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Romantic Relationships In Othello

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Women must be granted freedom from stereotypical gender roles in order to achieve dominance over their own lives. This is exemplified in the various romantic relationships in Othello. Immediately in the first act, Brabatio accuses Othello of being a “foul thief, where hast [Othello] stow’d [his] daughter” (I.ii.62) classifying women as a property that can be traded amongst other men. This suggests that women are in the possession of their father before wedlock and of their husband prior to. In addition, Desdemona is passive, failing to contribute her own ideas in a dispute between the two men. As a result, she sacrifices the control she has over her own life and contributes to empowering men. In contrast, Emilia is a stronger female persona

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