Misogyny in Othello by William Shakespeare

Misogyny can be defined as the cultural attitude of hatred for females basically due to the truth that they are female and are observed as inferior to males in the Elizabethan society, due to the fact of misogyny, girls reside in a society dominated by men. As we go by way of Othello we can locate that the females characters are presented according to the expectation of the Elizabethan society. In the course of this time females didn’t take pleasure in the very same amounts of freedom as they do today. There were strict rules how girls need to behave at house and in public. Guys ran all of the institutions and have been considered as the head of households. Othello is a play in which these unequal positions are clearly portrayed. The way women behave and conduct themselves in Othello is linked to the abstract expectations of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan society and the patriarchal society that he creates by the lack of representation that is given to females in the story, the portrayal of female suffering and sexual possession. Firstly, the lack of representation that is given to females in Othello is an illustration of the marginalisation of women. The play includes only 3 female characters: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. Even though the male cast list is relatively in depth. Within this comprehensive male cast there are characters with small or even no influence on the story, these are characters such as sailors and soldiers. They do not contribute to the plot or theme in any way. While these male characters with tiny or no influence are introduced, wives of important male characters such as Brabantio are not. This minority of female characters exhibit a clear vision of the social climate of the play. Comparatively critical female characters are deemed secondary to undistinguished male characters, such as Graziano, Brabantio’s kinsman. This implements the idea that ladies are victims because of the male dominated social conditioning. So, the lack of female characters shows the social climate in the course of the times of Elizabethan society. Secondly, the portrayal of female suffering in Othello displays the low and marginalised spot they posses on the social ranking. Types of female suffering inside the story are all triggered by guys. The social situation in the story seems that guys can do whatever they want without having a suitable punishment, such as death. Meanwhile ladies cannot carry out an action that can be considered as offensive in the eyes of their husband or yet another male with no any (deathly) consequences. This is shown in the killing of Desdemona, who was accused of becoming unfaithful, without any proof and the killing of Emila who was not supportive of the dishonesty of her husband. The consequences of offensive acts are totally different for male characters, such as Iago, who has been dishonest and evil all through the whole story. Adding to that, Cassio hasn’t faced any punishments either, while getting a “womanizer” in the story. Even when facing death the female characters nevertheless act like they are subordinate to their husbands, as can be noticed in the scenes of the deaths of each Desdemona and Emilia. Emilia sings a song about forsaken lovers and Desdemona doesn’t want to admit she has been wounded by Othello and states that she wounded herself. In conclusion, Shakespeare wanted to portray the low spot of females on the social ranking, by such as female suffering into the story. Lastly, sexual possession is a central issue within the play asserting the sexual dominance of men. Guys are placed as the active and principal initiator of sexual exertions. Even girls who have husbands and fathers in strong positions are still regarded as by Iago to be prostitutes and objects. This can be noticed in the second setting of Othello, which is the island of Cyprus. If a females does an try to have any sexual contact she is typically labeled in unclompentary terms. Iago, the character with the most misogynistic attitude states in the very first scene to Desdemona and Emilia “You rise to play and go to bed to perform.” This shows the oppressive attitude towards women. Marriage is described as an act of “purchase”: a lady is bought by her husband, successfully as a favour, and is anticipated to fulfil his sexual desires in return for the privilege. The feelings of female characters, such as Desdemona and Emilia are entirely disregarded in the story. The women are just objects to additional fulfill male desires. Iago is an extreme instance, he shows, via his pondering, the truth that women, in each Elizabethan and Venetian society, are sensed as possessions, secondary to the desires of men. In conclusion, Othello is linked to the abstract expectations of Shakespeare’s Elizabethan society and the patriarchal society that he creates by the lack of representation that is provided to girls in the book, the portrayal of female suffering and sexual promiscuity and possession. The play contains only three female characters: Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. Comparatively essential female characters are deemed secondary to undistinguished male characters. Types of female suffering within the story is all triggered by guys. The social condition in the story seems that guys can do whatever they want with out a appropriate punishment, such as death. Meanwhile ladies can’t carry out an action that can be regarded as as offensive. Sexual promiscuity and possession is a central concern inside the play asserting the sexual dominance of males. Even females who have husbands and fathers in powerful positions are nonetheless deemed by Iago to be prostitutes and objects. We can find that the ladies characters are presented according to the expectation of the Elizabethan society.