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There is not one place in the world where women are equal to men. Not one. Although the world has moved progressively forward in equality for women, there is still a lot to learn from. Based on Shakespeare’s portrayal of gender, today’s students should read Othello.
Both in the men and women in Shakespeare’s play create, this idea of hierarchy. From the beginning the reader can infer what it means to be a good woman during the that time period. After Othello physically abuses Desdemona, in front of her family, she falls quiet and continues to obey her husband instead of standing up for herself. Lodovico exclaims, “Truly, an obedient lady. I do beseech your lordship, call her back� (IV.I.240). Desdemona’s strict adherence to gender norms causes her to obey her husband no matter the circumstance, because she believes he must be right. Desdemona is surrounded by men in this scene, which probably only enhances her feelings that she must have done something wrong, and it is her fault this is happening. Lodovico is praising this behavior of obeying her husband. From this scene we can conclude that it was ingrained in wifes that their husbands were wiser, ultimately causing this idea of “men know best� or “men know what’s best for me�. This is valuable to modern readers to think about because it could potentially impact how women act in their relationships. Women are more easily prone to take the fault or blame when their male partner (being in a position of power) is upset.
This idea of toxic masculinity is continued with many main characters throughout the play. Towards the end of the play, Othello becomes increasingly fed up with Desdemona because he suspects her of cheating. In one conservation Desdemona and Othello have, he loses his temper and calls her out: � I cry mercy, then, / I took that cunningwhore of Venice / That married with Othello - You, mistress, / That have the office opposite to Saint Peter / And keep the gate of hell! (IV. II. 95). Othello uses his position of power as a male figure to call Desdemona a whore. Instead of asking Desdemona about the situation, Othello trusts another man over his own wife. This conveys that men likely regarded other men as more honest than women, even if they were married to them. Othello feels pressure from this figure of masculinity and resorts to anger and rage.
Gender roles does not only apply to men treating women a certain way, but continous to apply when men feel the obligation to do something because it pertains to their role. Iago’s plan in the earlier part of the play is to destroy the reputation of Cassio (Othello’s lieutenant). Iago pressures Cassio into drinking even though he does not want to:
Cassio: I have drunk but one cup tonight.
Lago: What, man, ‘tis a night of levels! The gallants desire it (II.III. 38-40).
Here, Iago reveals that because the other “gentlemen� are drinking Cassio should too. Not only is that social pressure but Iago is using gender norms to guilt Cassio into thinking he needs to drink, to be a “real man�. Iago then proceeds to manipulate Cassio’s drunken state to commit an act of violence against Roderigo. This leads to a warning for modern readers, men are more likely to act out in violence when alcohol is running through their bloodstream and affecting their decision making skills.
While Iago uses gender pressure and female stereotypes to dismiss women, Desdemona looks at male stereotypes as a reason to convey compassion toward the male gender. In the last scenes of the party, Othello makes his final moves to kill Desdemona. In these final moments we can observe just how obedient Desdemona really is. She cries: “Talk of killing? / ...Have mercy on me!� (V.II.35-40). This scene evokes passion and frustration out of the reader, it challenges the reader to think deeper about why Desdemona is not fighting back. Desdemona feels and most likely knows Othello’s true intentions. However, Desdemona only shows love and loyalty back because Othello is her husband and she feels a sense of duty to him. She is begging Othello to take pity on her even though she has done nothing wrong. Desdemona cannot see past this because growing up in a time period, as in Shakespeare’s time, women were taught to obey their husbands. This is important to modern readers because we can understand the new roles of gender, and what it means to be a strong independent women.
Emilia is a true example of hope for women in the play. Emilia holds her thoughts together at the beginning of the play, but towards the end she speaks out against the male characters. Reading the play during modern times, Emilia is portrayed as strong for speaking out against her husband. However, in the play, Desdemona is the glorified one because she does not speak up. Emilia speaks against her husband when she learns of his true intentions and what he has thought to be true about her. Emilia cries: “Oh, fie upon them! / Some such squire he was / That turned your wit the seamy side without / And made you to suspect me with the Moor� (IV. II. 153-155). Iago violently screams at Emilia to shut up, but she keeps pressing until he finally kills her. This is a tragic moment, however an important reminder as to understanding why women did not speak out more often against their husbands during this time period.
We must recognize the past and learn and grow from it, or we are doomed to repeat it. Many would argue that gender roles are not as important as they were in Shakespeare’s time, we have reached equality. I would completely disagree. Although not as out in the open as gender inequality was Shakespeare's play, it is still prominent on a deeper level. We need to break the ideals buried deep in our beliefs about the way men and women should behave. This is why Shakespeare’s portrayal of gender roles is extremely important to learn about even today.