Female Strength in Othello The sixteen hundreds is a time where women were normally depicted as weak, and sexism was rampant among society but some plays showed went against the norm and portrayed women as strong capable people. One of these plays, Othello written by Shakespeare featured a couple of strong female characters such as Desdemona and Emilia forced to fair against the manipulative plots of Iago. Iago manipulates Othello to fire Cassio, his lieutenant and makes him believe that Desdemona cheated on Othello With Cassio leading to her death at the hands of Othello. Iago also causes Emilia’s death when she stood up to him at the end of the play. Despite Desdemona and Emilia’s death their
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No One in the play better demonstrates this strength than Desdemona . Her love for Othello has no bounds showing her emotional strength surpass all others. From the start of the play she loves Othello and shows it by leaving her father to come with Othello on the expedition saying “My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty.”(1.3.529-30) Later on her love is tested again when Othello starts to mistreat her due to his corruption by Iago. Othello hits and degrades her, but Desdemona, instead of losing love for him, trusts that he still loves her and that his anger is due to other circumstances which will eventually pass. Desdemona loves Othello, so much so that nothing, not even death could stop her emotions. When Othello smothered her, she still in her last words muttered “Nobody; I myself. Farewell Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!.”(5.2.149-50) She won 't give up on Othello trusting him despite her mistreatment, showing her true strength. Trusting someone is a difficult task but she trusts and accepts Othello even in dire circumstances. This emotional strength is what-when compared to the other characters of the play such as Othello- creates a distinct difference that separates her from everyone else. Othello, while still loving Desdemona is weak and loses trust of her with some quiet persuasion from Iago. Othello’s weak emotional strength leads to his quick distrust of Desdemona …show more content…
Each major female character was strong in their own way such as Emilia and her strong spirit and Desdemona with her strong emotional state which set them apart from the men. While it is true that both genders have their faults, the play Othello depicted women as a more stable and responsible being that shadowed over the sneaky jealous rage of the men. It is possible that Shakespeare intended the audience to see a contrast between men and women showing women as pure and men as corrupt. There are many different types of strengths and women are not stronger than men in all, Iago is the most intelligent person in Othello and yet Emilia still stood up to him revealing his plan. In society women are not always viewed as equal, especially in the 1600s but through Othello it is proven that even over four hundred years ago women are as strong as men, something that some people even in modern times don 't
No One in the play better demonstrates this strength than Desdemona . Her love for Othello has no bounds showing her emotional strength surpass all others. From the start of the play she loves Othello and shows it by leaving her father to come with Othello on the expedition saying “My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty.”(1.3.529-30) Later on her love is tested again when Othello starts to mistreat her due to his corruption by Iago. Othello hits and degrades her, but Desdemona, instead of losing love for him, trusts that he still loves her and that his anger is due to other circumstances which will eventually pass. Desdemona loves Othello, so much so that nothing, not even death could stop her emotions. When Othello smothered her, she still in her last words muttered “Nobody; I myself. Farewell Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!.”(5.2.149-50) She won 't give up on Othello trusting him despite her mistreatment, showing her true strength. Trusting someone is a difficult task but she trusts and accepts Othello even in dire circumstances. This emotional strength is what-when compared to the other characters of the play such as Othello- creates a distinct difference that separates her from everyone else. Othello, while still loving Desdemona is weak and loses trust of her with some quiet persuasion from Iago. Othello’s weak emotional strength leads to his quick distrust of Desdemona …show more content…
Each major female character was strong in their own way such as Emilia and her strong spirit and Desdemona with her strong emotional state which set them apart from the men. While it is true that both genders have their faults, the play Othello depicted women as a more stable and responsible being that shadowed over the sneaky jealous rage of the men. It is possible that Shakespeare intended the audience to see a contrast between men and women showing women as pure and men as corrupt. There are many different types of strengths and women are not stronger than men in all, Iago is the most intelligent person in Othello and yet Emilia still stood up to him revealing his plan. In society women are not always viewed as equal, especially in the 1600s but through Othello it is proven that even over four hundred years ago women are as strong as men, something that some people even in modern times don 't