Feminism In Othello

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During the Elizabethan Era, women were degraded and deprived of any power over themselves. They were expected to follow every order given to them by a male figure without any objections. This idea is displayed in Venetian society in Othello by William Shakespeare. The male characters were often cruel to women yet they still expected the women to exhibit affection and loyalty towards them. This idea is further expanded upon in ‘Proper’ Men and ‘Fallen’ Women: The Unprotectedness of Wives in Othello by Ruth Vanita. Vanita describes how the men in the play are often the cause of their wife's death. In The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading, the author analyzes the book from the eyes of a feminist and describes how women were submissive …show more content…
In the play, Emilia and Desdemona are both “accused by their husbands of “falling” morally” (Vanita 352). Both of these women are accused of using their sexual power in order to entice other men into participating in affairs with them. This is because their husbands are afraid that their sexual power is too great, and that other men are easily persuaded into committing sexual deeds by it. Othello approaches Desdemona and says that “the fountain from the which [his] current runs” has been discarded (4.2.69-70). He believes that Desdemona has strayed from his side and used her sexuality with another man. Because of this accusation, Othello is in spite when he views his wife talking to other men. Iago also experiences a similar fear about his wife, Emilia. Iago is afraid that Othello has “‘twixt [his] sheets [and] ‘has done [his] office” (1.3.430-431). He suspects that Emilia used her power to convince Othello into having an affair with her. This makes Iago extremely bitter, and he often lashes out and degrades Emilia because of this. Because of their husband’s misconception that they are using their sexual power, women are often
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