The Treacherous Follies of Society
Desdemona from Othello by William Shakespeare (1969) and Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (2003) are characters who struggle with the repercussions of prejudice created by society and who defy social norms. Prejudice is an unfavourable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. Although both plays are based off of different centuries, both characters have similar characteristics and ideologies on how to behave within society. In this essay, I will argue social prejudice is the antecedent of the negative outcomes which impact Desdemona and Eliza’s rebellious actions and the use of meter, diction, and punctuation; support to covey the claim. Though …show more content…
She is expected to behave in a proper and educated manner, exude elegance, and follow the stringent rules of society. Her behaviour is constantly on the line and she is not allowed to go out in public without her trusted maid, Emilia. So, when Desdemona decides to take part in a clandestine marriage without her father’s knowledge, it breaks the social norms. This is seen as an insult to Brabantio, as he brought her up and he was expecting her to marry someone he chose or accepted. This is especially unorthodox because she married a Moor - a marriage which was seen as revolutionary in the Renaissance era. Even when Brabantio had put up a case against Othello for bewitching his daughter, she denies anything of that sort, further angering him. Brabantio expected his daughter to come back to him and deny Othello as her husband, but again, she defies him and speaks out saying that her duty and loyalty now is to serve her …show more content…
Flower girls in the Elizabethan Era are girls on the streets who sell flowers that are usually dilapidated and unwanted by storefronts. Eliza, born into a lower class family, is seen tending for herself and ousted from society as she serves no valuable purpose. Despite what society tells her to be, Eliza always strives for more. When Eliza visits Mr. Henry Higgins house, he tells her that, “I shall make a duchess of this draggletailed guttersnipe.” This makes Eliza quite enraged and she voices her opinion of herself. It is uncommon for a lower class person to speak out to a person from the upper class. This comes out even as a surprise to Mrs. Pearce, Mr. Higgins's housekeeper and she tells Eliza to not talk against
Desdemona from Othello by William Shakespeare (1969) and Eliza Doolittle from Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw (2003) are characters who struggle with the repercussions of prejudice created by society and who defy social norms. Prejudice is an unfavourable opinion or feeling formed beforehand or without knowledge, thought, or reason. Although both plays are based off of different centuries, both characters have similar characteristics and ideologies on how to behave within society. In this essay, I will argue social prejudice is the antecedent of the negative outcomes which impact Desdemona and Eliza’s rebellious actions and the use of meter, diction, and punctuation; support to covey the claim. Though …show more content…
She is expected to behave in a proper and educated manner, exude elegance, and follow the stringent rules of society. Her behaviour is constantly on the line and she is not allowed to go out in public without her trusted maid, Emilia. So, when Desdemona decides to take part in a clandestine marriage without her father’s knowledge, it breaks the social norms. This is seen as an insult to Brabantio, as he brought her up and he was expecting her to marry someone he chose or accepted. This is especially unorthodox because she married a Moor - a marriage which was seen as revolutionary in the Renaissance era. Even when Brabantio had put up a case against Othello for bewitching his daughter, she denies anything of that sort, further angering him. Brabantio expected his daughter to come back to him and deny Othello as her husband, but again, she defies him and speaks out saying that her duty and loyalty now is to serve her …show more content…
Flower girls in the Elizabethan Era are girls on the streets who sell flowers that are usually dilapidated and unwanted by storefronts. Eliza, born into a lower class family, is seen tending for herself and ousted from society as she serves no valuable purpose. Despite what society tells her to be, Eliza always strives for more. When Eliza visits Mr. Henry Higgins house, he tells her that, “I shall make a duchess of this draggletailed guttersnipe.” This makes Eliza quite enraged and she voices her opinion of herself. It is uncommon for a lower class person to speak out to a person from the upper class. This comes out even as a surprise to Mrs. Pearce, Mr. Higgins's housekeeper and she tells Eliza to not talk against