Gender Roles In Othello

In Othello by William Shakespeare a distinction between males and females is evident. Shakespeare made it very clear that men are the dominant controlling force in the play.  The male perspective is the only perspective that is given to the audience in Othello.  Also, the male characters are the only characters in positions of power or authority. The male characters call the shots while the female characters simple obey without question. Emilia retrieves the handkerchief for Iago because she is told to. When Emilia asks Iago why he needs the handkerchief he tells her that is none of her business and she leaves without question.

The female characters in Othello are viewed as objects by the male characters in Othello. The male characters believe that it is their right to make the decisions for the female characters. For example, in Act 1 of the play Brabantio is outraged at Desdemona for marrying Othello without his permission. Brabantio believes that his daughter, Desdemona, is his property and that it is his responsibility to give her to a respectable husband. Women in Othello are also viewed as deceptive whores by the male characters. Iago based his accusations of Emilia cheating on him purely off of suspicions. Also, Othello believes that Desdemona may be unfaithful to him because he believes that he is not meeting her sexual appetite.