Josue Banuelos

Mr. Gango

English 12

9 April 2018

Feminism in Othello

Othello is best viewed through the feminist criticism point of view. The woman that are

displayed in this play are represented in a way that degrades women to nothing more than mere

objects. The way their male counterparts treat them is appalling and makes them seem like they

are their property. Overall the way that women are portrayed in Othello is demeaning towards

what women are seen as in society and how they are treated.

The overall main storyline of Othello is that there is a officer, named Iago, that does not

seem to like his general, named Othello, for whatever reason. Iago comes up with a elaborate

plan to make Othello think that his wife, Desdemona, is cheating on him. He ends up using his

wife to finally convince Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him. Othello then ends up falling

for Iago’s plan and murders Desdemona just because he had a feeling something is going on.

In the wake of Iago trying to make his plan of ruining Othello’s life he uses his wife,

Emilia, as a way to just further his plans. At first he gets the handkerchief he has no regard as to

what happens to his wife as long as his plans go as planned. Even goes as far to try to stab Emilia

in the end when she tries to tell Othello that Iago had tricked him. (insert quote of Iago stabbing

Emilia). Once her purpose was used, in Iago’s eyes, she was disposable whenever Iago felt she

was a hindrance. Most of the male characters act towards women the same way Iago acts

towards his wife.

 Othello treats his wife similarly as Iago but with a little more leniency. Unlike Iago he

actually does love his wife and doesn’t just completely accept the fact that Desdemona could be

so unloyal towards him. He waits to find some type of proof that Desdemona has actually

cheated on him. After finding the littlest bit of proof though, he completely turns on Desdemona.

He doesn't try to talk to her. He doesn’t try to reason with her. Othello instead just concludes for

himself that she is cheating and must murder her for doing so. Once Desdemona is believed of

doing something that is not acceptable Othello takes it upon himself to get rid of her.

Thus Othello is best viewed in a Feminist point of view. From the amount of disrespect

and disregard women have in this play to the way they are treated as objects makes this play best

viewed from this point of view. Overall the play is offensive towards women and the way they

represented