Power is a concept that is different from control for without power there is no control. In Shakespeare’s Othello, Shakespeare shows the impact of both on relationships with an awareness of the roles of race and gender. Power can be executed in different ways and often derives from reputation or privilege which affects the sense of control a person has. Shakespeare explores the significance of both power and control to a great extent through the relationships of Iago and Emilia, Iago and Othello, and Othello and Desdemona. The Venetian society in Othello is comprised of people who have certain privileges and reputations that allow them to have power and exercise control. Each of the relationships in Othello explores the significance of power
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Emilia, despite tolerating her husband’s behaviour for most of the play, is not submissive as shown by how Iago knows that she “chides with thinking.” Although she does not speak against him in public, this indicates that she doesn’t always tolerate him. Iago expects obedience from his wife which derives from his sexist views of women that allow him to thrive on the power that he has as a white male in Venetian society. He claims that all women are simply “pictures out of doors” and “housewifes in your beds” where this imagery shows how he has a very clear yet narrow view of women. Iago often criticises Emilia for talking “too much” and calls her and other women degrading terms such as “wench” and “whore” to flaunt the power he finds in masculinity. His ideas about women suggest his dissatisfaction with his marriage and a lack of control over Emilia. This is emphasised by his suspicion of Emilia’s infidelity with Othello where he claims “the lusty Moor hath lept into my seat.” The metaphor of seat emphasises how Iago objectifies women and considers Emilia to be his property and entirely in his control. As Iago is not a high-ranking soldier, he is only privileged as a …show more content…
This idea is shown through Othello and his relationship with Desdemona. Othello as a black man in society is an outsider who has built up a reputation for himself. Initially, Othello demonstrates self-control and confidence where he claims that his “services…shall out-tongue his [Brabantio] complaints” as this shows that Othello relies on his efforts as a General to feel confident. Othello creates a persona that is opposite to what is expected of him as a black man in order to lift himself in Venetian society. He eradicates the stereotype of a “lusty Moor” when he disregards his sexual desires, claiming to love Desdemona only for her “bounteous mind.” Othello denies needing Desdemona for sex for it would “make head” against his reputation which gives Othello the power and self-control he has. Othello relies on Desdemona in a way that men in their marriages do not. He requires Desdemona to “speak of him”, knowing that her status as the white daughter of a Senator makes her words more valid than his and gives him power. When he begins to distrust Desdemona, he loses his self-control and spirals into the stereotype of the Moor which he has struggled against in the entire play. His speech becomes more incoherent, such as the repetition of “the handkerchief”, which shows what becomes of Othello when he loses a part of what propelled his status. He attempts to exert
Emilia, despite tolerating her husband’s behaviour for most of the play, is not submissive as shown by how Iago knows that she “chides with thinking.” Although she does not speak against him in public, this indicates that she doesn’t always tolerate him. Iago expects obedience from his wife which derives from his sexist views of women that allow him to thrive on the power that he has as a white male in Venetian society. He claims that all women are simply “pictures out of doors” and “housewifes in your beds” where this imagery shows how he has a very clear yet narrow view of women. Iago often criticises Emilia for talking “too much” and calls her and other women degrading terms such as “wench” and “whore” to flaunt the power he finds in masculinity. His ideas about women suggest his dissatisfaction with his marriage and a lack of control over Emilia. This is emphasised by his suspicion of Emilia’s infidelity with Othello where he claims “the lusty Moor hath lept into my seat.” The metaphor of seat emphasises how Iago objectifies women and considers Emilia to be his property and entirely in his control. As Iago is not a high-ranking soldier, he is only privileged as a …show more content…
This idea is shown through Othello and his relationship with Desdemona. Othello as a black man in society is an outsider who has built up a reputation for himself. Initially, Othello demonstrates self-control and confidence where he claims that his “services…shall out-tongue his [Brabantio] complaints” as this shows that Othello relies on his efforts as a General to feel confident. Othello creates a persona that is opposite to what is expected of him as a black man in order to lift himself in Venetian society. He eradicates the stereotype of a “lusty Moor” when he disregards his sexual desires, claiming to love Desdemona only for her “bounteous mind.” Othello denies needing Desdemona for sex for it would “make head” against his reputation which gives Othello the power and self-control he has. Othello relies on Desdemona in a way that men in their marriages do not. He requires Desdemona to “speak of him”, knowing that her status as the white daughter of a Senator makes her words more valid than his and gives him power. When he begins to distrust Desdemona, he loses his self-control and spirals into the stereotype of the Moor which he has struggled against in the entire play. His speech becomes more incoherent, such as the repetition of “the handkerchief”, which shows what becomes of Othello when he loses a part of what propelled his status. He attempts to exert