The Role Of Women in Shakespeares Othello Essays -- GCSE English Lite

The Role Of Women in Othello           In Shakespe ares Othello, as in most writings of his time, women are viewed as trophies or objects to capture the attention of men. I do not doubt that these men do love their wives, but the love, respect and admiration for their women is untold different that of our time. It seems modern women are much more capable of having what could be known as an equal opportunity marriage. In the days of sacred virginity, and money plant of ones word, well off women such as Desdemona were not given responsibility. Women in her position sat back and left the work up to their men and their servants. In due time they were given respect and admiration, and were seen as angels to be loved and cared for, but what does this really matter when one is unable to care for themselves, or return the power to accomplish without being told that someone supposedly more powerful will take care of it for them? I feel that this misog yny and sexism is eternal and blush now, our world suffers from it. Many say this has to do with the times and the period in which Shakespeare was writing. But still, in these times as many others, there were people even then, that knew that misogyny and sexism were wrong, and must be changed. Unfortunately, it was not a general consensus.   In this play, the roles of women are perfectly laid out. Theres the well off good girl, the cute substance class girl who waits on the well to do girl. Then at the bottom of it all, there is the prostitute, slut that every man and boy has fantasized about. So in essence, men have it all in this play, every major fantasy, war, violence, and betrayal. So we see who Shakespeares writings catered to. ... ... They depend on their love for their husbands, and their husbands use it as power against them, abusing the ideals of trust and morality. (P.165)   Another issue that most do not deal with when it comes to writings like Shakespeare is the language used towards certain genres of people, especially women. In many occasions do male characters in this play call women wenches (p.139) or wreches (p.123). Then the men (Othello) say things like Nor from mine own clean merits will draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, For she had eyes, and chose me. (p.131) Men are praise when they do the slightest of gentlemanly acts, but never punished for speaking in earnest towards women. There needs to be some sort of revolt or revolution for these women and they would not be trapped in situations where they are not flourishing with themselves or their surroundings.