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Bias Against Women In William Shakespeare's Othello

554 Words3 Pages

he play, Othello, is placed during a time period when people weren't treated the same and it wasn’t considered a problem. In reality it was one of the biggest problems throughout that time period. One problem throughout the story was bias between the characters. Bias affects every character and is the biggest example on why you should walk through life with an open mind and bias free. The difference between our time and theirs is specifically the ability to identify discrimination.
Bias against women has been an issue throughout history, we’ve always compared women and men, which caused many problems. Women are often deemed as ignorant and unequal to men. Men are quick to believe they are superior and often treat women as so. In the play, Iago, desperately trying to ruin …show more content…

Othello, quick to have faith for Desdemona, turns around and eventually accuses her, himself. Eventually, Othello gets violent and jealous with
Desdemona, not believing a word she says. On his deathbed, Cassio said, “Dear general, I never gave you cause.(5.2.351 )” Implying he never had an affair with Desdemona, Othello quickly believed Cassio.
After she begged him until her last breath to believe her, she said, “And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then when your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not, Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.(5.2.44)” He finally realized she was speaking the truth, knowing if he would’ve believed her from the beginning, she would’ve been alive. Later on, this thought drove him to suicide. The bias that took place was from a society view point, Othello listened to others’ biased opinions and assumptions, without any facts. This whole situation was preventable, many lives would have been saved.
During this time period, women were supposed to be pure and seen not heard in public, the men spoke and the women stayed silent. Men can’t believe a woman has her own opinions and desires. Earlier in

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