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Gender in Othello
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A full, in-depth A* essay plan exploring the theme of Gender in Shakespeare's "Othello", for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature.
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By: mischacarr1 • 6 months ago
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genderIntroduction
o Male inability to comprehend female complexity, Auden - simple and “rather two-
dimensional” whereas Robertson mocks men of play for viewing women as either
“pure and innocent”, or “vulgar” and “common” where they are more complex than
this
o Within her critical reception there is conflict over whether D is “assertive and
headstrong” (Atkins) or weak and submissive when submitting to patriarchy
Men objectify women –
o First intro to her is derogatory and sexual “tupping your white ewe” – “your” shows
women as possession, plus white sheep is Christian symbol for purity, juxtaposed
with sexual implications mocks her innocence
o Iago “look to your house, your daughter, and your bags” – within list of objects, and
inferior to property within descending tricolon
o Roderigo “tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes” – expectations of women, dead
internal rhyme shows cliché and traditional ideas (duty most important, looks more
valued than intellect)
o Possession - “ornament[s] of men” (Cornelius a Lapide) – Genesis 2, women made to
keep man company
o Can be explored through feminist critical perspective where stereotypes passed down
through history by men (Genesis views of women’s sin comes from Moses)
o First introduction to Desdemona comes through the words of Iago and Roderigo
before we get the chance to form our own opinion of her (victim of the patriarchy)
Complexity
1) Othello
o So much respect for wife that Iago says “our general’s wife is now the general” – not
only equals, but she exceeds him
o Trophy wife – “I won your daughter”: alternating view of her as a trophy and as
headstrong highlights her complexity and male inability to understand this
o Calls Desdemona “fair”, “gentle” seemingly complimentary, but then “honest Iago”
suggesting Othello is oblivious to malignity of Iago and complexity of women –
Robertson “either sub or superhuman” and mocks men for viewing women as either
“pure and innocent” or “vulgar” and “common” - must be “especially careful about
adopting any single perspective of a character”
2) Brabantio
o “so tender, fair and happy” yet “trust not your daughters’ minds”
o Men don’t comprehend complexity of the women Shakespeare crafted (Blamires:
results in tragically ironic ending; “strumpet” and accused of adultery yet supposedly
dies a virgin)
Challenges idea of female wit – Shakespeare’s controversial opinions
1) Witty females
o In Giraldi, was fearsome and weak yet in Othello, she is defiant, holds controversial
views and is feisty, possibly to appeal to the temperament of Elizabeth I (physically
frail but strong in spirit)
o Not scared of Iago – accuses Desdemona of being untruthful and she replies “you
have little cause to say so” – feminist figure of play, resists patriarchy, “it is their
husbands’ faults if wives do fall” and belittles men to animals “eating [women]
hungrily, and when they are full, they belch [them]”
o Worrall – “pluck not pulchritude” as they are played by men. Act 2 Scene 1 witty
wordplay with Iago shows intellect and sophistication but also subtle hint that it is
only men who should have charisma and wit
2) Emilia’s controversial pathos-evoking monologue
o Speech (“their wives have sense like them, they see and smell”) similar to Shylock –
Shakespeare uses pathos to appeal to audience to communicate message (Shylock is
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