Balance Of Power In Othello

Contemporary audiences are interested in the balance of power between the sexes in Shakespeare’s play Othello. Discuss this statement with close reference to at least 2 key scenes.
The spread of power within society is not one of equality with some being able to exert more on others. The role, importance and especially the power of men in Shakespeare’s play Othello has come from the values and beliefs of society at the time of Shakespeare, however Shakespeare in the play has evened out the balance of power experienced by men and women in the play suggesting that woman are of importance and do possess power which men force woman to constrain through the use of male dominance and strength the men have. The society of Othello is strongly dominated
by men who are the political and military leaders of their homeland whereas women are thought of as weak second class citizens, with no morals and who are in place for nothing more than to serve their men. This theme is clearly evident in the relationship of Emilia and Iago and later in the play between Othello and Desdemona where the woman is in some sense abused by the man due to the lack of power they experience in Venetian society. The power the men possess are different, where Othello and Cassio are given hierarchical power, Iago has the power of language, but the power they possess over woman are the same, strength and what society has determined for the sexes.
The relationship between Iago and Emilia shows how men misuse their power over women and that their relationship is therefore characterised by sarcasm and distrust. Emilia has two important speeches on the subject of the power men possess in Act 3 scene 4, she says that men eat woman hungrily and then when they are full, they belch them out and the other being let husbands know their wives have sense like them. These speeches demonstrate how Emilia knows and displeases the power men are given and that in a male dominated culture where women serve men’s desires and are treated as something less than human. Act 3 Scene 3 demonstrates how little power Emilia is given in the play because of Iago’s strength. Emilia finds the handkerchief that Iago so desperately wants. The handkerchief in this scene becomes a symbol of power rather than fidelity. Emilia tries to use the handkerchief to her advantage by telling him about it so he will pay some attention to her. When she tells Iago that she has a “thing” for him he laughs. This demonstrates how little respect Iago has for his wife Emilia. When she produces the handkerchief Iago immediately demands the handkerchief and snatches it from her. Emilia demands he give it back however he dismisses her and due to the power society has placed on woman, she obediently listens and leaves. Emilia is unable in this scene to break the chains society has placed on her, she possess no power over him in the form of strength or rights.
The balance of power at the end of the play is tipped.
Where Iago once had power over Emilia, Emilia is now able to exert power over her husband due to Iago’s power of strength and the unknown being taken away from him due to the presence of other men in the room and Emilia revealing his plan. After Desdemona’s death Emilia persuades Othello that the “honest” Iago is not so honest but rather deceptive. When Iago comes in and states “I charge you, get you home” Emilia retaliates with “I am bound to speak”. She stands her ground against her husband; Shakespeare has put the truth into a woman’s mouth which is the ultimate way of giving a character power. Throughout the play Emilia’s pleas to Othello about Desdemona’s innocence was ignored but the power of speech she exerted in this end scene convinces Othello of Desdemona’s innocence. This is uncharacteristic of the time as women were perceived to have no morals or know the difference between right and
wrong.
The relationship between Othello is different to that of Emilia and Iago.
They are presented initially as ideally loving and based on mutual trust but Iago’s manipulation and deceptive powers changed the relationship into one of Othello’s dominance and mistrust of Desdemona. Desdemona growth through the play is opposite to that of Emilia. Desdemona is presented as strong, independent character however as the play progresses she turns into the quiet obedient wife whereas Emilia gains confidence throughout the play. Act 1 scene 3 demonstrates how Desdemona was a confident character and was sure of what she wanted in life. When her fiancé is accused of bewitching her, she immediately defends her love for him. "And so much Duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much that I may profess due to the Moor my lord". Desdemona, however, despite proposals from various suitors and public discouragement, continues her pursuit of Othello, and marries him. The change of Desdemona’s character and the powerlessness experienced by Desdemona is shown in the scene of Desdemona’s death. Othello demands Desdemona home and she abides like the obedient wife. When Othello comes to the room to murder her she tries to defend herself proclaiming her innocence og whatever crime she may have committed. Othello doesn’t even tell Desdemona the crime she committed which portrays the lack of respect Othello now has for his wife and how her opinion on the crime doesn’t matter as
she is a woman. The scene clearly implies that Desdemona has no power according to Othello.
The values and beliefs of a society determine the power you hold is conveyed through the relationships between men and women in the play of Othello. Shakespeare evened out the balance of power in the play slightly but in the end the men’s power was too much for the women. At the end of the play, the men of Othello are not the ones who represent strength; instead, this title goes to the women due to the courage shown by Emilia at the end of the play by standing up for Desdemona. Othello is weak as he killed himself to avoid any punishments for his crime.