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Feminist Point Of View In Shakespeare's Othello

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Feminist point of view means the analysis of any literary works based on the feminist perception. Feminism has gradually become broad and noticeable in its attacks on male-dominated society. The Shakespearian era of the 16th century was a time when women were very inferior in the society. If we compare with other writers, Shakespeare was always careful of women and tried to give them respect in his different writings. If we look at his famous play named Othello we need to judge the equality of women in terms of political, social and economic perspective. The feminist perspective challenges sexism and other beliefs and practices that result in the domination of women. When we look at Othello from feminist point of view it is important to note how the women of this play are treated and stereotyped. …show more content…

The way these women act and conduct themselves is unquestionably related to the ideological expectations of Elizabethan and patriarchal society. Desdemona, Othello 's wife and Brabantio 's daughter, is represented as the ideal woman. So she would never be disloyal to her husband. On many occasions, Desdemona obeys her husband firmly and calls herself obedient even after Othello hits her. She was loving and loyal to Othello and wishes a long marriage of prosperity and commitment that would lead to her ultimate happiness. She is an independent character because, she confidently defends her love marriage to a man her father hasn’t accepted who is many years older than her. She was interested in adventure when she heard the stories of Othello’s great battles and travels. Then she expresses her own desire to go with him on his journey to Cyprus. Othello thought that she could be unfaithful to him so he felt that murder and violence was the only way answer to his dilemma. The most important argument is that she takes the blame for her own murder. Her final words, when Emilia asks who has done this to her, then she said - Nobody; I myself.

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The women in Othello and Chaucer's Wife of Bath differ, but in the end both want their husbands to love them. In Othello there are only three women displayed in the story, but the statements that were said about these three women were the belief that all women in that society were all the same- evil, whores who were temptress to the men. The three women; Desdemona, the wife of Othello, Emilia, the wife of Iago, and Bianca, perceived as a prostitute who is a “customer” (l. 138. 4.1) of Cassio. Iago is one of the main characters who degrades and slanders all women including his wife Emilia.

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At the beginning of William Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia, Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant, remains blindly loyal to her husband. Emilia demonstrates her blind loyalty when she steals Desdemona’s handkerchief for Iago, stating that she is “nothing but to please his fancy” (3.3.343). However, by the end of the play, she comes to realize the dark truths about her husband and reveals them. Unlike the other characters in the play, including Iago, Othello, and even Desdemona, Emilia is driven by honesty and logic, rather than passion or jealousy. Her ability to think logically eventually causes her to abandon her loyalty to Iago and pursue of truth and justice.

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