100% satisfaction guarantee Immediately available after payment Both online and in PDF No strings attached
logo-home
Previously searched by you
Previously searched by you
logo
Female Friendship in Othello A* Essay (24/25) CA$13.90
Add to cart
Quickly navigate to
Preview
  2.  
  3. AQA
  4.  
  5. English Literature A
  6.  
  7. Othello

Essay

Female Friendship in Othello A* Essay (24/25)
 38 views  0 purchase
  • Course
  • Othello
  • Institution
  • AQA
  • Book
  • Othello

Top band, 24/25 marks achieved on this essay Answers the question: • How does Shakespeare present aspects of love in this passage? • Examine the view that, in this passage and elsewhere in the play, ‘the relationship between Desdemona and Emilia presents female friendship as loyal and co...

[Show more]

Preview 1 out of 3  pages

Document information

  • August 24, 2022
  • 3
  • 2022/2023
  • Essay
  • Unknown
  • A+

Subjects

  • othello
  • emilia
  • desdemona
  • bianca
  • shakespeare
  • female friendship
  • friendship
  • women
  • misogyny
  • power
  • sex
  • gender
  • sexism
  • stereotypes
  • tragedy
  • play
  • gender roles
  • control
  • defiance
  • feminism
  • renaissance
  • venice
  • venet

Connected book

book image

Book Title:

Author(s):

  • Edition:
  • ISBN:
  • Edition:

More summaries for

  • Othello: Genre and Dramatic Structure
  • Imagery in Othello
  • Othello theme summary- Race
All for this textbook (20)

Written for

  • A/AS Level
  • AQA
  • English Literature A
  • Othello
All documents for this subject (18)

Seller

avatar-seller
rachelsewell

Reviews received

Content preview

 How does Shakespeare present aspects of love in this passage?
 Examine the view that, in this passage and elsewhere in the play, ‘the relationship between
Desdemona and Emilia presents female friendship as loyal and constant, unlike the romantic
relationships of the play.’



In the tragedy ‘Othello’, written in 1604 at the beginning of the Jacobean period, Shakespeare
presents various forms of love through each character; whether that be romantic, platonic, requited
or unrequited. Interlinking this, many aspects entwined in love and relationships are arguably most
notably portrayed through the loyal and constant female friendship between Emilia and
Desdemona. This is largely due to the stern patriarchal society women endured in early 15 th century
England, and so relationships with such strength and reliability for females became not only
inevitable, but fundamental for support and relatability to others who were living similar
experiences, unique to being a woman. This essay will analyse these qualities and the presentation
of Desdemona and Emilia’s relationship as loyal and constant, whilst considering the idea that such
relationship is exclusive in ‘Othello’ as a whole.

Primarily, the relationship between Desdemona and Emilia is mutually shown as loyal and constant,
emphasised by the unstable marriage of both women to power-corrupted men who will show
ultimate disloyalty and inconstance through the murder of their spouses. Shakespeare creates such a
stark contrast to highlight the prominence of this female relationship, and further ensures the
audience make this link by including Emilia’s belief that “it is their husband’s fault if wives do fall”;
foreboding and foreshadowing that both wives shall not only emotionally, but physically fall (die) at
the hand of their husbands. Once again, the fact the female friendship lasts to the point of death
unlike the romantic relationships in the play (which actually inflict it) shows the degree of loyalty and
consistency maintained throughout.

Furthermore, the disillusionment both women feel towards “O, these men, these men!” and freely
discussing such a taboo subject displays their closeness, loyalty and trust in one another’s friendship.
This is particularly telling through Emilia’s proto-feminist reassurance that Desdemona would not be
at fault if she were to “make her husband a cuckold” because “wives have sense” and “desires for
sport” as men do, despite such an act possibly resulting in a woman’s ears and nose being cut off as
medieval punishment; perhaps bringing Emilia’s true loyalty and consideration into question. Emilia
herself admits that she “might do’t as well I’ the dark” much to Desdemona’s surprise, and yet
despite being a representation of everything shunned in a woman at the time, Desdemona listens to
Emilia’s progressive speech without judgement, liberally overlooking both her gender and class
status when speaking without restraint. Instead, Desdemona appears to draw strength from Emilia
who acts as her ‘saviour’, in return adopting Desdemona’s voice when she no longer has one to
imply everlasting loyalty and continuous constancy, even beyond death.

Structurally, Act 4 Scene 3 is shorter than those previous, representing how time is running out for
Emilia and Desdemona’s life and friendship. Extensive dialogue and excessive use of caesura by
Emilia shows that she has become overwhelmed with displaying loyalty and sharing her
empowerment with Desdemona, but also that she doesn’t want their time together to end
(reflected by frequent pausing and prolonging of speech). As well as this, Emilia’s nonphatic idiolect
shows intelligence and perpetuates the influence she is attempting to assert. Desdemona opposingly
uses short, blunt sentences, showing she is willing and eager to listen to Emilia’s responses.

The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Guaranteed quality through customer reviews

Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.

Quick and easy check-out

Quick and easy check-out

You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.

Focus on what matters

Focus on what matters

Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!

Frequently asked questions

What do I get when I buy this document?

You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.

Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?

Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.

Who am I buying these notes from?

Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller rachelsewell. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.

Will I be stuck with a subscription?

No, you only buy these notes for CA$13.90. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.

Can Stuvia be trusted?

4.6 stars on Google & Trustpilot (+1000 reviews)

52928 documents were sold in the last 30 days

Founded in 2010, the go-to place to buy study notes for 14 years now

Start selling
CA$13.90
  • (0)
Add to cart
Added