Infidelity In Othello

In the play “Othello” by William Shakespeare, the story is about a black general who is respected by the head of the militia because of his achievement as a military. This character, Othello, falls in love with a young woman called, Desdemona. Their love was put to prove when Iago, a young military wanted to get revenge from Othello because he did not choose him as his lieutenant. Iago planned a situation in which he put Othello, Desdemona and Cassio in love triangle that Othello did not want to be part of. However, everything changed when Othello started to believe Iago’s insinuations of infidelity which lead to a tragic murder. Even though the presence of women in the play is crucial to the drama of it, every woman in the play showed a different
aspect in how women were treated during those times. For instance, Desdemona, a young woman who was described as the perfect woman that any man can wish to have, showed a concept of fidelity and loyalty to man that although she was mistreated, she loved deeply. There is also Emilia, which is the wife of Iago, who similar to Desdemona shows loyalty to her husband, but was able to break this loyalty even though it was too late. Finally, there is Bianca, a prostitute who represents the worst of the society. In the play, Desdemona represent the woman in a high hierarchy that should be only acquaintance to man. The first notion of Desdemona in the play was when Iago and Roderigo were talking about their hate towards Othello and how he managed to be with Desdemona. During the conversation, Iago said, “Call up her father,” (Shakespeare, 662). This statement introduces in the perception of woman obedience to the man. Later on in the play, Brabantio confronted Othello about how he managed to persuade his daughter into marry him. This scenario plays in a manner that diminishes the role of woman. Brabantio did not ask his daughter about the reasoning for why she married Othello, He accused Othello of manipulating his daughter, which shows how woman can only make decisions because of someone else told them to, but not for their own.
Moreover, there is the testimony of Desdemona and why she married Othello, she implied that she married Othello because of all the suffering Othello had suffered while he was part of the militia; however, when she confronted her father, she said, “To you I am bound for life and education,” (Shakespeare, 673). In this statement, Desdemona is praising her father who had given her a good education and had teach her how to make her own decisions; however, she seems to speak in this manner to make her father known that she is not being trick to be with Othello; instead, she is showing herself as a smart person who can take her own decisions and that her father needs to respect them. Moreover, Desdemona continues, “And so much duty as mother showed to you, preferring you before her father,” (Shakespeare, 673). Once again, Desdemona is saying that she is only behaving in a way she was taught. It also shows how woman were in this cycle of obedience where they shift their obedience from their fathers to their husbands, and it is something that has been going on for decades and Desdemona gave the example of her mother. In
addition, there is the relationship between Desdemona and Othello. Desdemona and Othello’s love were pure. For instance, when Othello sees Desdemona, he says, “O my fair warrior,” (Shakespeare, 684). This reference of “warrior,” means that she has gained his heart like a soldier who fights in a war, which it is kind of ironic because Othello is fighting in wars. However, it also implied that woman as same as soldiers are solemnly required to be loyal and follow orders. For instance, when Othello hit Desdemona, no one did anything to stop him. They were shocked, but no one intervened to calm Othello or to console Desdemona. Moreover, Othello asked Desdemona to leave, which she did. Even though she was hit, she was still following orders from her husband. In addition, while Desdemona is dying, she said, “Nobody – I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord, O, Farewell,” (Shakespeare, 743). These are the last words from Desdemona, which is sad because she was presented as a smart woman who takes decisions by her own, but who was killed by the person she loved and now the only thing she is thinking about it is to protect him. This part of the play represents that it did not matter how a woman is treated as long as they serve their purpose of serving a man. On the other hand, there is Emilia who represents the woman of society who is able to break the rule of woman in society and find their own path.
Emilia is the wife of Iago, who follow every order of Iago without question it. For instance, when Emilia found Desdemona’s handkerchief, she remembered how Iago was asking r to steal it and she thought to herself, “What he will do with it heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy,” (Shakespeare, 707). This statement by Emilia, once again, shows the obedience that women need to have towards their husbands. They did not need to know the reasons for their actions as long as they please them. However, Emilia started to develop affection towards Desdemona. For instance, Emilia gave Desdemona reasons to cheat on Othello. When Desdemona asked Emilia if she would cheat on her husband, Emilia said, “Nor I either by this heavenly light. I might do’t as well i’ th’ dark” (Shakespeare, 734). This statement by Emilia is an insinuation that she may cheat on her husband but only at nights. This answer by Emilia shocked Desdemona; however, Emilia gave Desdemona the reason that would make her cheat on her husband. For instance, she said, “Or else break out in peevish jealousies, throwing restraint upon us. Or say they strike us, or scant our former having in despite,” (Shakespeare, 734). Emilia is telling Desdemona that she would only cheat on her husband if he becomes jealous out of nothing, or if he hit her. These reasons are
things happening to Desdemona, so basically Emilia is telling Desdemona that she has the right to cheat on Othello because he has not trusted in her. Moreover, Emilia is offering this advice because she did not like how Othello was treating Desdemona. In Emilia’s perception woman are bonded to their husbands as long as their husbands are bonded to them. Moreover, the first sign of Emilia starting to break the rule of obedience is when Emilia is telling how horrified she was that Othello believed Desdemona was cheating on him, Iago seems worried that she may say something that she is not supposed to. For instance, Emilia said, “To be called a whore? Would it not make one weep?,” (Shakespeare, 729). Emilia is so upset at what is happening with Desdemona that she is talking out of emotions. Emilia is angry at Othello. Moreover, she said, “The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave, some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow,” (Shakespeare, 729). This statement is kind of ironic, because she is talking about her husband, Iago without her knowing it to which Iago said, “Speak within door,” (Shakespeare, 729). This statement by Iago shows that he did not want Emilia to keep talking and he is ordering her to keep quiet, which Emilia is not doing. Emilia kept talking because she was mad that someone like Desdemona was suffering. Moreover, Iago again said, “You are a fool. Go to,” (Shakespeare, 730). This last statement reflects how upset Iago was with Emilia, because he knew she was the only one who can ruin his plans, but also because she was not paying attention to what he was saying. Moreover, Emilia finally break this obedience when she knew that Iago was the one who persuade Othello into killing Desdemona. Emilia said, “’Tis proper I obey him [Iago], but not now,” (Shakespeare, 745). Emilia was done following orders and wanted to be free and make decisions by her own and to serve with loyalty to the person she love the most which in this case was Desdemona. However, Emilia is also killed by her husband. Different to Desdemona’s murder, Emilia was killed in front of other men, which seems to be a metaphor that those women who break the rules of society are bound to die in front of those who made the rules. Finally, the play also presents Bianca, who symbolizes the worst of women in society. For instance, her relationship with Cassio. She was in love with Cassio; however, he did not have affection for her. He perceived as only an entertainment, which most of the men perceived their wives. Cassio said, “This is the monkey’s own giving out. She is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise,” (Shakespeare, 721). In this statement, Cassio described Bianca as monkey because he was playing with her. Cassio was the “master” of Bianca and she was only his pet. This type of treatment is also perceived in the other couples; however, it was more degrading between Cassio and Bianca. Moreover, Bianca also tends to have a discrepancy with Emilia. For instance, Emilia said, “ Fie, Fie upon thee, strumpet!” (Shakespeare, 738). This statement by Emilia shows a perception of how woman were also discriminated by other woman. Moreover, Bianca replied, “ I am no strumpet, but of a life as honest as you that thus abuse me,” (Shakespeare, 738). This response by Bianca shows that it did not matter how women live their life as long as they do not offend others. Bianca was the only woman in the play to be alive, which represents that this continuous perception that man has towards women will continue. William Shakespeare in his play “ Othello” illustrated how the perception of women is something that needs to be addressed. He portrayed Desdemona as the loyal wife who will defend her husband until death, Emilia as the breaker who follows her emotions and Bianca as the continuous mischaracterization of woman in society.