Othello and His Masculinity Essay

The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.

Shakespeare mocks society’s extreme measures by suggesting death as the sole option for Othello when he fails to understand that Desdemona may not fit female stereotypes. Without the ability to label her, Othello fails to “assert Desdemona’s chastity and corruptibility simultaneously” and “murders Desdemona to redeem her from degradation” (Neely). The characters, like many people, struggle to alter views that have been so firmly pressed into their minds. In this way, Shakespeare negatively comments on humans’ inabilities to see beyond what society tells them and to comprehend truths unique to a specific person rather than his gender roles. Shakespeare uses the characters Desdemona and Othello to display how people become accustomed to the gender identities that society defines for them. Therefore, both characters, as depicted by their deaths, fail to understand each other personally as individuals instead of as the stereotypical man or woman that is being presented.

At the outset of the play Iago persuades the rejected suitor of Desdemona, Roderigo, to accompany him to the home of Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, in the middle of the night. Once there the two awaken the senator with loud shouts about his daughter’s elopement with Othello. This is the initial reference to the role of women in the play – the

In Shakespeare’s Othello, the role of women is greatly emphasized. The important characters of the play, Othello, Iago, and Cassio, each have a women that stands behind him. These women each have an obligation to remain loyal and respect their husband's wishes, especially Desdemona and Emilia.

Othello, by William Shakespeare, is a play about a black moor, Othello, who marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator. This play contains various themes such as racism, love, betrayal, revenge, and gender. Shakespeare depicts Desdemona as a monster by having Iago call her a “white ewe” as a way to establish Desdemona’s nonconformity to gender. By calling Desdemona a type of animal and Othello another animal, he is not only saying that the coupling is monstrous, but that they are individually monstrous as well. In this sense, the Renaissance believed that monsters were creatures formed from an abnormality in nature and were usually represented by animal figures or a hybrid of human and animal. Renaissance theories of conventional male and female biology, known as the humoral theory, dictated that men were hot and dry and women were cold and wet. This was given by the different liquids that were believed to circulate within their bodies. As a woman, Desdemona should be cold and wet. However, Desdemona defies nature by being hot

    Othello represents a prime example of Shakespeare's ability to develop relationships between the sexes so as to demonstrate those relationships' weaknesses. In Othello, the sexes are divided by misconceptions and ego- centric views of the opposite gender. The men of the play, in particular Othello, maintain a patriarchal, chivalric notion of the sexes, while the women of the play yearn for more involvement in their husbands' affairs. So it is that the thrust of the play emerges from "the opposition of attitudes, viewpoints, and sexes." (Neely 214)

Othello, the general and protagonist, seems initially to be totally lacking in sexism. He loves Desdemona

One moment Othello would be complimenting Desdemona’s appearance “smooth as monumental alabaster” (5), then he would shift to more murderous tone“yet she must die”(6), and then back to a loving tone “ Ah balmy breath,that dost almost persuade” (16) and “But they are cruel tears” (21). The constant back and forth reveals that Othello is indecisive with his decisions on deciding Desdemona’s fate. In addition, when Othello attempts to justify his actions, there is evidence of a righteous tone. This tone explains that Othello believes that he is hero for murdering his wife, as she could no longer “betray more men” (6), and that his actions are to get justice for all the men she has wronged “Justice to break her sword”

Excerpt #5 This excerpt is found in the first Scene of the third Act in Othello. In this passage, Emilia delivers a message to Cassio from Othello regarding Othello’s opinion on Cassio wounding Antonio. Emilia, in summary, says that while Othello has no option but to keep stripped Cassio of his rank, he still admires Cassio wants to get him where he is going safely and unharmed. The language of Othello’s message is very considerate and sweet, unlike his masculine and macho demeanor. Othello still chastises what Cassio did, but uses very comforting and compassionate language to let Cassio understand the appreciation Othello has for him.

Desdemona is a character that showed a growth mindset & lots of grit. She was the daughter of Brabantio & the wife of Othello the main character. Throughout the book she conveyed some characteristics like strong , confident & in control which makes up her character. Desdemona is challenged in this book which puts her to test showing her growth mindset. She is determined to prove to her husband that she 's not cheating despite the rumors made up by Iago. Shortly after the rumors grew into one 's ear Othello was willing to kill Desdemona which is why she began to defend herself & put effort to prove her innocence. Once Othello fired

Othello does not want to shut off the light of Desdemona's life and is full of doubt. He wants to avoid making a mistake, but his insecurities are more powerful than the love he feels.

However the textual integrity of the play can be questioned. In terms of its pacing, Othello’s transition from a love that overcame social boundaries to murderous hate is almost too abrupt, to the point that it is unconvincing and unrealistic. The fact that Othello blindly follows the words of Iago, without once consulting Desdemona, takes away the play’s realism. On the other hand, this can be attributed to the gender system of the time, and Othello’s insecurities about his race and age. Stage directions instruct Othello and Iago to kneel, and to modern audiences this symbolises that the bond between the two men is stronger than marriage representative of the patriarchal society of Shakespeare’s time.

The play Othello by William Shakespeare is a tragedy about love and jealously. It consists of a young, beautiful girl falling in love with the Moor Othello because of the interesting stories that he expressed to her. As a result of Iago interfering their relationship, the marriage became hostile and untrusting. Desdemona’s kind and caring nature never affronted her to believe Othello would become deceitful in her and so cruel. After Iago convinced Othello that Desdemona was cheating, Othello changed his attitude towards Desdemona causing him to kill her at the end of the play including himself.

It is not wise to attempt to judge another purely based on their outer shell; the showmanship of one’s character is demonstrated through the goodwill and integrity of their being. Women, while commonly shown to have a weaker sense of character, could also reveal to have some of the greatest shows of genuity. In one of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies, Othello, the story revolves around Othello, a Venetian general, who marries Desdemona, the daughter of a Venetian noble. Iago – whom Othello declares as his ancient – despises him, and thus tries to destroy his marriage along with him. Othello is easily ensnared within the traps Iago sets; this causes great paranoia and distrust among Desdemona, and a series of rash decisions. Othello is

Othello is a tragedy written by William shakespeare during the 1600’s which is known as the Elizabethan Era. Society during this period had certain standards that all citizens were expected to follow. Order and obedience were a crucial part of women’s lives at this time. Women had little freedom in what they could do and were expected to listen to men. In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses Brabantio, Iago and Desdemona to describe the expectations of women during the Elizabethan Era.