Othello- Women

Othello- Women

1. Virginity

   • V important

2. Marriage before Renaissance

   • Sexual attraction= X permitted
     • So daughters married off before puberty
   • Used to boost social status
     • Brabantio= frustrated by O&D's marriage as X raise his social status

3. Gender Roles

   • Men= power over women
     • O= outraged at D's 'cheating' as he's supposed to have power over her sexuality
   • Women= unequal
     • O refers to Emilia as a "whore"- there's no equivalent term for a man
   • Sexuality= important
   • Wives expected to be submissive to their husbands; some spend life looking for approval & love

4. Marriage during Renaissance

   • Humanists: its about free will, reason, & responsibility
     • O&D= believe in true/ free love (Humanistic?)
       • D: "But here's my husband"- proud to have free will to love & marry O
   • Puritans: the children should have a say in who they're married to
     • Marriage= blessing & duty

5. Cool Women

   • Queen Elizabeth= Queen of England!
   • Joan of Arc (1412-1431)= Heroic soldier of the French army
   • Emilia= tries to defend D in death; disobeys Iago's order to be silent: "I peace? No. I will speak liberal as the North [...] Yes I'll speak"