Kathleen Williams
English 200
The Gender Roles of Women In The Play Othello
The gender stereotypes and dogma of the time period of which
the play Othello has been set has had a significant impact on the script if not the
outcome of the play. Firstly, I will discuss the views on women and their roles
inferred from the main male characters of the play: Iago, Cassio, and Othello.
Then I will discuss the main feminine characters of the play and their roles and
their own perspectives on gender.
According to Iago, women are sport and full of game (1073). Like the
hunter who pursues his prey in anticipation of reaping the fruits of that prized
game, Iago views men as sporting women for fun. It is also with this hunter
view that Iago can guiltlessly slay his own defenseless wife and cause Othello to
do the same to Desdemona. Iago also thinks women are like pictures (1068)
and out to be seen and not heard. Cassio has a more liberal view on women.
He does not take his mistresses seriously and neglects Bianca for a week to
tend to his military duties. Women to him are mere objects that are useable but
not attachable. Cassio is very hesitant to tie the knot with Bianca for this very
reason. He does not want to be seen “womanized” in front of the general.
Othello, however, is more idealistic on his view on women. At first, he could
not be persuaded of Desdemona’s infidelity. Then after Iago persuades
Othello, Emila tries to tell Othello the facts of the situation. Not even she, who
is closest to Desdemona, can persuade Othello because of his gender dogma.
The three main women of he play have different views of their gender
roles. For example, Emila is quiet and tries to please her husband’s fancies
(3.3.303). She is not very loyal to her husband and defies him during his ordeal
after the death of Desdemona. Emila also views men as using women and
throwing them away afterwards, “They eat us hungerly, and when they are full
they belch us.” (3.4.105). Bianca is the modern day prostitute of the play,
persistently pursuing Cassio in hopes of one day marrying him. Unfortunately,
Bianca doesn’t realize how unimportant she is to him. Desdemona plays the
most different gender role as the devoted wife even up to the point of death.
All throughout the play, Desdemona appears to live for her husband.
Desdemona's one goal in life is to please her husband to the fullest.. She views
that women are good and loyal to her husbands. She does not believe that any
woman could cuckold her husband. Desdemona represents the pure and true
aspects of women where as Emilia represents the ideal conduct and intelligent
aspects, and Bianca represents the beauty aspects. These three women
represent the ideals of women during that time period and perhaps in other
time periods.
In conclusion, the gender roles and stereotypes in the play Othello have
had a significant impact on how the male characters of the play treated the
female characters and vice versa. Women were expected to be obedient and
loyal to men, especially their husbands. Each character has certain views and
played their roles accordingly.