“And have not we affections? / Desires for sport? and frailty, as men have? / Then let them use us well: else let them know, / The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.” (Shakespeare 4.3.100-103)
This emancipated statement by Emilia in William Shakespeare`s tragedy “Othello” already could lead to assume that there is far more to the female characters in the play than just the role of the loving wife or the accessory part for the male ones. However, it is mostly Iago and his schemes or Othello and his tragic fate that are in the centre of the reader`s attention rather than the characters of Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca. Iago being unique for the Shakespearean villain and Othello as the personification for the tragedy of jealousy are, to a certain extent, pushing back the female figures to a background position in the people`s general perception of “Othello”.
After all, the women in the play are `worth a second glance`, since only a closer reading can really reveal the whole importance and the subtle power of women in the play, albeit in the background of it. The aim of this paper is to show the function of the female figures in “Othello” and, in this context, to prove their importance for the tragedy`s development. Therefore, I will first analyze the characters of Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca as a basis for a closer look at their function in the plot of “Othello” afterwards. In this context, it is important to say that I will not focus on every facet of the characters but only on the aspects that are significant ones for each and for the further examination. Concerning Desdemona`s, Emilia`s and Bianca`s function in the play, I will investigate in which ways they contribute to the development of the plot. Are they active or passive? Are they doers or victims? And which actions and characteristics of the female figures are actually marking their importance or even power in the tragedy? All these questions will be discussed in this paper in order to demonstrate that Desdemona as well as Emilia and Bianca are indeed more than `nice accessories` in the plot of Shakespeare`s “Othello”.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The Female Characters in “Othello”
II.I. Desdemona
II.II. Emilia
II.III. Bianca
III. The Function of Female Characters in the Plot of „Othello“
III.I. Female Characters as Active Agents
III.II. Female Characters as the Men`s Instruments
IV. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this academic paper is to analyze the function and significance of the three main female characters—Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca—within William Shakespeare's tragedy "Othello," challenging the perception of them as merely background figures or passive accessories.
- Character analysis of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca regarding their perceptions and inner motivations.
- Distinction between active and passive roles played by the female figures in the plot development.
- Examination of how female characters serve as instruments for male schemes, particularly Iago's manipulations.
- Investigation into the dramatic importance of the female characters for the progression of the tragedy.
- Evaluation of the female figures' depth and ambivalence beyond traditional archetypes.
Excerpt from the Book
II.II. Emilia
Emilia is the wife of Othello`s ancient Iago in the play. This constellation already allows us to draw two conclusions to her character in comparison to Desdemona`s. First, it becomes clear that Emilia is of lower social rank than Desdemona, who is the wife of her husband`s general. Thus, she is directly responsible to Iago, Othello and Desdemona. For Iago, Emilia has the function of a wife and for Desdemona, Emilia is attendant, advisor and also a friend. Second, as an honest and moral person, she forms a counterpart to her husband, the scheming, wicked Iago. Certainly, Iago and Emilia are opposites concerning their characters, their minds, whereas the couple of Desdemona and Othello rather differs in its outer appearance.
The most striking differences between Emilia and Desdemona can be seen in the degree of devotion and their ways of loving their husbands. As it was already discussed, Desdemona is completely devoted to Othello throughout the whole play and it is deep romantic love she feels for her husband. However, Emilia is a much more realistic and pragmatic wife. She talks to Iago in a very sober way and even dares to criticize him as her “wayward husband” (3.3.296). In contrast to Desdemona, she is also bold enough to question her husband`s orders, e.g. when she hands out Desdemona`s handkerchief to Iago, she asks him for his intentions and even demands that “if it is not for some purpose of import / Give me`t again” (3.3.321-322). Passing the handkerchief on to her husband, two important facets of her character are introduced: on the one hand, she follows his order as a loyal, serving person, but on the other hand, it becomes clear that her own reason and moral concepts are not subordinated to this loyalty.
Chapter Summaries
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research focus on the female characters in "Othello" and argues that they are essential to the play's development despite often being relegated to the background.
II. The Female Characters in “Othello”: An in-depth exploration of the individual traits, motivations, and perceptions of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca to establish a basis for their later functional analysis.
III. The Function of Female Characters in the Plot of „Othello“: This section investigates how the female figures act as both agents and instruments, specifically detailing how they drive or are exploited for the progression of the plot.
IV. Conclusion: The author summarizes that the female characters are complex and ambivalent figures whose instrumental roles are crucial to the narrative structure of the tragedy.
Keywords
Othello, William Shakespeare, Desdemona, Emilia, Bianca, Female Characters, Plot Development, Iago, Jealousy, Instrumental Function, Tragedy, Gender Roles, Character Analysis, Literary Criticism, Ambivalence
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this paper?
The paper focuses on the role and function of the female characters—Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca—in William Shakespeare’s "Othello," arguing that they are more than just background figures.
What are the central themes explored in the text?
The central themes include the characterization of women in Elizabethan drama, the distinction between active and passive roles, the instrumentalization of women by male characters, and the importance of female agency in a tragedy dominated by men.
What is the primary research goal?
The goal is to demonstrate that the three main female characters are essential to the plot's development and to prove that they possess depth, ambivalence, and significant influence on the tragedy's progression.
Which scientific methodology is applied?
The author uses a character-based analysis followed by a functional examination of these characters' actions to determine how they influence the plot and serve as instruments for the male figures.
What does the main body of the work address?
The main body examines the individual characteristics of each woman, followed by an analysis of how they function as both active agents and as instruments (or "baits") for Iago's schemes.
Which keywords best describe this study?
Key terms include Othello, Shakespeare, female characters, plot function, jealousy, and instrumentalization.
How does the author characterize Desdemona’s role?
Desdemona is depicted as a symbol of innocence and devotion whose very virtues and self-sacrificing nature are exploited by Iago to drive Othello's jealousy.
Why is Emilia considered the most "emancipated" character?
Emilia is viewed as emancipated because she is a realistic, pragmatic, and truth-seeking character who eventually dares to confront her husband, Iago, and expose his schemes, even at the cost of her own life.
What is the significance of Bianca in the plot?
Despite being the least developed female character, Bianca serves as an important "completing" figure who represents a different form of jealousy and is used by Iago to manipulate Cassio’s behavior.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the female characters?
The author concludes that none of the women are "flat characters"; they are all ambivalent, and the tragedy of "Othello" would not function without their contributions to the plot.
- Citar trabajo
- Wiebke Pietzonka (Autor), 2011, Active Agents or Passive Instruments? Female Characters in William Shakespeare's “Othello”, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/232027
