Treatment of Women in “Othello” and “Trifles”
Throughout history the handling of women has evolved. From the Victorian Era to the latter half of the nineteenth century many authors have championed the unfair treatment of women in books, poetry, short stories, and plays; however two authors have penned works worthy of comparison. In “Othello,” a maiden marries for love; however she is ultimately the fatal victim of her love. On the other hand, in the play “Trifles,” the downtrodden Minnie murders her abusive husband. Both Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Glaspell’s “Trifles” present the theme of patriarchal dominance through female characters who exemplify submission, victimization, and veiled strengths.
From as early as biblical times, females …show more content…
Othello publically humiliates Desdemona verbally and physically when he slaps her and says, “O devil, devil! If that the earth could team with woman’s tears, Each drop she fall will prove a crocodile. Out of my sight!” (IV.i.228-231). Glaspell’s heroin is deprived of proper clothes, music, or friendships by a husband whom Mrs. Hale describes as “a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with him – (shivers). Like a raw wind that gets to the bone.” (Glaspell 903). He is so cold that he kills her one pleasure, a little songbird. Similarly, Desdemona is perceived to be an object to be used. Speaking freely before the court assembly, Othello is told by a senator to “use Desdemona well” (I.iii.92) for his sexual pleasures. Nonetheless, it is Shakespear’s Emilia, in “Othello,” who most explicitly states the vile oppression women of patriarchal dominance suffer, saying “They eat us hungerly and when they are full / They belch us.” (III.iv.101-102). In these eras of hopeless victimization, women have very little power to combat their …show more content…
Emotionally, it takes a strong woman to suffer as Desdemona does from Othello’s accusations; consequently, Emilia reminds her that mentally it is men’s “frailty that thus errs,” though she only expresses these thoughts privately. Emilia’s implication of women’s superior mental intelligence is also demonstrated in “Trifles” when Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale secretly solve Mr. Wright’s murder, while the clueless men vigorously investigate to no avail; all the while, Mr. Hale, unaware of the ladies discovery of the broken jars, broken cage, messy sewing, and dead canary, belittles their concerns saying, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.” (Glaspell 898). That which is trifling to men is upsetting to women because they appreciate the physical labor that goes into running a household. Cleaning up behind dirty men; planting, tending, harvesting and canning food; cutting and hand sewing quilts in the nineteenth century may be different from the household responsibilities in the Victorian era; however, Victorian men expected constant attention and care to details as Desdemona learned as a maid. There were times when her desire was to hear Othello’s stories, “but still the house affairs would draw her thence.” (I.iii.149). These three strengths feed off one another, empowering women in patriarchal times to confront the most malicious tyranny, and no heroin exemplifies this power
Throughout history the handling of women has evolved. From the Victorian Era to the latter half of the nineteenth century many authors have championed the unfair treatment of women in books, poetry, short stories, and plays; however two authors have penned works worthy of comparison. In “Othello,” a maiden marries for love; however she is ultimately the fatal victim of her love. On the other hand, in the play “Trifles,” the downtrodden Minnie murders her abusive husband. Both Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Glaspell’s “Trifles” present the theme of patriarchal dominance through female characters who exemplify submission, victimization, and veiled strengths.
From as early as biblical times, females …show more content…
Othello publically humiliates Desdemona verbally and physically when he slaps her and says, “O devil, devil! If that the earth could team with woman’s tears, Each drop she fall will prove a crocodile. Out of my sight!” (IV.i.228-231). Glaspell’s heroin is deprived of proper clothes, music, or friendships by a husband whom Mrs. Hale describes as “a hard man, Mrs. Peters. Just to pass the time of day with him – (shivers). Like a raw wind that gets to the bone.” (Glaspell 903). He is so cold that he kills her one pleasure, a little songbird. Similarly, Desdemona is perceived to be an object to be used. Speaking freely before the court assembly, Othello is told by a senator to “use Desdemona well” (I.iii.92) for his sexual pleasures. Nonetheless, it is Shakespear’s Emilia, in “Othello,” who most explicitly states the vile oppression women of patriarchal dominance suffer, saying “They eat us hungerly and when they are full / They belch us.” (III.iv.101-102). In these eras of hopeless victimization, women have very little power to combat their …show more content…
Emotionally, it takes a strong woman to suffer as Desdemona does from Othello’s accusations; consequently, Emilia reminds her that mentally it is men’s “frailty that thus errs,” though she only expresses these thoughts privately. Emilia’s implication of women’s superior mental intelligence is also demonstrated in “Trifles” when Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale secretly solve Mr. Wright’s murder, while the clueless men vigorously investigate to no avail; all the while, Mr. Hale, unaware of the ladies discovery of the broken jars, broken cage, messy sewing, and dead canary, belittles their concerns saying, “Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.” (Glaspell 898). That which is trifling to men is upsetting to women because they appreciate the physical labor that goes into running a household. Cleaning up behind dirty men; planting, tending, harvesting and canning food; cutting and hand sewing quilts in the nineteenth century may be different from the household responsibilities in the Victorian era; however, Victorian men expected constant attention and care to details as Desdemona learned as a maid. There were times when her desire was to hear Othello’s stories, “but still the house affairs would draw her thence.” (I.iii.149). These three strengths feed off one another, empowering women in patriarchal times to confront the most malicious tyranny, and no heroin exemplifies this power