Gender Roles In Othello By William Shakespeare

In ‘Othello’ Shakespeare portrays the main three female characters as being quite inferior to the other male characters such as Othello himself, Iago and Casto. Because during that time of which Shakespeare was writing these plays in the Elizabethan era. Society was in which religion was as at the very most top and after was men being the second part of the social ladder and later come women and rule justified women's subordination as the natural order because women were thought to be physiologically and psychologically inferior to men women were expected to be silent, chaste, and obedient to their husbands, fathers, brothers. Even education during the Elizabethan era was only for smart men, and not for women, the women were only allowed to work as cleaners and being mothers. Which makes them inferior to the male sex, we see this in

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is an overlaying presence of the typical roles that men and women were supposed to play. During Elizabethan times there was a major difference between the way men and women were supposed to act. Men typically were supposed to be masculine and powerful, and defend the honor. Women, on the other hand, were supposed to be subservient to their men in their lives and do as ever they wished. In Romeo and Juliet the typical gender roles that men and women were supposed to play had an influence on the fate of their lives.

Iago, being remarkably wise, understood this, explaining to Roderigo: “If the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions” (Shakespeare 1.3.322-25). People require balance in their life in order to maintain stability, and therefore maintain their sanity. In the same way balance provides structure in one’s life, imbalance can also bring about one’s undoing. Iago was not traditionally at the apex of power in the Elizabethan triangle of power, but every character was still a pawn in his scheme. His manipulation over each character truly put him as the most powerful character, at least until his true intentions were later revealed. Iago deliberately offset the balance in Othello’s life, and manipulated his jealousy in such a way that allowed him to succeed in all that he had planned. His plan would not have otherwise come to fruition had Othello not allowed his emotion to overpower his logic. Iago was able to simultaneously accomplish every goal in exploiting Othello’s jealousy. Iago painted Cassio, the lieutenant, to be Desdemona’s lover behind Othello’s back. In doing this, he won Othello’s trust, ruined Desdemona and Othello’s relationship, as per Roderigo’s payment to him, and eventually became named lieutenant after Cassio’s demotion. Being the cunning manipulator ultimately brought Iago was success in

In Shakespeare’s Othello, the role of women is greatly emphasized. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. These women each have an obligation to remain loyal and respect their husband's wishes, especially Desdemona and Emilia.

    Othello represents a prime example of Shakespeare's ability to develop relationships between the sexes so as to demonstrate those relationships' weaknesses. In Othello, the sexes are divided by misconceptions and ego- centric views of the opposite gender. The men of the play, in particular Othello, maintain a patriarchal, chivalric notion of the sexes, while the women of the play yearn for more involvement in their husbands' affairs. So it is that the thrust of the play emerges from "the opposition of attitudes, viewpoints, and sexes." (Neely 214)

Women in the sixteenth century were commonly dominated by a patriarchal society. Meaning their loyalty and respect lay amongst the men in their lives with little choice for opposition. In Othello by William Shakespeare, he portrays the role of women in a way typical to their representation in Elizabethan and Venetian society. While the women may be presented as mentally stronger than their male counterparts, the language given to these female characters suggest that they have internalized society 's expectation of them. Apart from moments of private conversation and Emilia 's reaction to Desdemona 's death, the women behave in a submission that is expected of them, believing it to be the natural way, as the men continue to downgrade and treat them as secondary citizens. Shakespeare represents this status of women through the traditional views of the male characters, moments of submission from the females, and how the women internalize this society.

All throughout the Shakespearean play Othello gender roles are portrayed as severely unequal. Act 2 in specific portrays women as possessions rather than treating them at a level equal to men. The men are seen as more powerful and as if they own the women. For example in scene three Othello says, “Come, my dear love, the purchases made, the fruit are to ensue; the profit’s yet to come ‘tween me and you. - Goodnight,” (II.III.9-11). When Othello says this he isn’t merely talking about fruit, he is talking about his marriage to Desdemona. Othello is stating that their marriage is more a monetary transaction, something he purchased rather than a true loving relationship. Instead of being equals in their relationship, it is now seen as if Desdemona

So Othello explores the element of male bravado in the vicinity of other men. Meanwhile, Measure for Measure comments on the dangers of objectifying women. Now, this play is another exception to the rule that female characters can't be prominent. For it involves a soon-to-be nun convent, Isabella, and if she should forgo her virginity. This central conflict starts when the Duke of Vienna steps down. Thus, he appoints Angelo to be the new leader. And his first act as is to outlaw all sexual activity in the city. Now, he does so under a law that the Duke hadn't enforced in almost two decades. So the first perpetrator is Claudio, who impregnated his lover, Juliet. Now, this storyline is a gender reversal of the "damsel in distress" plot device.

In the opening scene of the play, sexist behavior is presented, when Brabantio hears about the relationship between the Moor and his daughter, Desdemona. In this scene, Brabantio accuses Othello of being a “foul thief” who has “robb'd” him of his daughter; “She is stol’n from me” (Shakespeare, 65). When Desdemona confesses her love for Othello, Brabantio disowns her for marrying a man that he does not approve. Also, Desdemona is loyal to Othello, although Othello physically and verbally abuses Desdemona by slapping her and calling her a whore in public. This shows that women were expected to be silent and be obedient to all the men in their lives. In the opening scene of the play, sexist behavior is presented, when Brabantio hears about the

In Shakespeare's Othello, as in most writings of his time, women are viewed as trophies or objects to capture the attention of men. I do not doubt that these men do love their wives, but the love, respect and admiration for their women is much different that of our time. It seems modern women are much more capable of having what could be known as an "equal opportunity" marriage. In the days of sacred virginity, and honesty of one's word, well off women such as Desdemona were not given responsibility. Women in her position sat back and left the work up to their men and their servants. In due time they were given respect and admiration, and were

Now, I know that story was a lot to digest. But it contains parallels with Shakespeare as it pertains to gender. After all, both the HR department and management staff belittle this woman. Not only are they making a mockery of her career choice. Remember, Claudio did the same after implying Isabella's future as a nun is worthless. Instead, sleeping with Angelo will produce a desirable outcome. But also, Uber valued her presence more than her actual contributions. They’re saying that as a woman, she should be in the background, letting men take action. And the support she gives for the company's presumed gender equality is all that matters. So that aspect is like Mariana ending up with Angelo. Nevermind the fact that he mistreated her in the

All through history, the piece of women has been seriously talked about. Women have expected to fight for the rights they have today, paying little respect to the likelihood that a couple of us may regardless inquiry if women really do have an unclear appropriate from a man. Despite whether it was getting the benefit to vote or despite having the ability to join the workforce, women have earned their place in people in general eye today. There are various streets that you could take to see and grasp the piece of women all through history. William Shakespeare's Othello is one of the histories the interprets women. There are three women in this story. They are Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia. As the story spreads out the parts of these women are

Main Idea: Shakespeare was not a sexist: All though the main three females in the play were seen as important and contributed tremendously towards the plot of the play. The readers see Shakespeare pushing the ideology of men and women being equal with the slow occurrence of many plots towards the play, and how it all unravels itself. These were proven in the play by when;

Thesis Statement: In the play ‘Othello’ the women showed characteristics of feminism but were portrayed as inferior. (Now state why Shakespeare would have wanted to do this? Was he, in fact, a feminist himself or was he creating a warning to those that dared to challenge their role in society?)

(An analysis of Shakespeare’s plays Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth and his portrayal of the treatment of women throughout each play)