Women's roles Flashcards
These words which Desdemona speaks to her father before the Venetian senate, are her first of the play. Her speech shows her thoughtfulness, as she does not insist on her loyalty to Othello at the expense of respect for her father , but rather acknowledges that her duty is ‘‘divided’’’. Because Desdemona is brave enough to stand up to her father and even partially rejects him in public, these words also establish to the audience her courage and her strength of conviction. Repetition, Desdemona’s ‘speech’ accurately defines women’s roles from the perspective of an oppressed woman.
'’I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education: my life and education both do learn me/ How to respect you.’’
Emilia gives Desdemona a valuable insight on how she views men in society. This can be interpreted as either a piece of sisterly advice or, more deeply, a warning as Emilia can predict that Desdemona is at risk of being plunged into danger very soon.
'’They are all stomachs and we all food, they eat us hungerly and when they are full; they belch us.’’
Desdemona accepts her fate, she submits herself entirely to the patriarchy at this point
'’It is my wretched fortune.’’
Desdemona briefly recovers and tells Emilia that she killed herself, and therefore Othello is not to blame for her death. This is an extreme display of loyalty because Desdemona uses her final breath to defend Othello’s honour. It can be interpreted that this is because she has been defeated by the patriarchal society and Desdemona is well aware that she, as a woman,will be blamed for her death so she embraces it.
'’Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O farewell.’’
Iago to Brabantio, links to women being viewed as property by men. This is reinforced by Brabantio’s opinion on who is ‘for’ his daughter, word choice of ‘for’ insinuated that Desdemona’s purpose is to be a wife and be passed from father to husband. (Brabantio to Roderigo). Even the flirtatious ‘‘Florentine’’ Cassio feeds into the concept of women being objects, specifically trophies.
'’Zounds, sir, you’re robbed.’’
'’My daughter is not for you’’
'’He hath achieved a maid’’
Desdemona emphasises her innocence, she does not accept the blame or responsibility for the degrading way Othello has treated her. Short sentence structure creates a blunt delivery from Desdemona - she has nothing more to say, she is purely disappointed in her husband and knows that as a woman, she cannot question him.
'’I have not deserved this.’’
'’I will not stay, if it offends you.’’
After he strikes Desdemona, Othello expresses a misogynistic view towards women. The historical stereotype of women being hysterical and excessively emotional is exercised here. Othello’s previous view of Desdemona as ‘‘sweet’’ and ‘‘gentle’’ is juxtaposed here. Religious imagery is used to link how Othello’s entire core beliefs have been altered due to Iago’s tyranny. Hyperbolic. ‘‘Teem’’ connotes how Othello perceives women to be alike to parasites.
'’O’ devil, devil!/ If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,/ Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.’’
