The Women of Othello
The women of Shakespeares Othello are put into stereotypical roles, but behind peoples
backs play much stronger types. Desdemona, goes against her fathers orders and marries a
moor. Bianca innocently takes part in Desdemona's death. Emilia has an opportunity to save
Desdemona but sneakingly remains silent. These women are similar because they are
treated like they are lower then the men in their days. But they do not let that hold them back.
These women take part in anything that pleases them. In no way would they let men tell them
what to do!
Desdemona was the daughter of the Venetian Senator Brabantio. Against her father's wishes,
she marries a moor, Othello. "The marriage seems to be monstrous- in the sense that it
represents a deviation from that which is natural. How else, Brabantio asks, would
Desdemona, so carefully, have brought such scandal upon herself and her father by
shunning, the wealthy curled darlings of our nation"(Act 1 Scene 2 Line 68). Desdemona
arrives and gently resolves the dispute by acknowledging split loyalties to her father and to
her new husband, but making it clear that she now belongs to Othello. For the play being set
in the late sixteenth century, Desdemona's defense of her actions is remarkably forthright,
spirited, and courageous. She was aware of the great risk involved when she married a moor.
She says "She remains bound to her noble father for her life and education; he remains her
lord of duty, and she will always honor him as such. Now however, she has a husband, and
she must recognize her duties to him just as her mother did to Brabantio"(Act 1 Scene 3 Line
181). Desdemona is a well-born and well educated daughter of a Venetian senator. She has
been trained to adapt herself easily to any social situation. You could see how she is
headstrong in her choice of a husband and in her defense of him. Desdemona's generous
nature tries to help Cassio receive his spot as Liutenant back. This is when her kindness falls
for weakness. Using Desdemona and her natural goodness, Iago will "turn her virtue into
pitch, and make the net that shall enmesh them all"(Act2 Scene 3 Line 366). It is
Desdemona's innocent attempt to reconcile Othello with Cassio that gives Iago the
opportunity to wreak vengeance upon Othello, causing the murder and suicide, which bring
this tragedy to its violent conclusion.
Emilia is Iago's young and attractive outspoken wife. She is a agent in the plot of
Desdemona's death. Many times has Emilia been asked to steal Desdemona's handkerchief
by her husband. She knows how deeply Desdemona treasures it, but recalls that Iago has
asked her many times for it. When the opportunity comes, Emilia steals it for her husband.
When Desdemona questions Emilia about the handkerchief Emilia answers with a lie "I know
not, madam"(Act 3 Scene 4 Line 24). Even after Desdemona explains the importance of the
handkerchief. Emilia still sticks to her lie. Emilia knows that she has found the handkerchief
and has given it to Iago. Even during Othello's questioning she remains silent. Act 3 Scene 4
shows Emilia's cynicism towards men as she asks Desdemona about her husband's display
of temper. Emilia believes that no women can be certain of her husband; to her, all men are
egocentric-"they are all but stomachs and we all but food; they eat us hungry, and when they
are full they belch us"(Act 3 Scene 4 Line 104). In Act 4 Scene 4 Emilia is given a chance to
redeem herself when she has the opportunity to speak of Desdemona's faithfulness towards
Othello. Emilia is firm in her answers; she has never seen anything improper nor heard
anything that would make her suspect the Desdemona has been less then faithful. In Act 4
Scene 2 you also learn of Emilia's intelligence. She is able to spot that some man is setting
Desdemona up in a web of lies. This person ironically being her husband Iago. In the last
scene you see Emilia's strength as a women. Emilia ignores her husband's command to be
quiet and go home. Loudly so everyone can hear her, she curses Iago and states that
"perhaps she will never go home"(Act 5 Scene 2 Line 197).
Bianca is brought into this play as Cassio's jealous mistress; he gives her Desdemona's
handkerchief, not realizing whose handkerchief it really was. Cassio asks Bianca to copy the
embroidery pattern of Desdemona's handkerchief. Bianca does so leading to Desdemona's
death. All Bianca's doings were innocent. She had no clue of her part in this scheme. Bianca
plays the jealous mistress whom suspects that the handkerchief is "some token from a newer
friend"(Act 3 Scene 4 Line 181), who has replaced her in Cassio's affection. This is proof of
Cassio's love of someone else to Bianca.
The dissimilarities of these three women are that Desdemona is being accused of an act
which she could never take part in. Although, Bianca and Emilia both are admitted cheaters.
The idea is unthinkable for Desdemona, She swears that she could never make love with
another man. Emilia answers Desdemona by saying she would never betray Iago in this
heavenly light-that is, she herself prefers to make love in the dark. Emilia had illusions about
men or love or marriage vows. Emilia explains that there are many unfaithful wives and she
blames it on the husband. She insists that wives should have the right to do whatever men
do. That is where these three women all come into common. They live in a society where
women can not do the thing men do. But, these three women live by their own wills. By being
a mistress, by cheating and by marrying a moor. These three women felt that a wife should
not be judged nor treated with less respect than a man. Emilia especially speaks strongly on
this issue because of her years living as Iago's wife. Too long has she seen hypocrisy and his
faults which she as a women could be censored for committing.
As Iago reminded Othello in Act 3 Scene 3 the faithless wife is a well-known member of
Venetian society. "In Venice wives do not let even God see the pranks. They dare not show
their husbands"(Act 3 Scene 3 Line 202). This proves that even if it is going to be through
lying. These three women will get their business equally done as men do.