Portrayl Of Women In Othello

During the late sixteenth century in Venice, a male-dominated society thrived while women struggled to be heard. Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia are all victims of this society throughout Shakespeare’s Othello. Desdemona, an obedient, loyal, and pure young woman, is ultimately a victim to Othello’s over-powering strength and jealousy. Conversely, Bianca lives as prostitute who is ignored by Michael Cassio, whom she loves, because of her low status in society. Emilia is not naÐ"Їve like Desdemona, yet not tarnished like Bianca; she is a realist who displays great bravery and heroism. In the end, however, she is defeated by her husband Iago. Although these three women in Othello possess conflicting characteristics, they all act as victims to their male counterparts.

Desdemona is often seen as William Shakespeare’s ideal woman; she is pure, beautiful, loyal, insightful, and at times audacious when she feels she must be. In her first scene with her father, the Duke, she explains, “My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty… You are the lord of my duty; I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband… I challenge that I may profess, Due to the Moor my lord.” (I.iii.179-188) her speech not only shows her audacity before the Venetian senate, but also her insightful nature as she does not insist on her commitment to Othello is at the expense of respect for her father. Next she displays her loyalty as close friend Michael Cassio has lost his position beneath her husband after a drunken brawl. Seeing his grief, she repeatedly reminds her husband of his good nature. She continued to do so even when confronted with Othello’s aggravation, because of how much she cared for Cassio. Desdemona’s loyalty is definitively challenged Othello accused her of adultery and struck her face in front of Lodovico. Although she had been publicly humiliated, she followed Othello’s orders and left his sight. Finally she is a victim to Othello as he concludes that he will murder her because of the supposed “dishonor” she had brought to him. In her final words she denied his conviction to spare him the consequences of murdering her.

Bianca, a prostitute whose favorite customer was Michael Cassio, played a minor but significant role in Othello. She first appears at the end of the third act, when Cassio is waiting in hopes that Desdemona will be able to convince Othello that he is deserving of his position. She is enthusiastic when in his presence, yet he immediately thinks of how Othello would be disgusted with his being with her if he saw them together. Then he tells her a sweet lie: “How is it with you, my most fair Bianca? I' faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house." (3.iv.169-171) She replies, “And I was going to your lodging, Cassio." (3.iv.172-173). She is lead to believe that he loves her, yet in truth he is only using her for pleasure. She is next mentioned at Iago’s advantage, as he predicts that talking of Bianca will make Cassio laugh, and that Othello, thinking they talking about Desdemona, will go mad. Everything follows Iago’s plan as Cassio laughs at the idea of following through with his empty promises of marriage to Bianca. Just as he is laughing, Bianca appears in a fit of mistaken jealousy after discovering Desdemona’s handkerchief. She throws it at him, tells him that he should return it to his whore, but before storming out she invites Cassio over for dinner; this shows Bianca’s fear of losing him. Toward the end of the play, Bianca appears for the final time to be blamed by Iago for having caused the bloody scene in which Roderigo lay slain and Cassio is wounded. She is then called