Topic Sentence: Desmona, Emilla, and Bianca are typical of the three social classes represented by Shakespearean society
| POINT
Use “next idea” transition words | Introduce quotation: Situation
Use example transition words | Who says the words?
Who is spoken to? | PROOF
Direct quotation with MLA NO MORE THAN A SENTENCE | COMMENT/EXPLAIN
Explain how the quote develops/proves the point you are making. |
| Firstly, Desdemona is typical of a patrician family. | For instance, Desdemona has a high spirit and quite intelligent. She receives petitioners as the commander’s wife and is also a hostess at official receptions | She is introduced as honest and straightforward. However, she receives disrespect from Othello in return when he states that | “Devil, he strikes her; I have not deserved this.” (I,iii,140-145) | How Desdemona treats his lover, Othello, would call for respect and honor toward her honest and straightforward wife. However, Othello’s attitude is contrary to the readers’ expectations. |
| Second, Emilla represents a gentlewoman who falls in the middle class | Emilla, Desdemona’s maid, is a woman of practical, emotional resilience and intelligence. | Her duties reveal her social class. However, she remains loyal but betrayed. | “Why we have galls, and though we have some grace yet have some revenge. Let husbands know Their wives have sense like them.” (iv,ii,175-180) | Emilla shows a lot of commitment and loyalty in her work. She expects her husband to acknowledge her efforts. She remains loyal to her master and is described as gentle and respectful. |
| Finally, Bianca is a courtesan in Cyprus representing well educated and skilled entrepreneurs | she is representative of a well-educated and experienced entrepreneur. However, the courtesans are presented as prostitutes | Cassio asks Bianca to | “Take out the work” (iv, I,150-154)
| This portrays her as an embroider. Courtesans are presented as free and independent, although falling at the lower social scale. |
Concluding Sentence: Women in the Shakespearean society are presented as intelligent, honest, and resilient. Although they expect the same from their men, they receive the contrary. Men are disloyal and oppressive and disloyal.
Topic Sentence: women are represented as sex objects and as passive individuals in society
| POINT
Use “next idea” transition words | Introduce quotation: Situation
Use example transition words | Who says the words?
Who is spoken to? | PROOF
Direct quotation with MLA NO MORE THAN A SENTENCE | COMMENT/EXPLAIN
Explain how the quote develops/proves the point you are making. |
| First of all, Men use abusive words against women. | For example, Iago uses offensive words against women; he comments on his wife Emilla as a prostitute. | Iago comments on his wife Emilla as a prostitute and that he would | “drown himself for the love of a guinea-hen’ (I, ii,315-319) | Iago uses offensive and sexist language and believes that women are mere annoying sex objects. He labels his wife as a prostitute. This is contrary to what we would expect, given the nature of Emilla. |
| Secondly, Emilla is perceived as passive and only meant to achieve Iago’s wishes and to please him. | For instance, Iago believes that Emilla has the responsibility of satisfying him. | Iago’s derogatory comments make Emilla say that | “I nothing but to please his fantasy” (iii, ii,295-300) | She believes Iago sees her as an object of fulfilling his fantasy. On the contrary, Emilla acknowledges that he doesn’t seem to be satisfied, especially from comments made by Iago. |
| Last but not least, the emotions of Desdemona seem to be automatically disregarded. | Specifically, Iago views them as objects of fulfilling his desires | Desdemona and Emilla discuss their marriage desires, Desdemona comments that | “They are all but stomachs, and we are all but food, they eat us hungrily, and when they are full, they belch us. (I,iii,100-105) | The roles of women in the play as perceived by men are more oppressive and. They see women as passive and objects of fulfilling their desires.
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Concluding Sentence: In the entire play, women are represented as sex objects and as passive individuals in society. Men use abusive words against women, while women are not expected to do the same. Iago uses offensive words against women.
Topic Sentence: Finally, Women are represented as victims of society who are obligated to follow the social norms of the perfect woman
| POINT
Use “next idea” transition words | Introduce quotation: Situation
Use example transition words | Who says the words?
Who is spoken to? | PROOF
Direct quotation with MLA NO MORE THAN A SENTENCE | COMMENT/EXPLAIN
Explain how the quote develops/proves the point you are making. |
| To begin with, They are portrayed as possessions of men. | Othello believes Desdemona is his possession | His comment that | “To his conveyance, I will assign my wife” (I, iii,285-290) | implies that Desdemona is his possession. Disobeying such requirements would expose them to a tragic fate since they are treated as weaker and lower-ranked sex. |
| Furthermore, They are seen to serve romantic roles to men. | For instance, Othello views Desdemona as one who should accomplish his romantic desires | He comments that | “Let me have speech with you- Come, my dear love, the purchase made, are the fruits to ensue.” (ii,iii, 5-10) | This is representative of what men expect of women. Women in society are expected to play romantic roles and satisfy men. |
| Elizabethan women were raised to believe that they were inferior and dominated by men. | They could not be heirs of their fathers’ titles. The titles went from father to son and would not go to the closest woman. They were not to make any decision on their own. | Desdemona goes against his father by marrying a ‘moor.’ Her father, Brabantio, believes Othello has tricked Desdemona into marrying him. He says that | “she is abused, stolen from me and corrupted by spells and medicine.” (I,iii, 55-60) | By making her choices on whom to love, Desdemona goes against the social norms of the community. This makes her father believe that Othello influenced her. |
Concluding Sentence: Women are portrayed as men’s possessions and are expected to meet the social norms of society.