Othello and Things Fall Apart
Explore the significance of gender and power or society in ‘Othello’ and ‘Things Fall Apart’.
The use of gender and power in both, ‘Othello’ and ‘Things Fall Apart’ is very significant. In Othello men have more personal freedom and women are judged by them in relation to them, where as in Things Fall Apart, women do not have any power in the society since a man is considered wealthy if a man has three wives which the protagonist of things fall apart, Okonkwo did.
In Othello, the relationship between Iago and Emilia is an example of power in gender roles as they were prescribed in Renascence society which, ultimately destroys Emilia; the feminine persona. The definition of women as subservient to men is exemplified in their behavior towards each other. Emilia, hardened to cynicism about male - female relationships by years of marriage, has the view that women are 'food' for men who are 'all stomachs' and 'belch' women when full. Iago continually describes women as 'whores' by which he means only well for supplying the desires of men, in this case, the handkerchief. In contrast to Things Fall Apart, much of the traditional Ibo life presented in this novel revolves around structured gender roles. Essentially all of Ibo life is gendered, from the crops that men and women grow, to characterization of crimes. In Ibo culture, women are the weaker gender, but are also endowed with qualities that make them worthy of worship, like the ability to bear children. The dominant role for women is: first, to make a pure bride for an honorable man, second, to be a submissive wife, and third, to bear many children. The ideal man provides for his family materially and has prowess on the battlefield.
Another example in Othello where the use of power and gender an be seen is when Cassio is exempt from his job he is told to ask Desdemona for help, to approach her and talk to her about it and that she could help him get back on some job. Desdemona
The use of gender and power in both, ‘Othello’ and ‘Things Fall Apart’ is very significant. In Othello men have more personal freedom and women are judged by them in relation to them, where as in Things Fall Apart, women do not have any power in the society since a man is considered wealthy if a man has three wives which the protagonist of things fall apart, Okonkwo did.
In Othello, the relationship between Iago and Emilia is an example of power in gender roles as they were prescribed in Renascence society which, ultimately destroys Emilia; the feminine persona. The definition of women as subservient to men is exemplified in their behavior towards each other. Emilia, hardened to cynicism about male - female relationships by years of marriage, has the view that women are 'food' for men who are 'all stomachs' and 'belch' women when full. Iago continually describes women as 'whores' by which he means only well for supplying the desires of men, in this case, the handkerchief. In contrast to Things Fall Apart, much of the traditional Ibo life presented in this novel revolves around structured gender roles. Essentially all of Ibo life is gendered, from the crops that men and women grow, to characterization of crimes. In Ibo culture, women are the weaker gender, but are also endowed with qualities that make them worthy of worship, like the ability to bear children. The dominant role for women is: first, to make a pure bride for an honorable man, second, to be a submissive wife, and third, to bear many children. The ideal man provides for his family materially and has prowess on the battlefield.
Another example in Othello where the use of power and gender an be seen is when Cassio is exempt from his job he is told to ask Desdemona for help, to approach her and talk to her about it and that she could help him get back on some job. Desdemona