Shakespeare s Othello - Role Of Women And Gender...

Women in Othello The role of women and gender representation in Othello challenged the male dominated society in that time period. Women in Shakespeare’s time were seen as being loyal and submissive to their husbands and not going against their husband’s judgment. Shakespeare developed complex and varied female characters in his plays, especially the women portrayed in Othello. In the play, Shakespeare introduces three female characters: Desdemona, Othello s wife, Emilia, Iago’s wife and mistress to Desdemona, and Bianca, a prostitute who is interested in Cassio. The play examines the positions each woman has in the social hierarchy and also reviews the issue of adultery. Desdemona would be considered the ideal woman of that time period. She is sophisticated and honest with her love for Othello, as she claims that â€Å"our loves and comforts should increase even as our days grow† (2.1. 193-194). Throughout the play she symbolizes innocence in her marriage. She is also submissive and fails to speak out about certain things such as the missing handkerchief in fear of hurting Othello’s feelings. Her role is determined by her relationship to the male characters, and her behavior is directed by the males as well. â€Å"Some Shakespearean characters illustrate the fact that in some instances victims play no role in their victimization, and that they may become victims because of their sociological characteristics—for example, being females† ( Corbett 6) . She cares about the otherShow MoreRelatedThe Contemporary American Rendition Of Othello By William Shakespeare1191 Words   |  5 PagesOthello, composed by Shakespeare in 1 603, is a standout amongst the most disputable and pertinent plays to both society and people. It investigates themes such as gender equality and Jealousy that are still pervasive today. The film O, on the other hand, is the contemporary American rendition of Othello. It too explores similar notions pertinent to society. At the core of both these texts there are universal themes that make it similar, however, each text has been altered by the composers, WilliamRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1115 Words   |  5 Pages Shakespeare s complex play Othello holds numerous pressing issues within its intricate layers that seem to leap out to modern society. One such issue seen by many is the representation of women. Women within the play can be characterized as submissive possessions and temptresses. This ideology, though commonplace in this time period, appears controversial to the modern eye as we deconstruct the characters of this play. This dominate patriarchal society present within the setting merely conditionsRead MoreEssay on Othello and Hedda Gabler: Breaking from Tradition1825 Words   |  8 Pagesand women and their actions, thoughts, and behaviours have been at the centre and focal point in several types of literature. The relationships between one another have been portrayed in various ways, each one representing each gender differently. The representation of women has been a common and controversial subject. The female gender roles depicted in each time period have always been presen t in literature throughout history. These traditional female roles that society has placed on women haveRead MoreThe Secret River By Kate Grenville And William Shakespeare1467 Words   |  6 PagesHow has the Kate Grenville and William Shakespeare used compositional features to express both similar and different ideas of difference and power? The Secret River, set in England and Australia, was written by Kate Grenville in 2006. William Shakespeare’s play Othello was written in 1603 and set in Venice. Kate Grenville and William Shakespeare used compositional features to express both similar and different ideas of difference and power. 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Readers in our current world, and especially women, are encouraged to be self-assertive in demand for equal treatment in our society. This has been the tradition for women in the Western world and is one that should be spread across all societies in the wholeRead MoreLiterary Theories And Literary Criticism1318 Words   |  6 Pageswork reflects on the author. †¢ Recognizes current cultural contexts, which helps critic’s to come to their conclusions about the literary work at hand. 2. †¢ Literary context/work: The Merchant of Venice. †¢ One wanted to know if the play written by Shakespeare, was anti-Semitic. †¢ One could not simply answer yes/no. Research needed to be done and the text needed to be studied and analysed. †¢ You needed to look into the cultural history of the play to come to a conclusion. (Study social classes; point