Gender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Othello

Othello, from the onset, is shown to us a play of love and jealousy. There is however more to this play than just love and jealousy; there is underlying racism, hate, deception, pride, and even sexism between these pages. Othello is a transcendent play, one that will survive the perils of time simply because it is still relevant. Even today, over 400 years later, there are still issues of racism and sexism. Hate is as natural as love in humans and Othello gets right to the root of that. We witness this from the very first scene, “…you’ll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse/ you’ll have your nephews neigh to you” (I.i.112-14); to the very last, “Moor she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor” (V.ii.258). Moor however is

“My name, that was as fresh As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black As mine own face. (3.3.385)” When Othello says these lines it is evident that he starts to internalize a lot of racist comments made by his white counterparts which makes this a pivotal part of the play. At this point Othello suspects that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio and insinuates that his reputation is tarnished and “begrimed” because of Desdemona’s uncertain cheating. It was very common during the Elizabethan time period that wives were a big part of a husband’s reputation because wives were a representation of husbands. When Othello refers to his name as being ‘fresh as Diane’s visage’ he compares the freshness of a white fame with no blemishes to his name. When Othello fears that his wife has cheated on him he compares his name to ‘begrimed of black’, blaming his wife for tarnishing his reputation. By comparing the blackness of his own skin with something unclean and grimy, Othello internalizes the racist comments Venetian characters (like Brabantio) have been saying all along.

As Toba Beta once said, “Pride is the mother of arrogance”. Pride can cause anyone to overvalue themselves and lose sight of the truth. In Othello’s case, his pride puts himself on a pedestal. When Iago challenges this by suggesting that Desdemona cheats on him, he slowly loses his confidence and becomes weak and insecure. Iago vaguely warns him to not become jealous of Cassio, and Othello’s fragile ego once again causes him to let his mind get the best of him. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello’s pride leads to his downfall in order to show that too much confidence eventually leads to emotional self-destruction.

Stereotypes are commonly held generalized beliefs that most or all individuals sharing a given trait also should or do share other attributes assumed to be associated with aspects such as race, religion, and physical attribute. While stereotypes can erroneously shape people’s views of others, they can also influence the stereotyped individuals’ behavior as people often attempt to conform to these flawed images, especially in regards to gender stereotypes. Shakespeare’s great play Othello uses its main characters to embody the characteristics of the stereotypical females and males according to society’s liking. The stereotypical woman is loyal and faithful to her husband, while the male stereotype possesses strength, control, and dominance.

Othello by William Shakespeare raises the issue of how rampant beliefs and attitudes in a society can cause a person to question their sense of self. In a society where racial equality is near non-existent, Othello, a black skinned foreigner in the Venetian society, is constantly reminded of his status as an outsider. Othello, however, is not depicted in a stereotypical manner and despite occupying a highly respected position he is often confronted with blatant racism throughout the play. The prevailing attitudes and beliefs of Venetian society towards Othello are exploited by Iago in order to manipulate Othello’s self confidence and emotional state.

Interestingly the same Othello, who was previously a favourite of Brabantio and he along with Desdemona had diner so many times with him, now becomes unacceptable to him when he dares to marry his daughter. Othello is shown that he is not fully acceptable in society. His services as a general is needed and indeed lauded, but still he is not acceptable as a son-in-law. So the matter becomes an issue in the Venetian council chamber where the Duke and the other senators are preparing for war against the Turks. There Othello speaks eloquently of his love for Desdemona and she speaks on his behalf, and the Duke exonerates Othello. But in doing so, the Duke obliquely denigrates Othello because of his race- apparently unintentionally in a Freudian slip- telling Brabantio “Your son-in-law is more fair than black” (ibid 1.3. 291) implying that fairness is indeed superior to

In the article “An Essence That’s Not Seen: The Primal Scene of Racism in Othello,” Arthur L. Little Jr. contends that Desdemona plays a vital role in Othello’s rise and fall as she is his reason for being as well as the reason he destroys himself. As Little argues, race is intertwined with Othello’s love for Desdemona as racial prejudice makes Othello instantly suspect that his life is not nearly as spotless as he would like to believe (Little 306). Shakespeare focuses on how Iago is determined to use Othello’s love against him as he acknowledges that Desdemona embodies Othello’s ability to belong in a foreign society. Iago desires to take everything that Othello holds near and dear including his military prestige and love life: “But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor, / And it is thought abroad that ’twixt my sheets / He’s done my office. I know not if ’t be true, / But I, for mere suspicion in that kind, / Will do as if for surety. He holds me well” (1.3.323-326). “That chamberers have, or for I am declined / Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much— / She's gone. I am abused; and my relief / Must be to loathe her” (3.3265-269). In the article “Slaves and Subjects in Othello,” Camille Wells Slights contends that Othello’s view of European society reflects how Europan society has not yet developed into a society that embraces the rights of people from other backgrounds. Iago

   Throughout the length of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello there is a steady undercurrent of sexism. It is originating from not one, but rather various male characters in the play, who manifest prejudicial, discriminatory attitudes toward women.

    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)

   Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello features sexism as regular fare – initially from Brabantio and Iago, and finally from Othello. Let us in this essay explore the occurrences and severity of sexism in the drama.

Othello feels that Desdemona has concealed some aspect of her personality (New Perspectives 137). Othello feels this way when Desdemona admits to him that she dispraisingly spoken to Cassio about him but for good reasoning. Othello feels betrayed, he cannot fathom the thought that she would go behind his back especially to his lieutenant. Othello becomes insecure and needs time to regenerate back to his normal state. Othello show insecurity throughout this part of the play. He believes love is where there is no doubt or insecurity. Therefore, he worries about whether or not his wife loves him. Othello needs to realize that with love comes complications, no love is perfect. It becomes clear that Othello is unable to love because he doesn’t believe in imperfections when it comes to love (). Othello is a

Othello is a general in the service of Venice. He is examined in the Shakespeare play as courageous, noble qualities, trustworthy. It is obvious to feel a degree of sympathy for Othello because he is considered an “other”. He is a man that is willing to accept that he is racially different, as he seems to recognize his status. I tend to sympathize with Othello because he easily influenced, insecure, and a benevolent heart for Desdemona. Othello relies heavily upon engaging with the Venetian culture and his identity as the military general. The two stories draw parallel to each other because Othello’s identity is not

With the lovable character Othello in Shakespeare’s play, his characters contradict Elizabethan’s perception toward miscegenation, cross-cultural marriages, and Satanism. The black character’s “sexual behaviour does not conform to the entrenched belief and stereotyped representation of a black man's uncontrollable sexuality. . . [Shakespeare] thereby contradicts the current notion of the black man's boundless sexual potency” (Ungere). This ironically submissive black Moor is enticed by the fair skinned Desdemona without influence, Othello proclaims, “I therefore beg it not/ To please the palate of my appetite,/ Nor to comply with heat the young affects” (Shakespeare 1.3.261-63). Desdemona admires his otherness and ability at overcoming negative perceptions, when others “shake and fear [Othello’s] looks, she loved

In William Shakespeare’s Othello, both racism and misogyny were normal and common, along with many other forms of oppression. These societal norms of ancient Italy are still alive and prevalent in our present. Oppressing people on the basis of sex, race, and religion are still tolerated in both our government and our population, similar to that of Othello. It may not be as severe or put into law like it was then, but both white supremacy and misogyny specifically are still ingrained into our children even today. These behaviors are still used casually and often, but in different, more subtle ways.

Social group interpretation as found in the play makes use of Othello’s social identity, who is of ‘Moorish’ descent (a term used at the time to refer to people with darker skin), as a central device plot. Othello’s cultural identity plays a central role insofar as it is the main motivation behind Desdemona’s father’s judgment of Othello’s marriage to his daughter. As a result, the argument that Othello had been primarily accused of tricking Desdemona to fall in love with him through witchcraft can be said to stem from the Venetian’s distrust of Othello’s background. The accusation “Sans witchcraft could not”, as well as the Venetian’s reluctance to accept Othello's justification, “Thou know'st we work by wit, and not by witchcraft” arguably suffers from this bias. Indeed, his cultural origin is referenced throughout the play as the primary reason causing the Venetian’s distrust and jealousy towards Othello.