A Feminist Perspective of Othello Essay -- Feminism Feminist Women Cr

A feminist aspect of Othello Throughout the length of Shakespeares tragedy Othello there is a potent undercurrent of sexism. It is originating from not one, but rather various male characters in the play, who manifest prejudicial, discriminatory attitudes toward women. In the opening scene, while Iago is expressing his hatred for the customary Othello for his having chosen Michael Cassio for the lieutenancy, he contrives a plan to partially avenge himself (I follow him to serve my turn upon him), with Roderigos assistance, by alerting Desdemonas father, Brabantio, to the fact of his daughters elopement with Othello Call up her father, / Rouse him assimilate after him, poison his delight . . . . Implied in this move is the fact of a fathers assumed control over the daughters choice of a marriage partner. Iagos warning to the senator follows closely Zounds, sir, youre robbd for shame, empower on your gown / Your heart is burst, you film lost half your soul. This story also i mplies that the father has authority over the daughter. Brabantios admonition to Roderigo implicitly expresses the same message The worser welcome I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors In honest plainness thou hast perceive me say My daughter is not for thee . . . . (1.1) Iagos continuing earthy appraisals of the view all seem to bestow upon the father the power to make decisions for the daughter. Roderigo sluice calls Desdemonas action a revolt against paternal authority Your daughter, if you have not given her leave, / I say again, hath made a unprocessed revolt . . . . Upon verifying the absence of his daughter from the home, Brabantio exhorts all fathe... ...view, LXIV, 1 (Winter 1956), 1-4, 8-10 and azimuth Quarterly (Spring 1956), pp.5-16. Mack, Maynard. Everybodys Shakespeare Reflections Chiefly on the Tragedies. Lincoln, NB University of Nebraska Press, 1993. Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare Othello. newborn York Penguin Books, 1968. Neely, Carol. Women and Men in Othello Critical Essays on Shakespeares Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthelemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (page 68-90) Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The electric car Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Wayne, Valerie. Historical Differences Misogyny and Othello. The Matter of Difference Materialist Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Ed Valerie Wayne. Ithaca, NY Cornell University Press, 1991.