Explore Shakespeare’s presentation of the theme of masculinity in Othello

Introduction

• In Othello, Shakespeare presents masculinity as a performative, fragile construct intrinsically linked to reputation, power, and control over women.

• Through characters such as Othello, Iago, and Cassio, Shakespeare interrogates the pressures of maintaining masculine, exposing how toxic ideals of masculinity breed jealousy, violence, and tragedy

Iago’s Toxic Masculinity and Contempt of Female Authority

Snyder ‘the male characters are deeply disturbed by the idea of a woman who has power and agency’

Masculinity as Reputation and Honour or Desdemona

AC Bradley ‘the most important question for most of the characters is what other people think of them, and this obsession with reputation colours everything they do

Cassio as a Model of Courtly Vulnerable Masculinity