Women in Othello ♀️

What is an inamorata?

A Italian Renaissance female lover in comedies

What is a filla astuta?

the clever young girl stocktype in renaissance plays.

What does emboldened mean?

To become brave and corageous. Whilst Othello becomes emboldened to kill Desdemona, Emilia becomes emboldened to protect her.

''We must not now __ him'' - Desdemona 4,3

''We must not now displease him''

Shows her willingness into submission for her husband.

What brings tension to the start of Act 4,3?

Othello's ''dismiss your attendant there'' as Desdemona loses the only female support she has against Othello's rage and Iago's duplicity.

''Let nobody __ him, his __ I approve'' - Desdemona in the willow song

''Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve''

What does Desdemona undressing represent?

Her becoming even more vunerable to Othello

Why is Emilia's speech incongruous (not similar to) not just the rest of the play, but also Jacobean society?

It is a rare moment in Shakespeare where a female character directly opposes and challenges the perception of feminism and the female experience. It is the only long speech in the play delivered by a female.

''They eat us __, and when they are full they __us'' - Emilia 4,3

''They eat us hungrily, and when they are full they belch us''

What is complex about Emilia?

Although she is critical of men, she does not want to oppose them until the last moments. Perhaps reflects societal inability to directly face what is oppressing us?

What is Iago's perception of women?

Derogatory and lustful. ''You rise to play and go to bed to work.''

What is Iago's perception of Desdemona?

''A land carrack''

Although it is often talked that 1,1 is the first time Othello is introduced with derogatory language, the same is true for Desdemona. ''A black ram is tupping your white ewe''.

How does Othello 'win' Desdemona?

''Desdemona would seriously incline'' in ''the story of [his] life''.

How does Othello directly reference that Desdemona has the capacity for independence?

''she wished that heaven had made her such a man''

What is Cassio's perception of women?

Duplicitous. He asks gallant in front of Desdemona and gives her a 'bold show of courtesy' but in front of Bianca he is far more crude and derogatory, describing her as 'a customer'

What did critic Marilyn French say about Desdemona?

In spite of her assertiveness in choosing her own husband, Desdemona ''accepts her culture's dictum that she must be obedient to males''

When Othello hits Desdemona, what does Des say that implys she still has assertiveness left within her?

''I have not deserved this''. Just as Othello still has capacity to remain noble, Desdemona still has capacity to be self-assured and yet both tragically fall into the coffins society has created for them.

What does Bianca serve to do?

Remind the audience that the men use women for sexual pleasure.

What is Freud's Madonna-wh*re complex?

The psychological idea that men with this either associtate women as a 'Madonna' (motherly, pure figure with whom they don't have sexual desire but do want a relationship) or a 'wh*re' (sexually immoral, dangerous, where men do have sexual desires but don't want a relationship.

How could it be seen that Othello has the MW complex?

Othello: Initially has lust for Des as she rebels against her father, but she also posessess values suited to being a wife. However, once Iago labels her as a 'wh*re' Othello's desire for relationship dissipates, meaning he still has sexual desire but can't live with her.

How does Bianca act to contrast the men?

She actively voices her jealousies, saying to Cassio that 'this is the token of some newer friend' whereas the men are unable to do this out of pride.

What does Grennan say about Emilia before Act 4?

''She is quietly functional, filling out our sense of the domestic interior''

Why is Act 4, Scene 3 so tragic?

Desdemona's rememberance of the willow song and the fate of Barbary causes her to realise her fate, which we have known since Act 3. Emilia attempts to help Desdemona gain independence and rebel against Othello's brutish masculinity, but it is too late.

What does Barbary act to do in the song?

Cause the audience to realise Desdemona's fate is not the first, many have come before her and many will follow.

How does the willow scene change between Quatro and Folio versions of the play?

The willow scene is almost twice as long in the Folio (which was published later) and provided greater character to both Desdemona and Emilia

What does the willow song allude to?

Madness, melancholy, infidelity and death