Comparing Women In Othello And The Canterbury Tales

There are many instances in literature, past and present, where the author shares his or her opinion on women in society through the use of his or her works; Othello and The Canterbury Tales are no exception. William Shakespeare and Geoffrey Chaucer use their description of the main female characters in their books as a direct projection of their take on the patriarchy and misogyny. In both Othello, by William Shakespeare, and The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, women are portrayed as less than men. Each book has a woman that serves as an example of what a woman “should” be in society, as well as a woman that goes against the accepted social paradigm. In the end, the woman who acts as she pleases receives a harsher description and, in the case of Emilia, a bitter end. In Othello, Desdemona

It is expressed early on in the book, that women are seen as property. In Act 2 Scene 3, Othello says, “The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue.” He speaks of his marriage to Desdemona as a “purchase” he has made, and her body and their physicality are the fruits that come with said purchase. He treats her as an object he owns. Another time Desdemona is referred to as an object is in Act 1 Scene 3. The Duke tells Othello to “use Desdemona well.” There are many points in the story where Desdemona acts submissively in the presence of men. When asking Iago to speak to Othello, wondering what to do to win him back, she falls to her knees. She was literally begging on her knees to Iago in distress about her situation with her husband. Most notably, Desdemona acts submissively right before she is killed by Othello. As he speaks of her death moments before killing her, she acquiesces his orders to pray. He smothers her. When Emilia comes in, Desdemona is on her