When women attempt to break out of their gender roles, they suffer negative consequences leading to a decline in self-esteem. This emphasizes the need for female empowerment to be graciously encouraged instead of constantly suppressed. Emilia demonstrates female empowerment when she ignores Iago’s warning to “be wise and go home” (Act 5, scene 2) and instead, exposes Iago of all his deceit. In successfully surpassing Iago’s social power, going against her traditional role in marriage, Iago immediately reasserts his power by verbally degrading her, labelling her a “villainous whore” (Act 5 Scene 2). He then proceeds to murder her (Act 5, scene 2), symbolic of the punishment women face when they make a positive contribution to society. This
