Analysis of Female Characters in Shakespeare’s Othello

ANALYSIS OF adult femaleish CHARACTERS IN OTHELLO In this paper I have tried to analyse the female characters of Shakespe ars Othello in the light of Elizabethan Era, and status of wo manpower in twelfth century, the age from which the character of Othello is taken. I have besides discussed the status of woman in Christianity in Shakespe atomic number 18an times. The main purpose of this reoceanrch article in the analyse the female characters of Othello that they were non different from the real life of Shakespe atomic number 18an times nor alien from the women of 12th Century.Othello a dumb Moor, a warrior, won many battles, becomes a victim of green-eyed monster and conspiracy of Roderigo. Who hates Othello non due to racial prejudice entirely rather jealousy that Othello has won fair Desdemona (1-1) Shakespe atomic number 18s first source for Othello was Un Capitano moro, (A Moorish Captain), ace of the One hundred short stories in the collection. Gli Hecatommithi publis hed by the Italian, Cinthio (web) (1566-Venice). Cinthios story provides the prickerb angiotensin-converting enzyme for Shakespeargons plot although he changed and introduced some minor characters e. Brabantio and Roderigo. In Cinthios possibility Iagos motive for revenge against Othello was that he humpd Desdemona, who out decentlyly rejected his proposal. The tragedy of Othello takes fleck in Venice and Cypress, Iago wasting diseases Desdemona through genus Emilia and inflames a good man with jealousy. In the beginning of the play the seminal fluid of conflict are sown when Roderigo shouts in dark at Brabantios house, the news of Desdemonas elopement that she hath do a gross revolt, Tying her certificate of indebtedness, beauty wit and fortunes.In an extravagant and wheeling stranger Of here(predicate) and e very(prenominal)where Brabontio thinks that it was due to some black magic that was use by Othello, the black moor, we see that there are hints of hostility within the play to the highest degree Othellos Moorish origin and his differences in religion and gardening when Othello relates his story of roll in the hay before the Duke in the Venation Senate and he convinces whole of them that he n incessantly used magic or drugs. Barbantio demands that Desdemona should testify, she affirms her duty to her take (I. iii) (179-180).Who gave her life and education, but asserts she has a higher duty than this to Othello, as he is her husband. My Noble Father I also perceive here a divided duty To you I am bound for life and education My life and education both do look me How to respect you your are the lord of duty I am therefore your daughter but here is my husband. (I. iii. 180-185) Desdemona is presented as a veritable Christian character possessing all the virtues of honourable woman. She respects her grow, admits his love and vows to accompany her husband. She suffers more than any other character of the play.Othello also loves Desdemona from his heart in the beginning and utters it as still that I have the gentle Desdemona, I would non my unhoused free condition Put into circumscription and confine For the seas worth (I. ii. 25-28) The love of Othello is corrupted by Iagos conspiracy and Othello is trapped in his jealousy inflamed by handkerchief plot. His loves turns him mad and he uses the weapon of violence against the fair Desdemona. His hate is so such(prenominal) for Desdemona that he speculates to Lodovico Ay you did wish that I would make her turns.Sir, she turns, and turns and yet go on, And turn again and she kindle weep, sir, weep And she is obedient, as you say obedient, Very obedient. (IV. iii 252-257) Thus Othello implies that Desdemona is available to Lodovico or to any one else, also, because she is as obedient that she can obey any one. What is the significance of handkerchief of Othello? In Othello there are devil accounts of handkerchief, in the first Othello warms Desdemona that his handke rchief is love charm with magic in the web addicted to his mother by an Egyptian.In the record account Othello tells Grantiano it was an antique token/ My father gave my father. Othellos two different versions make readers/audience baffle that which one is true. The fatal handkerchief is very cardinal in the play (Andrews) In the beginning in of the play Desdemona is shown as an adventurous spirit when her husband Othello is called for armed services duty in Cypress, she begs to go with him and cannot think of remaining alone at home without her husband. Even Othello woos Desdemona by telling adventurous stories of actions and danger.She heard all these tales with Greedy ears Desdemona wishes that The leavens had made her a man like Othello (I. iii) Desdemona is very expressive about her love for Othello she is bold and beautiful in expressing her love for Othello even before her father and the duke and she also openly announces that she impart go to Cypress, which shows that she was pretty frank about her sexual desire for her husband. Desdemona suffers much more than any other character of the play. She is a good natured young and beautiful lady ,and possesses all good qualities and Christian virtues.Then why she suffers so much? Shakespearean conveys the possibility that Gods plant in the play, a work that prompts playgoers to believe that she deserves happiness (her taking Cassios case as her own), straightway leads to her death (Hunt 2004). The character of Desdemona is that if an ideal wife as Carroll Camden calls her in Iago on woman (2004). In Othello Desdemona disobeying her, back chatting with Iago (II. i), lying Othello of her death (V. ii), admiring Lodovico as a Proper Man (IV. I) and pressing Cassios suit to Othello.It is important to note that several critics cite Desdemona for violating Elizabethan or Jacobean law and propriety by denying her father and running off with the Moor (Kolin). Desdemona is one the most beautiful heroines of Shak espeare, when Brabantio arrives to confront Othello, he says that if it is impossible that a maid so tender, fair and happy (I. ii 66). Would ever love a scary black man like Othello. Cassio describes her beauty That paragon description and wild fame (II. i), here he means to say that Desdemona is more beautiful than ny possible description of her beauty, more beautiful than the wildest story of any womans beauty. She is indeed the most fresh and delicate creature (II-iii-19). When Othello saw his handkerchief is Cassios hand, Iago encourages Othellos homicidal mood by reminding him that Cassio gave the precious handkerchief to his whore, Bianca. Iago continues to subtly increase Othellos fury through his use of sexual innuendo as he tells Othello that Cassio has the handkerchief and implies that he has confessed to sleeping with Desdemona (Bate & Rasmussen 2009).Othello was still uncertain his disjointed language shows the breakdown of his self-control (IV-i). He falls down uncons cious as Cassio arrives and Iago tells him that Othello has epilepsy, warning that he breaks into savage madness if woken from fit. It is interesting to note in Othello, Shakespeare uses female characters through Iago for the downfall of Othello. The conspiracies are interweave with the help of women. All the three woman characters of Othello and theare used against Othello. It is true that Othello is all male- world- play of Shakespeare.Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca are rejected by their male partners and all three love their men unselfishly, even when confronted by behavior that we would deem grounds for divorce at the very last. All the women are engaged to unequal partnerships. They finger more for their self-centered men than the men are capable for reciprocating. However, the women also display genuine emotions toward distributively other that is not reflected in any of the male characters. Besides Desdemona, Emilia is an important character, she is elder and misanthropica l than Desdemona. She develops a close relationship with the young married Desdemona.They form a bond of relationship everywhere husband trouble. It is interesting to note that Emilias one dishonest act towards Desdemona is the stealing of handkerchief, she did not know the plot of Iago, her act of stealing turns out to have devastating consequences. (IV ) Unfortunately Emilias little theft ends up causing her friends death. Emilia realizes the importance of handkerchief and when she discovers about Iagos evil plot against Othello and she relives the truth. She washes the bad name of Desdemona. She also sacrifices her own life so that Desdemona wont be remembered as a whore.Iago and Emilia are married but their relationship is not based on mutual understanding. Iago always talks trash about woman in general. Emilia is eager to please him. She steals Desdemonas handkerchief in order to please Iago. I nothing but to please his fantasy (III-iiii). She tries to gratify Iagos thirst fo r power and wishes without involving into any evil designs which are in Iagos mind who would not make her husband A cockold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for. (IV-iii) Like Desdemona, Emilia craves for affection. She is very submissive like Desdemona and Bianca.It was common in the Elizabethan woman to be submissive and devoted to male figures whether father or husband. Emilias bitterness boils over in the final scene during which she says that husbands are usually to blame when their wives cheat on them. After all, men cheat on woman all the time. Why shouldnt woman have an equal right to infidelity? Although, Shakespeare wrote Othello in the early 1600s. Emilias monologue is about as close as we find in later feminist manifesto. Third female character is that of Bianca, a Venatian courtier, who is in love with Cassio.Cassio always uses her as a laughable nuisance. Biancas character is very sympathetic and Cassio uses her for his sexual inescapably and treats h er like a garbage. why is she presented as a prostitute in the play? when there are only three woman characters. Actually Venice was famous for prostitution and promiscuity. She is a foil to the chaste and ever fatithful Desdemona. But hardhearted soldier in Othello does not recognize the difference between these women. He is intimately cheated by gentle Iago that Desdemona is having extra-marital sex with Cassio.It is also very interesting that all three woman, Desdemona Emilia and Bianca, are accused at some point or another of being promiscuous Each one of these women are rejected by their male partners. It was an error of judgment on the part of Othello that he was not able to understated Iagos plot to ruin Othello. The woman, especially Desdemona, suffers most in the play. Emilia and Bianca also suffer, and Othello takes revenge and kills Iago when he comes to know about the reality. The play ends with a great loss, the death of Desdemona is the most tragic one, because she wa s the the sweetest innocent/that ever did lift up eye. V-ii). In the fits of jealousy Othello was blind to all love and affections of a human being, he acts like a beast when he says O, she was foul I merely did know your, uncle there lies your niece. Whose breath indeed, these hands have newly stopped. I know this act shows terrific and given(5) Iago stabs Emilia and when Othello was told the truth of handkerchief and Iagos plot by dying Emilia. Who announces the innocence of Desdemona to Othello Moor, she was chaste she love three cruel Moor So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true So speaking as I think, I die, I die. (Dies)Othello was almost mad after crafty the truth, he comes to know that his wife was innocent, when Gratiano enters into the bedchamber he requests him O cursed, cursed salve Whip me, ye devils From the pigheadedness of this heavenly sight Blow me about in words Roast me in sulpher Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire O Desdemona Dead, Desdemona Dead O ( V-II) The agony and remorse of killing was felt at heart by poor Othello, he stabs himself and gives a proof to world that never allow jealousy over come reason and also washes all the stains from the name of beautiful Desdemona. Othello utters his last words I kissed thee ere I killed thee No way but this (falling upon Desdemona) Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. (Dies) ( V-ii) Lodovico, a kinsman to Brabantio, asks Gratiano, Brother to Brabantio. Myself will straight aboard and to the state This heavy act with heavy heart relate (V- ii) References .Andrews, M. C. (2004). Honest Othello The handkerchief once More. Studies in English Literature. camden, C. (n. d. ). Iago on women. Hunt, M. (2004). Shakespeares Religious Allusiveness. ashgate. Kolin, P. C. (n. d. ). Othellonew critical essays. Rasmussem, J. B. (2009). William shakespeare. Palgrave Macmillan.