Othello Gender Roles Essay

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May 16th, 2014 “Look at her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see: She has deceived her father, and may thee.” Othello is a play written by Shakespeare that presents a gendered society in which women are inferior to men. Unmarried women are regarded as their fathers’ property, while when married, continuously have allegations made towards them due to the jealousy of their husbands. The women in Othello end up betraying their husbands, without actually being at fault. In Othello, women are always assumed as promiscuous while the men are shown as heroic, but are both victims in this gendered society. Gender roles and the way the gendered society is set up is a prominent issue displayed throughout Othello. Often throughout Othello, women are displayed as promiscuous, whores, and liars. “They let God see things they wouldn’t show their husbands. They don’t avoid doing things that are wrong; they just try not to get caught.” Men in Othello are very conniving. They’re jealousy brings out a very persuasive, lying side of them. For instance, Brabantio suggests to Othello that since Desdemona went against her father by marrying him, she could go against him as well. It’s clear that what Brabantio is saying is just due to the fact no one wants Desdemona and Othello together. More than half the assumptions made towards women are
Othello, a war hero, is overcome with emotions due to the lies he’s being told about his wife. Othello becomes insecure and truly believes his wife is cheating on him. Othello is bothered so much, he results to the worst thing possible: killing his wife. Cassio is also being victimized by Iago. While Iago tells Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, it is also damaging Cassio’s credibility as a man, making Othello lose respect for him as well. Cassio is also being victimized when he is almost killed by Iago and Roderigo. It’s clear he didn’t do anything wrong, but is still being