Balance Of Power In Othello
Contemporary audiences are interested in the balance of power between the sexes in Shakespeare’s play Othello. Discuss this statement with close reference to at least 2 key scenes.
The spread of power within society is not one of equality with some being able to exert more on others. The role, importance and especially the power of men in Shakespeare’s play Othello has come from the values and beliefs of society at the time of Shakespeare, however Shakespeare in the play has evened out the balance of power experienced by men and women in the play suggesting that woman are of importance and do possess power which men force woman to constrain through the use of male dominance and strength the men have. The society of Othello is strongly dominated …show more content…
Where Iago once had power over Emilia, Emilia is now able to exert power over her husband due to Iago’s power of strength and the unknown being taken away from him due to the presence of other men in the room and Emilia revealing his plan. After Desdemona’s death Emilia persuades Othello that the “honest” Iago is not so honest but rather deceptive. When Iago comes in and states “I charge you, get you home” Emilia retaliates with “I am bound to speak”. She stands her ground against her husband; Shakespeare has put the truth into a woman’s mouth which is the ultimate way of giving a character power. Throughout the play Emilia’s pleas to Othello about Desdemona’s innocence was ignored but the power of speech she exerted in this end scene convinces Othello of Desdemona’s innocence. This is uncharacteristic of the time as women were perceived to have no morals or know the difference between right and …show more content…
They are presented initially as ideally loving and based on mutual trust but Iago’s manipulation and deceptive powers changed the relationship into one of Othello’s dominance and mistrust of Desdemona. Desdemona growth through the play is opposite to that of Emilia. Desdemona is presented as strong, independent character however as the play progresses she turns into the quiet obedient wife whereas Emilia gains confidence throughout the play. Act 1 scene 3 demonstrates how Desdemona was a confident character and was sure of what she wanted in life. When her fiancé is accused of bewitching her, she immediately defends her love for him. "And so much Duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much that I may profess due to the Moor my lord". Desdemona, however, despite proposals from various suitors and public discouragement, continues her pursuit of Othello, and marries him. The change of Desdemona’s character and the powerlessness experienced by Desdemona is shown in the scene of Desdemona’s death. Othello demands Desdemona home and she abides like the obedient wife. When Othello comes to the room to murder her she tries to defend herself proclaiming her innocence og whatever crime she may have committed. Othello doesn’t even tell Desdemona the crime she committed which portrays the lack of respect Othello now has for his wife and how her opinion on the crime doesn’t matter as
The spread of power within society is not one of equality with some being able to exert more on others. The role, importance and especially the power of men in Shakespeare’s play Othello has come from the values and beliefs of society at the time of Shakespeare, however Shakespeare in the play has evened out the balance of power experienced by men and women in the play suggesting that woman are of importance and do possess power which men force woman to constrain through the use of male dominance and strength the men have. The society of Othello is strongly dominated …show more content…
Where Iago once had power over Emilia, Emilia is now able to exert power over her husband due to Iago’s power of strength and the unknown being taken away from him due to the presence of other men in the room and Emilia revealing his plan. After Desdemona’s death Emilia persuades Othello that the “honest” Iago is not so honest but rather deceptive. When Iago comes in and states “I charge you, get you home” Emilia retaliates with “I am bound to speak”. She stands her ground against her husband; Shakespeare has put the truth into a woman’s mouth which is the ultimate way of giving a character power. Throughout the play Emilia’s pleas to Othello about Desdemona’s innocence was ignored but the power of speech she exerted in this end scene convinces Othello of Desdemona’s innocence. This is uncharacteristic of the time as women were perceived to have no morals or know the difference between right and …show more content…
They are presented initially as ideally loving and based on mutual trust but Iago’s manipulation and deceptive powers changed the relationship into one of Othello’s dominance and mistrust of Desdemona. Desdemona growth through the play is opposite to that of Emilia. Desdemona is presented as strong, independent character however as the play progresses she turns into the quiet obedient wife whereas Emilia gains confidence throughout the play. Act 1 scene 3 demonstrates how Desdemona was a confident character and was sure of what she wanted in life. When her fiancé is accused of bewitching her, she immediately defends her love for him. "And so much Duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much that I may profess due to the Moor my lord". Desdemona, however, despite proposals from various suitors and public discouragement, continues her pursuit of Othello, and marries him. The change of Desdemona’s character and the powerlessness experienced by Desdemona is shown in the scene of Desdemona’s death. Othello demands Desdemona home and she abides like the obedient wife. When Othello comes to the room to murder her she tries to defend herself proclaiming her innocence og whatever crime she may have committed. Othello doesn’t even tell Desdemona the crime she committed which portrays the lack of respect Othello now has for his wife and how her opinion on the crime doesn’t matter as