Kennon Chaney

Beloate

English 12

5/13/19

Othello Research Paper

It was normal and common in everyday life for men to be in control of society, the community,

and their home during the 16th century. As women served men, they also were considered property with

very little consideration or rights. Shakespeare was often ahead of his time as he tackled various themes

in his writing. This was true in Othello as he crafted the idea that women should have equality. In his play

Othello, Shakespeare demonstrated women equality through the use of the only three women characters

in the play: Emilia, Bianca, and Desdemona.

Emilia often used her voice to speak out her feelings and pride on equal rights for women.

According to Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper “Women were subject to the whims and desires of men.” As the

women were considered property, they were responsible for maintaining the “honour”. Emilia voices her

opinion on the unfair rules that apply to women and the inequality. Iago emotionally abused her and was

dishonouring her in public. “Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace, yet have we some

revenge. Let husbands know their wives have sense like them. They see, and smell, And have their

palates both for sweet and sour, as husbands have.... Have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty,

as men have? Then, let them use us well; else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.”

(4.3.103) As Emilia spoke for herself she stood up and proclaimed that all women are just as equal to

men. Unfortunately Emilia was married to a conniving man who ended up be a machiavellian villain. She

fell prey to his ways but in the end no longer pledged allegiance to her husband no matter the cost. She

defended the innocence of Desdemona, her mistress, and in death asked to be laid next to her showing

true devotion.

Even though Bianca was called a “whore” throughout the play really she was economically and

sexually independent as seen in the following interaction with Cassio, whom she loved:
Bianca. Save you, friend Cassio!

Cassio What make you from home?

How is’t with you, my most fair Bianca?

I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.

Bianca And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.

What, keep a week away? seven days and nights? Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent

hours More tedious than the dial, eight score times!

O weary reckoning !(3.4)

There was no evidence that he was her paying customer. Unfortunately it was seen that Othello called his

own wife Desdemona a strumpet as well. Characters in the book called Bianca names that referred her to

a prostitute and the men from Othello did not care for her emotions. “She is deemed to be immoral for

having sex outside marriage, and so automatically she is worthy of abuse.” said by crossref-it.

Shakespeare used Bianca’s character to show how women were treated when they are not worthy. Even

though Bianca was seen as a prostitute she still had feelings such as love for Cassio. According to Maggie

Bowman, “The problem with prostitutes arose from the fact that they were being controlled by no man

and were, in fact, controlling men, themselves. Jankowski states, ‘If marriage was the norm, women who

were not married, for whatever reason, challenged the norm and were consequently seen as threatening.’

All ungoverned women were viewed as a threat to social order.” Ultimately, by the end of Othello Bianca

challenged her stereotype and was able to do what Emilia and Desdemona were unable to do...survive.

Desdemona was shown as a strong independent woman because she defied her father’s wishes

and society’s expectations. She decided to marry an outsider, a Moor, who was looked down upon and

who was not a traditional, rich Venetian. “I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honors and his

valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate. So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, A moth of

peace, and he go to the war, The rites for which I Love him are bereft me And I a heavy interim shall

support By his dear absence. Let me go with him. (1.3) Desdemona defended her right to marry the man

she loved, not whom her father wanted her to marry. She was very bold about it and also wasn’t afraid to
express her love and desire for Othello. However, Desdemona was subject to her husband’s domestic

abuse but did not quietly take it as most wives did during the time. Othello insulted and struck her in

public but Desdemona didn’t willingling accept the abuse. She said, “I have not deserved this” (4.1).

Desdemona disapproved of his actions and “called out” Othello and expressed her feelings to him.

Shakespeare used the character Desdemona as a woman to be ahead of the time because unlike other

women, Desdemona defended herself and her beliefs strongly.

From analyzing the play Othello, we can conclude that Shakespeare demonstrated women

equality through the use of the characters Emilia, Bianca, and Desdemona. These three women fought for

equal rights as they felt powerless and desired the same respect and value as men during the 16th century.

This was a man’s world where Othello displayed the roles of men and women. Women were treated lower

than men and were considered property.

Work Cited Page

Bastin, Jennifer. “‘I Must Be Circumstanced:" Bianca's Effect on Othello.” “I Must Be Circumstanced:”

Bianca’s Effect on Othello ,

pdfs.semanticscholar.org/678a/208ee6fddac7825b8d07b6e7d5290d9ba309.pdf.

Bishop, Ashley. “Feminism in Othello.” Study.com, Study.com, 2019,

study.com/academy/lesson/feminism-in-othello.html.
 Bowman, Maggie. “Bianca in Shakespeare's Othello.” Strumpets and Stews,

strumpetsandstews.weebly.com/bianca-in-shakespeares-othello.html.

Dr. Farah Karim-Cooper. “Women in Othello.” Othello: Playing Shakespeare with Deutsche Bank, 4 Feb.

2015, 2015.playingshakespeare.org/women-in-othello.

“Feminist Interpretation.” It.info, 2019, crossref-it.info/textguide/othello/41/3140.

Merriam-Webster, 2019, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marginalized. Accessed 2019.

Swerner. “Othello.” Folger Shakespeare Library, 13 Feb. 2015, www.folger.edu/othello.