Role of Women in Othello Essay -- Othello essays

Role of Women in Othello In William Shakespe atomic number 18s tragic bid Othello, the wife of the protagonist, Desdemona, is the main female character. Secondly, in that location is the ancients wife, Emilia, who is chastely ambivalent. Thirdly, there is the girlfriend of Michael Cassio, Bianca, who makes her appearance later in the drama. This essay will analyze the roles of these three women. At the outset of the play Iago persuades the rejected suer of Desdemona, Roderigo, to accompany him to the home of Brabantio, Desdemonas father, in the middle of the night. Once there the two awaken the senator with loud shouts about his daughters elopement with Othello. This is the initial reference to the role of women in the play the role of wife. In reply to the noise and Iagos vulgar descriptions of Desdemonas involvement with the general, Brabantio arises from bed. Iagos indelicate references to the senators daughter present a second role of women that of illicit lover. Wit h Roderigos help, he gathers a search party to go and dress Desdemona and bring her home. The fathers attitude is that life without his Desdemona will be much worse than before It is too true an nefariousness asleep(p) she is And whats to come of my despised time Is nought but bitterness. (1.1) Here is seen another(prenominal) role or function of women in the drama that of comforter for the aged. Brabantio is the obsolescent father, and he hates to lose the comforting services of his Desdemona. The daughters economise Othello expresses his sentiments to Iago regarding his relationship with the senators daughter, saying that I love the gentle Desdemona, I would not my unhoused free condition Put into circumscriptio... ...y true and accuses him of lying You told a lie, an odious, damned lie Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie. She false with Cassio (5.2) whence she accuses him of causing murder And your reports have set the murder on. Emilias stunning interrogation a nd conviction of her own husband as the evil mastermind behind the crime results in Iagos killing her. heartbroken Othello, grief-stricken by remorse for the tragic mistake he has made, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife. Thus it is seen that the roles of women are many and varied and are key to the successful development of the story. WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos.