Desdemona: Passive Victim?

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Often perceived as being submissive and without a voice, Desdemona has proved that she is in fact no victim to her husband, but more assertive in his presence. When Desdemona defends her marriage to Othello, it may not seem strange to anyone reading the play today, unless the role of women during the Renaissance period is taken into account. Because Desdemona is significantly younger than Othello, she is automatically stereotyped as being naïve, gullible, and sexually driven, all characteristics of a passive nature. However, Desdemona is arguably one of the most sane and loyal characters in Othello, and is less subservient than most of the women in that time period.
The role of women in the Renaissance was not that of assertiveness, and certainly not that of equality, when it came to men. In fact they were merely subordinate inferiors, and custom and prejudice kept them servants to domesticity. Most women were perceived as being weak, which often coincided with passiveness. The Renaissance, though considered to be a cultural advancement from the Middle Ages, held women at almost the same standard as before. Although loyal and determined, Desdemona’s naïve nature has caused many to believe that she is also of a passive nature. When Desdemona asks Emilia if she would ever cheat on her husband for the “whole world”, Desdemona seems surprised to find that Emilia responds with a simple “yes”. “But for the whole world? Why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for ’t (Emilia, IV.iii.).” From Emilia’s point of view, men are not appreciative of women. She displays a man’s fickleness by comparing men to stomachs and women to food. When the stomachs (men) are full they vomit up the food (women); almost a form of regurgitation (III.iv.). However, Emilia’s opinion seems to be that of a misogynist, which makes her statement
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