The role of women in society

The role of women in society

Of the night, the senator shouts his right of ownership,” O thou foul thief, where hast thou stowed my daughter?” In other words, Brabantio calls Othello, a thief for ‘stealing’ his daughter as if she is an object. These lines indicate how women were viewed as property rather than a person. Women underwent pain because of love. Desdemona disobeyed her father because she loves Othello, but later, Othello mistreats her and kills her. Although Desdemona shows an act of independence by making that decision, her further actions show her as a weak person. Bianca is a prostitute but in love with Cassio and suffers heartbreak because of him. Cassio is perceived to be happy to sleep with Bianca while, on the other hand, he dismisses the idea that he might marry her despite her submissive character. Iago also abuses Emilia and sees her as a sex object. He uses ill language to describe women, Iago states,” come on, come on: you are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlors, wild cats in your kitchens, saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and house wife’s in your beds: (2.1 20). Iago, in other words, is saying that women are good when they are outside of their homes, but once they enter the house, they are worse than devils. Iago constantly insults Emilia, and she is still obedient to his commands. Therefore, the above provisions make it imperative to conclude that women are obligated to satisfy men’s sexual desires, but they do not deserve respect whatsoever. This is evident by the negative sentiments made against women despite them being submissive to their husbands.

The role of women in society is that women were only allowed to take care of the family and should not take part in societal key activities because this was seen as a means of disobedience to men in society. Women were not allowed to air their voice concerning the things that are affecting them in the community as Emilia did, she is seen as a strong woman who is ready to speak about the things that are affecting them as women in society, and this was an abomination to men because men possess authority over them. Women were seen to be homemakers and expected to be obedient to their husbands in the society, and their work was to ensure that they provide all the needs of their husbands in the society, and their work was to ensure that they provide all needs of their husbands in the community (Smith25). Shakespeare is pointing out how women did not have much say in what happens around them.

Moreover, Desdemona is shown to be too trusting and naïve throughout the whole play. She is blinded by her love for him that she does not realize what he becomes. Desdemona takes the blame for her death. Desdemona told Emilia after she asks her who did this to you, and Desdemona says, “Nobody. I myself. Farewell (5.2.124).” Even after Othello attempted murdering her, she defends him right before she took her last breath. Desdemona’s death reflects the murder of an innocent victim who allowed her to be killed.

On the other hand, Emilia is seen as a female who falls victim to the society’s codes that she had no control over. Emilia sets off as an obedient and silent woman at the beginning of the play and is submissive to her tasks and obligations. However, she breaks the silence and turns out to be courageous to fight for her position. When Emilia realized his plotting, she did not stay quiet. During Emilia’s final moments, she begins to show an overpowering loyalty to Desdemona. Emilia confronted Othello when he confessed the reason he killed his wife. Emilia said, “Thou hast not half that power to do me harm as I have to be hurt. O gull, O dolt, / as ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed—I care not for thy sword, I’ll make thee known/ though I lost twenty lives (5.2 158-162).” Emila calls Othello ‘dolt’ because she realized who he was in reality. She was not afraid of the consequences. Instead, she was assured that the truth came out. Emilia spoke her thoughts and made sure Desdemona’s name was cleared up, knowing that would bring Emilia tragic consequences. Emilia’s death demonstrated how she broke the barrier of resistance. If Emilia had listened to her husband, she would have continued living. However, she instead spoke up and told him everything she felt without hesitating. Therefore, Emilia’s character contradicts the submissive stereotype.

As a result, Shakespeare clearly shows a margin between a patriarchal and feminist society. Gender is one of the themes emphasized in the play Othello by William Shakespeare because it shows the inequalities that women had in the era and need to promote equality with men.

This play depicts women’s gender roles using three women by showing the way women were viewed as weak vessels in the society who were subjected to the authority by men and were also seen as love objects in the community. Shakespeare only features three main female characters in the play, which are shown to have little agency. However, at the end of the play, Emilia breaks this barrier and airs her views though it leads to her death.

Works Cited

Ian Smith, “Othello’s Black Handerkerchief” Shakespear quarterly, Volume 64, Issue 1, soring 2013, pages 1-25, https://doi.org/10.1353/shq.2013.0017

Shakespeare, William. Othello, edited by E.A.J.Honigman, The Arden Shakespeare, 2016.

Thompson, Ayanna.”Introduction.”Othello, Ed. Thompson, The Arden Shakespeare, 2016.