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Othello theme summary- Love & Relationships
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An A* grade summary of love & relationships in Shakespeare's Othello
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Othello: Key Theme – Love & RelationshipsLove & Relationships
Double standards
The play contains many examples of the double standard between men and women. Codes
of conduct in the play (and in the Jacobean era) are very different. Men have personal
freedom, yet women are judged. For example, Bianca is labelled as a “strumpet” but for
Cassio, it is acceptable to use her as he pleases. Men have power over women in the play, a
key example of this is Iago’s successful vilification of Desdemona. He utilises the
male/female double standard to destroy her virtuous reputation.
Gender & power
At the beginning of the play, a sense of powerful womanhood is presented; Desdemona, has
deceived her possessive father, asserting her independence from the patriarchy by choosing
her own husband. This places male/ female relationships at the centre of the plays conflict,
it is about opposition and power. Another example of a power struggle is Iago constantly
competing with Desdemona for Othello’s ear. Also, Desdemona and Emilia defend
themselves against their husbands’ accusations, and Bianca tries to assert her rights as
Cassio’s lover. This displays that gender lies at the root of much of the plays conflict.
Couples
Desdemona and Othello initially stand out as they have the only harmonious relationship in
the play. Due to their different social and cultural backgrounds, their relationship in Act 1 &
2 symbolises strong love and a true meeting of minds. Othello loves Desdemona for her
grace and kindness, and she loves him for his bravery and heroism. Despite the strength of
their “well-tuned” love, Iago is still able to destroy it. The other relationships (Cassio &
Bianca and Iago & Emilia) are dysfunctional and unhappy. Cassio and Bianca are unequal, it
is a relationship between a “customer,” who feels limited affection, and a “bauble,” whose
genuine love makes her unhappy. Emilia also exudes unhappiness, but she is more resigned.
Marriage to Iago has made her cynical about love. She knows she is merely “food” for Iago.
She is only acceptable to him until she disobeys him, at which point he tries to kill her.
Iago’s hate of love and femininity
The dynamic between Desdemona, Iago and Othello can be seen as a warped love triangle.
Iago seeks to displace Desdemona to access Othello, displaying that he is a disruptive force
within their relationship. This behaviour also reveals that her reacts to femininity with
loathing. He fears that Desdemona has more power over Othello, that she can “play the
god,” so he replaces her using lies and misdirection. Iago despises Othello for giving in to
love, which he sees as a feminine, unworthy emotion. Iago loathes female power. This is
clearly shown in “she may make, unmake, do what she list (…) with his weak function.” Iago
attempts to make Desdemona seem unreliable by lying about her, which ultimately leads to
her death.
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