The Heroic Women Of Othello - 1928 Words

Olivia Seeney Dr. Michael Elam ENGL 211 Brit Lit: Middle Age-18th Century 5 December, 2015 The Heroic Women of Othello A hero is â€Å"a man or woman distinguished by the performance of courageous or noble actions (Oxford English Dictionary).† In a male dominated society, such as the one displayed in the play Othello, many of the heroic attributes of the female characters are overlooked, and they are labeled as either weak or insignificant. However, some of the female roles within this play are more important and heroic than their male counterparts. The particularly important women in Othello are the characters Desdemona and Emilia. They are unlike each other in many ways, yet both are equally strong in their own ways. While Desdemona remains silent and faithful in the face of adversity, Emilia is outspoken and independent. While the male characters in this play use their actions to express their dominance, the females use their wit and words to show their strength against the men that try to oppress them. This play seeks to show the women as they are: strong, intel ligent, and important although they are mistreated by their male counterparts. Both women attribute heroic attributes to the plot of the play and continue to influence their society even after death. The women of Othello showed themselves to be the true protagonists of the play through their unending loyalty, bravery in the face of opposition, and distinct personalities that complimented one another in order toShow MoreRelatedEssay on Social Origins of Othello643 Words   |  3 PagesShakespeare adapted Othello from Giraldi Cinthios Hecatommithi, but he altered the original story. The central point of Cinthios story is that one should look for marriage partners from the same ethnic and cultural background, whereas Shakespeares play explores the relationship of the lovers, as well as the villains plans to destroy that relationship. The opening act of Othello takes place in Venice, but the primary setting is Cyprus. Venice is a city-state of enormous wealth and theRead MoreDesdemona and Emilia: Opposites of the Spectrum655 Words   |  3 PagesIn the Shakespearian play, Othello, the Moor of Venice, Desdemona is the daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio and is married to the heroic Othello. Her father believes that Othello has used witchcraft to captivate Desdemona, but she explains that her love for him is genuine. Emilia is Desdemonas attendant and married to Iago. She cherishes Desdemona deeply, but is constantly suspicious of her husband. Although Desdemona and Emilia both desire to please their husbands and gain acceptance, theirRead MoreWomen s Treatment Of Women837 Words   |  4 Pagesnear-equality of today, many valuable generalities can be drawn about societies from their treatment of women. Elizabethan Great Britain, heading the way of the medieval Renaissance, introduced previously unheard of customs of treating women. In Shakespeare’s â€Å"Othello†, women play integral roles in the outcome of the play yet are treated just as poorly, if not more so, than the racially and socially oppressed Othello, the â€Å"Moor of Venice†. Shakespeare’s antagonist, Iago, takes advantage of the few female charactersRead MoreOthellos Tragic Flaw Essay example1082 Words   |  5 PagesShakespeares Othello enhance the settings, characters, and themes. Othello, an intricate tragedy about good versus evil, loyalty, love, sexual jealousy, and appearance versus reality, is told in a first person point of view. The play is entitled Othello and the plot and action encompasses him, thus supporting his position of protagonist. The play takes place during the Renaissance in Venice, Italy and in Cyprus over three days. The opening scene of Othello is very dramatic Read MoreEssay about The Effects of Femininity1571 Words   |  7 Pagesterms of discourse. It is not just the sex and gender of a being that determines their actions, but instead their thoughts and opinions. This essay will assess ideas of femininity in reference to James The Turn of The Screw, and Shakespeares Othello. In order for us to deal with how a consideration of femininity can effect our understanding of a literary text, we must also be able to grasp the notion of `feminism and `Feminist Literary Theory. A dictionary definition of `feminism is:Read MorePower, Race and Women in Othello by Shakespear and Sax1443 Words   |  6 Pagesstereotypical view of Othello, as a â€Å"Barbary horse,† depicting him as an animalistic outsider. Through the image of conflict in black and white, Iago emphasises on the racial demarcation between Othello and Desdemona, that â€Å"an old black ram is tupping your white ewe,† associating Othello with uncontrolled animalistic sexuality. Iago’s overt and vicious racism becomes representative of the reigning stereotype of the African on the Elizabethan stage †¢ Insecure because of his race, Othello echoes Iago’sRead MoreOthello-Whose Fault Is It?973 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Whose fault is it?† Whose fault was it then? (Pause) Othello, the heroic Moore, yet he was way too jealous and over-trusting. Was it Desdemona? Sweet Desdemona of intelligence and innocence but also a deceiving and naà ¯ve woman who cannot adjust to the role of a 17th century woman. Or was it Iago; Malicious and sneaky Iago? We can go on about whose fault it is but I think it was both equally Othello and Desdemona’s fault. Together as a couple they lacked the understanding of marriage. They weren’tRead MoreEssay about Emilias Intelligence in Shakespeares Othello884 Words   |  4 PagesIn Shakespeares tragedy, Othello, Emilia expresses her underrated intelligence to prove others beliefs against her. Unlike the other women in the book, Emilia understands men and their thinking; therefore she shows no shame for standing up for what she believes in. Emilia unexpectedly ruins her husbands plan, which suddenly alters the outcome the story. Emilia without a doubt out smarts everyone, including her own brilliant husband, Iago, but little does he know that his loyal wife surprisinglyRead MoreEssay on Pure and Foolish Love in Othello1275 Words   |  6 PagesPure and Foolish Love in Othello       Othello, the central character of William Shakespeares play is an excellent leader but a poor reasoner and foolish lover. The tragedy of `Othello is largely due to Othellos personality and life experience. Othello believes himself to be loved and respected by everyone around him as most people refer to him as the noble General Othello. Othello, after realizing his tragic mistake of murdering his innocent wife, Desdemona, claims he loved not wiselyRead MoreOthello: Compare and Contrast The Two Wives1627 Words   |  7 Pages Bob Mudd Compare and contrast the two characters Desdemona and Emilia from the play Othello. Desdemona and Emilia Comparison and Contrast In the play Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare., there are two prominent women that grab and hold our attention. One is the wife of the play’s heroic character Othello; the other is engaged to an untrustworthy man named Iago. The women are part of, but yet serve as a small piece of what goes on in the play and which is how the conflict of the