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Patriarchy and Otherness in Shakespeare's Othello

Othello is vulnerable due to his insecurity in his relationship with Desdemona and his ever-present violent and misogynistic nature, he turns to Iago for help. Iago then manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona had been unfaithful to him which results in disastrous tragedy – death. .
             Othello is set in a highly patriarchal world, women must do what men say and are unable to have an influence against it. Desdemona breaks these societal expectations during the start of the play. She is able to use her voice to confront the patriarchy to get what she wants: " A moth of peace, and he goes to the war, The rites for which I love him are bereft me And I a heavy interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with him" Desdemona does not want to remain behind while her new husband ventures off to Cyprus to fight against the Turks. Desdemona's desire to be with her husband pressures her to stand against the patriarchy and speak for what she wants instead of being told what to do by the male authority.
             Before the final climactic tragedy occurs, there is a short interlude, a calm moment where Emilia and Desdemona discuss the situation at that moment in time. Desdemona has a premonition of death and sings the "Willow Song" remembering her old maid Barbary whose lover went mad and abandoned her, she died singing this song. In Oliver Parkers film adaptation this "Willow Song" is played throughout the film during Desdemona's death and at the end of the film when the tragedy has subsided. Desdemona sings the "Willow Song" in an indirect way, she faces the eventual possibility that Othello is going mad and may desert or even kill her. Oliver Parker uses cinematic techniques to represent this scene; lighting changes amongst the interspersed cut-scenes between the two women in Desdemona's bedroom and Othello alone by the ocean, these lighting changes create a different and unique atmosphere between the two locations.


Essays Related to Patriarchy and Otherness in Shakespeare's Othello

1. Othello - book intro

Fort Street Press is publishing a book of critical interpretations of your set Shakespeare text. (Othello) Introduction William Shakespeare wrote many plays. ... Although Shakespeare was the playwright to many plays, this collection will concentrate on one of the plays that were written during Shakespeare's great tragic period, Othello. ... Shakespeare most likely used this as a backbone to the creation of Othello by complicating the plot with more characters. ... None other then the villainous Iago achieves this breakdown. ...

  • Word Count: 1792
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Iago Shrewdly Directs This Play

The main distinguishing point between Shakespeare's Othello and his other works is the role of villainous Iago. Iago articulates the plot while he plays a key role in the play, seemingly as a puppeteer, subtly directing most (if not all) of the other characters, most notably Othello, the noble Moor, in this play. Othello seems, above all other characters, a subject to the play's focal character, Iago. Iago cleverly forges Othello to see, among other things, false infidelity of his young and beautiful wife, Desdemona, with his rival, Lieutenant Michael Cassio. Not only is illusion...

  • Word Count: 1535
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

3. In Defense of Desdemona

In Act II, Scene I of Shakespeare's Othello, Iago voices his strong misogynistic opinion towards women-that every woman is the same, shrewd monster whether pretty, ugly, smart, or dumb; and that only when women are obedient and submissive, they are worth praise. ... The unabashed banter that occurs between Iago and Desdemona in this scene threatens Iago and the patriarchy, thus he feels the need to categorize all women into the same unit. ... After Iago's speech of suffrage, Desdemona inquires what he thinks of a woman like herself, and further asks of all types of women who are pre...

  • Word Count: 1417
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

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