The paper discusses the forms and functions of the representation of gender in William Shakespeare’s "Othello".
Beginning with an overview of gender stereotypes and social hierarchies in Shakespeare’s times, referencing mainly Susan Almussen’s "Gender, Culture and Politics in England", as well as Stephen Orgel’s "Shakespeare, sexuality and gender", the uncovered results shall then be referred to the gender representation in the play at hand. Given the patriarchy present in early modern ages, the author will examine in how far this patriarchy is presented in Othello and how the female characters behave or should behave according to it. One of the male characters, Iago, stands behind most of the dramatic actions of the play – Using Prof Dr Heinz Antor’s "Constructing Alterity: Race, Gender, and the Body in Shakespeare’s Othello", the next chapter has the aim to examine the motivations behind his mischievous plans and how and against whom he performs them. Then the author is going to answer where the differences between male and female friendships lie and how they are characterized throughout the play. The last chapter mainly refers to Emily C. Bartels’ "Strategies of Submission: Desdemona, the Duchess, and the Assertion of Desire", and tends to find out if and how the female characters revolt against the patriarchal society they live in and which does not give them much room to criticize or even revolt against the social hierarchies.
Table of contents
1. Introduction
2. Gender relations and stereotypes in early modern England
3. Representation of male-female relationships in Shakespeare’s Othello
3.1. Women as men’s possession
3.2. Submissive women in the patriarchy
4. Misogynist manipulation – Iago’s mischievous plan
5. The world turned upside down? Of jealous, lying men and loyal women
6. Revolt against the patriarchy – women who defend themselves
7. Conclusion
8. Bibliography
8.1. Primary sources
8.2. Secondary sources
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This paper examines the forms and functions of gender representation in William Shakespeare’s Othello, specifically investigating how the play portrays the interaction between early modern patriarchal structures and the behavior of male and female characters. The central research question explores whether the play reinforces or subverts contemporary gender stereotypes and to what extent Shakespeare uses his female characters to voice criticism against his own patriarchal society.
- Analysis of early modern gender stereotypes and social hierarchies
- Representation of women as male possessions and their submissive roles within the patriarchy
- Examination of misogynist manipulation through the character of Iago
- The subversion of traditional gender roles regarding loyalty and jealousy
- The portrayal of female revolt against patriarchal structures
Excerpt from the Book
3.1. Women as men’s possession
Already in the first scenes of Shakespeare’s Othello, it becomes clear that women are not necessarily seen as independent beings with their own will and ideas, but as a possession of men, which can be transferred or stolen. This becomes especially prominent in the dialogue between Iago and Brabantio in Act 1 Scene 1. Repeatedly, Brabantio’s daughter Desdemona is referred to with possessive pronouns, making clear that she rightfully belongs to her father (cf. Shakespeare ed. 2014: Act I, Scene 1, ll.98-118). Like other possessions, she has a rightful place and can be stolen from her father, which is highlighted through Iago’s comparison of Desdemona to other – lifeless – things her father possesses: “Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags. Thieves, thieves!” (ibid: ll. 80f.). Also, she seems to be perceived as a thing, which has no motivation of its own to go away from her father and which can only passively endure actions, such as being taken away or used for someone else’s purposes. That this is not only the perspective of openly misogynist Iago, but also of her father becomes clear when he states things about Desdemona as: “She is abus’d, stol’n from me and corrupted […]” (ibid: Act I, Scene 3, l.60). Furthermore, Brabantio is or rather thinks he is in the position to decide who will be Desdemona’s husband – which was common for early modern fathers – and tells Roderigo that he will not be given Desdemona as his wife: “I have charg’d thee, not to haunt about my doors; / In honest plainness thou hast heard me say / My daughter is not for thee (ibid: Act I, Scene 1, ll.96-98).” That Desdemona marries Othello without asking her father for permission or even telling him equals a revolt against patriarchy. However, as mentioned in chapter 2, this issue was not unknown to fathers in the early modern period.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the research goals, establishing a focus on gender representation and the critical exploration of patriarchal norms within Shakespeare’s Othello.
2. Gender relations and stereotypes in early modern England: This chapter provides a historical context regarding the social status, perceived character traits, and intellectual hierarchies defining men and women in early modern society.
3. Representation of male-female relationships in Shakespeare’s Othello: This section investigates how female characters are treated as property by men and the extent to which they embody or resist the ideal of the submissive wife.
4. Misogynist manipulation – Iago’s mischievous plan: This chapter examines Iago’s misogyny as a catalyst for the plot and how he utilizes male perceptions of female infidelity to manipulate Othello’s downfall.
5. The world turned upside down? Of jealous, lying men and loyal women: This chapter argues that Shakespeare frequently inverts gender stereotypes, contrasting the disloyalty and lack of self-control of male characters with the loyalty of female characters.
6. Revolt against the patriarchy – women who defend themselves: This section focuses on how Desdemona and Emilia eventually defy patriarchal constraints and speak out against the abuse and unfair treatment they endure.
7. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes findings, suggesting that Shakespeare subtly criticizes his society’s patriarchal views by granting female characters a voice and complicating traditional gender archetypes.
8. Bibliography: This section lists the primary and secondary academic sources used to support the analysis of the play.
Keywords
Othello, William Shakespeare, gender representation, patriarchy, early modern England, misogyny, female submissiveness, loyalty, jealousy, Desdemona, Iago, Emilia, social hierarchy, gender stereotypes, feminism
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this term paper?
The paper focuses on the representation of gender in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, analyzing how gender roles and social hierarchies in early modern England are reflected, reinforced, or subverted by the characters' actions.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The core themes include the concept of women as property, the impact of patriarchal structures on male-female relationships, the role of misogynistic manipulation, and the contrast between male disloyalty and female resilience.
What is the central research goal?
The goal is to determine if Othello functions as a feminist or misogynist play, or if it instead serves as a vehicle for Shakespeare to criticize the patriarchal and social hierarchies of his own era through the voices of his female characters.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper utilizes literary analysis of the dramatic text, cross-referenced with historical and cultural scholarship on early modern gender relations and feminist readings of Shakespeare.
What content is addressed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines historical gender stereotypes, the objectification of women in the play, the destructive nature of Iago’s misogyny, the inversion of expected gender-based loyalty, and the final acts of defiance by Desdemona and Emilia against patriarchal oppression.
Which keywords characterize the work?
The work is defined by concepts such as patriarchy, gender representation, submissiveness, loyalty, misogyny, and the critical deconstruction of social hierarchies.
How does the author characterize the shift in male and female loyalty?
The author highlights an inversion where male characters, particularly Iago and Othello, demonstrate disloyalty and a loss of self-control, while female characters, especially Desdemona and Emilia, demonstrate profound loyalty, virtue, and moral strength.
What significance does the character of Emilia hold in the final chapters?
Emilia is portrayed as a key figure of resistance who exposes Iago’s manipulations and speaks truth to power, effectively challenging the patriarchal status quo and defending the dignity of women before her death.
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- Lisa-Sophie Roth (Autor:in), 2018, Forms and functions of the representation of gender in "Othello" by William Shakespeare, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/903496
