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Feminist Lens Essay On Othello

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Gavin Obringer Monroe 2A 03/09/24. Othello Essay In William Shakespeare's "Othello," the character of Iago stands as a fascinating subject for feminist literary analysis. While the play centers on the tragic downfall of Othello and Desdemona, Iago's manipulative actions and his interactions with other characters offer a good example of exploring gender dynamics and power structures through a feminist lens. At first glance, Iago appears to be a straightforward villain motivated solely by jealousy and a desire for revenge. However, a deeper examination reveals that his actions are driven by a complex web of societal expectations and gender norms. Through his manipulation of characters like Othello, Cassio, and even his own wife Emilia, Iago …show more content…

Despite being his wife, Iago consistently belittles and manipulates Emilia, treating her as little more than a pawn in his schemes. For instance, he pressures her into stealing Desdemona's handkerchief, a symbol of her fidelity, without regard for her own agency or well-being. This dynamic reflects the broader societal expectation of women as subservient to men, reinforcing the idea that women exist primarily to serve the desires of their husbands. Furthermore, Iago's manipulation of Desdemona and other female characters can also be seen as an expression of patriarchal control. By sowing seeds of doubt and suspicion in Othello's mind regarding Desdemona's fidelity, Iago effectively undermines her agency and autonomy within their marriage. This echoes the historical reality of women being subjected to male scrutiny and judgment, with their reputations and even lives often hanging in the balance. However, it's important to note that Iago's actions are not solely motivated by a desire to assert patriarchal dominance. In fact, his manipulation of gender norms and expectations serves as a means to an end, namely his own advancement and revenge. By exploiting societal attitudes towards women, Iago is able to manipulate the men around him, ultimately furthering his own

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The play “Othello” by William Shakespeare. Can best be examined through a cultural, historical and feminist perspectives. Othello can be viewed by using all of these different lenses. By looking into the dominate beliefs of Shakespeare time. By seeing “Othello through a feminist perspective.

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He cannot see through this veil of darkness Iago has placed before him, and starts to believe that women are actually just as deceptive as the other men had thought. In Shakespeare's plays, he often writes about tragedy, and political unrest. During this time period women had little capability, and they were often seen as barely human. Emilia, in the play Othello, is a wonderful example of how women were seen as deceptive.

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To begin, the objectification of women can be seen through the language used throughout the play. There are three major female characters in Othello, they are; Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. All three women are subjected to gender inequality a handful of times throughout the play, by their male friends, husbands, and even fathers. They sometimes do this discreetly, adding rude comments about women into their speeches, or being verbally abusive, right to their faces, no matter who is around, completely disregarding how their words may impact the women. This can be seen when Iago states; “...You are pictures out of doors, Bells in your parlours, wildcats in your kitchen, Saints in your injuries, devils being offended, Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.”

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“Iago inflames Othello with the idea of a sexual affair between Cassio and Desdemona” (Shumaker 1). This validates that in society, it was easy to manipulate others on women because of the way women were seen. Instead of trusting his wife, he believes that she is indeed cheating on him because of what Iago says to him about the way women behave. Women were known to only be obedient and submissive, and if they did something, then it would be a dishonor to the whole

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