Men are to be leaders and to be in control and dominant especially over the women. The male characters compete for position and use the female characters in the play as leverage to manipulate each other. Shakespeare provides insight in understanding the outcomes of the men and women who are faced with the pressures of trying to live up to society’s expectations, not only in the workplace, but also in the home. The pressure creates jealousy issues amongst the men and they become blind to the voice of reason and are overtaken by jealous rage, leads to the death of many of the characters.
Statement of intent: The role of women in William Shakespeare’s play Othello is portrayed through the behaviors and actions of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. William Shakespeare integrates his Elizabethan society to create the patriarchal Venetian society in the play. Women in his society were seen as inferior to the men. The three women play a significant role in different social stratification. How are women submissive, possessions, bold, and degraded to sex objects and whores? How have they displayed unconventional acts and boldness?
The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society where women are only recognized as property; objects to own and to bear children. Women in the Elizabethan society and in Shakespeare society were not seen as equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, be respectful, and to not go against their husbands judgements or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia , and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan time where they were judged based on their class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare makes his female characters act the way they would be expected to act in an Elizabethan society. The role of these women in Othello is crucial because they show how women were treated and how unhealthy their relationships between men really were in both Elizabethan and Shakespeare's society.