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William Shakespeare 's 'Othello' can be read from the perspective of feminism. Feminist analysis of Othello's play makes it possible to judge women's different social values and positions in this era. Though mistreatment and offensive slurs directed towards women are shown throughout the play it is purposeful. Shakespeare provided examples of sexism throughout his play in order to convey a message to his audience of the Elizabethan era. This message being the way they treated and viewed women of that time was demeaning and not only destructive to women but also to men morally.
Thus it is also arguable to assume that Shakespeare was indeed a feminist. Feminism may be defined in a variety of ways. But for the purposes of this essay, I’ll be referring to a broad definition of the advocacy of equal rights for women in the context of Othello.
Fluidity of gender and gender as a whole is a major theme in many of Shakespeare's plays, we can see this not only in Othello but also in Romeo and Juliet, and especially his comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream).
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There is a kind of fluidity between male and female in many of Shakespeare's plays which is understable given the time period. In Shakespeare's time, women were not allowed on stage, men would dress up as women to portray these female characters. Since many of Shakespeare’s works were written to be performed, the play’s came across quite different rather than if there were actual women playing women roles.
Feminism as a concept didn't really exist in Shakespeare's time due to the toxic ideals that were upheld as standard for a women in that era, there were very few independent figures for women to look up to during that time.
However there were still renaissance figures such as Queen Elizabeth, she’d never got married because she refused to give up her power to a man. So there were women demonstrating independence, but it was relatively uncommon for women to be completely independent, and especially uncommon for them to be financially independent. Elizabeth The First was an incredibly strong female figure. However she was difficult, as she is a difficult person for feminists of today to analyze, because she was both a strong and powerful and independent and rich woman, but also she upheld traditional gender roles of chastity and purity and female beauty and frailty. So she's a very complex figure. And you can see influences of her and the idea of her in Shakespeare's plays and female characters.
There are quite a few strong female characters in Shakespeare's plays, and we perhaps see the idea of Elizabeth the first reflected in them, or the idea of the fluidity of gender. An example of this is Desdamona in the very beginning of Othello. During the Elizabethan era, women speaking up for themselves, and acting independently from their husbands or father's was seen as quite scandalous, but it's common in Shakespeare's plays. This is also demonstrated in the universally known tragic love story, Romeo and Juliet. The whole premise of their love surrounds the fact that it’s forbidden, Shakespeare glamorizes how much Juliet refuses her parents wishes of marrying her into power, and her efforts to fight for what she loves rather than fall in line.
There are only three female characters Othello, but each plays a critical role in the downfall of the tragic hero Othello. The first woman we are introduced to is Othello’s wife, Desdemona. Shortly afterwards, the antagonist of the story Iago’s wife, the quiet and obedient Emilia. Lastly we meet Bianca, who is mostly presented as Othello’s loyal Lieutenant Cassio, plaything. Her presence is brief and she is almost only referred to as a woman whose purpose is to fulfill sexual desires. Oddly enough it is to be noted that we are introduced to each woman by way of the man with whom she is associated with.
This is done on purpose and is actually quite relevant given the time period of the play, women in Elizabethan England were considered property traded in marriage if they were of noble stature (Elizabethi). Women’s purpose during this era was to act on the whims and desires of men, this theme is highlighted throughout the entire play. Each woman of this play has her role to play to her husband as well as in Iago’s scheme to bring down Othello.
Desdemona and Emelia are the two most prominent female figures in this play. In particular they serve as a symbol for the ideal woman of this era, while Bianca's fiery jealousy is expressed in this play as undesirable and unladylike. While the beautiful and pure Desdemona is considered the main female lead, Emilia later on during the play represents a non-traditional woman of the time. Though she is still considered respectable and has a high social status unlike Bianca. Her values, however, do not align with those of a traditional Elizabethan woman.
Shakespeare does not directly advocate for women's rights. Instead, he focuses on the unjust moral social and political environment in which Elizabethan women live that typical at that time. In a way, it is arguable that Shakespeare gave these women of this era a voice and representation indirectly whether not the audience was aware of this or not. Though men hold the authority in Shakespearean plays, and Othello is not an exception, however this is what made his plays so culturally relevant, they were a correct representation of people and the social climate of that era.
William Shakespeare's tragedies focus on the primarily male characters, but unlike many plays of his time, Shakespeare wrote complex roles for women as well. Although women were forbidden from appearing on stage at the time, Shakespeare developed powerful female characters, they were not one dimensional women with one liners, they had things to say and stuff they wanted to prove.
Desdemona perhaps is the perfect example of everything a man of the time would deem a perfect wife and what every woman should aspire to be. She is beautiful, obedient, and devoted to her husband. Despite her obvious loyalty and devotion, Othello begins to question the seemingly perfect Desdamona. His doubt drives his jealousy, however Desdemona never once questions her love for him throughout the play, even as Othello is clearly about to murder her. Shakespeare uses Desdemona to reveal the internalized distrust men have for women. Even the most perfectly ‘up to standard’ women of that time (Desdamona) were exposed to the misogyny and high expectations put upon them, to put it simply a woman could never be good enough in the eyes of men during this era.
Emilia is Desdemona's friend and Iago’s wife. Whenever she is seen during the play she is usually with Desdemona, so it is understandable that she has insight into Desdemona's personal life. This gives an advantage to Iago, being Emilia's husband therefore meaning she immediately owes him whatever he desires in his eyes. This is pivotal because in order to make Othello believe that Desdemona has been unfaithful, Iago receives a gift from his wife Emilia by her getting Desdemona's handkerchief so that he could plant it on Cassio's nightstand, all the while Emilia is clueless to Iago’s true intentions.
Although Emilia’s carelessness is what led to Desdamona’s demise, Emilia is loyal to Desdemona, but she also believes she owes her husband her devotion as well. She is caught between her conscience and her responsibilities as a wife. This divided duty reveals the complexity of being a woman in Elizabethan England. Emilia doing what she believed to be the correct thing to do as a lady, led to a ultimate tragedy.
Had Emilia not given Iago the handkerchief, Iago's scheme to drive Othello mad with jealousy may have been so difficult it would have failed. But refusing to give her husband the handkerchief would have also made Iago question her loyalty to him as a wife. Until the final scene, Emilia does not suspect her husband of plotting against Othello. 'I know thou didst not,' she says to Iago in the final scene after discovering Othello had murdered her mistress, '...thou'rt not such a villain'.
One of the most interesting aspects of Emilia is her viewpoint on marriage. Although Emilia was in the beginning of the play is accused of having an affair with Othello, proves herself to be a loyal and honest woman not showing any signs of adultery. She is most definitely loyal to Iago when she gives him Desdemona's handkerchief, going out of her way to think about her husband despite the vile remarks he throws at her and her instinct to return the handkerchief.
While handing Iago the handkerchief, she seems suspicious. 'What will you do with't, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it?' Iago never once gives a reason for wanting the handkerchief and does quite a horrible job at not seeming villainous, Emilia leaves without protest after handing it over when he dismisses her. Although she is a devoted wife, Emilia questions her husband, which goes against the grain of the conventional Elizabethan woman.
The third female character, Bianca, has a minor presence in the play, but she represents the most extreme opposite to Desdemona's perfection. Bianca is a courtesan, or prostitute, and while we sympathize with her, we recognize that she has little social value in the play due to the little respect she receives from male characters along with her little to no presence in the play. Emilia may stray away from the ideal Elizabethan woman, but Bianco is on a whole totally different spectrum.
Othello: The Perspective Of Feminism. (2024, Feb 04). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/othello-the-perspective-of-feminism-essay
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