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The Dehumanization Of Women In Othello, The Moor Of Venice

1133 Words5 Pages

Patriarchy has been prevalent in both life and literature tracing back from the biblical texts to modern times. This masculine way of thinking is often seen as simply how things are, an unchangeable reality of society, which causes more harm than good. This is most certainly true for the female characters in Shakespeare's tragic play, The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice. Throughout the play, female characters choose to be submissive to the dominant male characters and allow themselves to be dehumanized by this. The culture of Othello creates an atmosphere where women lose self value due to being dehumanized and objectified by men.
From an early age and throughout their lives, society socializes women into being submissive nearly to …show more content…

Men, in the play, find their strength through military strength, manipulation, and control over the opposite sex. Iago especially uses his masculinity to abuse his wife verbally saying to his wife “come on. Come on… You are players in your housewifery and housewives in bed” (2.1.19-24). Throughout the play, Iago’s treats women in a horrific manner, but sadly this is not uncommon both in the play and in the real world. Men’s masculinity often stems from dehumanization and degradation of women while using them as objects for their own purposes. Disappointingly, this treatment of women is not unique to the villain of the play, but also to the hero. Othello strongly believes that he must kill Desdemona or “else she’ll betray more men” (5.2.6). He believes the illusion that he controls Desdemona, and that her life is disposable if it is no longer pleasing to him. Furthermore, he kills her upon false charges of adultery because he is consumed with thoughts that she is his and not her own person who loves him. In every instance of men and women interacting, the women always are dominated by the men. The masculine domination in the play completely overwhelms the women and is the cause of death for Desdemona and of abuse for

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