Their need for comfort from the people they love and care for the most leads them to do whatever it takes, so they might be accepted. Along with being mentally isolated from the other characters in the play these women are also physically isolated and intellectually isolated from everyone. Part of the reason these women were so severely isolated from other characters is because they lived in the Elizabethan period. During the Elizabethan era women were raised to believe that they were second- rate citizens. To ensure that people continued to believe this concept the church used this verse from the bible as proof “woman in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man.” This belief put women in a state of being mentally isolated from men.
Each role adds a different element and is essential to the telling of the story. Mothers portrayed in this poem are seen as givers of “pity and sorrow” rather than true supporters of their sons and husbands when in war. “She is too wise, /too clear-eyed, sees alternatives too well, /Penelope, Ikarious daughter--/that young bride whom we left behind” (Homer 199 519-22). In this scene Odysseus sees the soul of Agamemnon in Hedes the underworld; Agamemnon was murdered by his own wife Clytemnestra. He tries to warn Odysseus, he says women are no longer faithful.
She is as duped by her husband, Iago, as much as the rest of the cast and she tries to amend her wrongdoings in the end by telling the truth to Othello although she is too late to save her mistress, Desdemona. Bianca on the other hand is women who I believe is in on the whole plot to ruin Othello. In my readings I think that Iago uses this women for his
Women during this time were only allowed to go so far and do so much without being restrained it seemed like. She doubts herself in letters she sends to her female friends who sympathize with her problems in choosing her partner for marriage. As a result to her resent of her thoughts about female powerlessness, and her outspoken thoughts of marriage. Virtue also resulted in achievement of morality, which was identified with marriage. Also Eliza resisted the sexual double-standard which I found really amazing.
It was her virtue that defined whether she was to be esteemed or denounced. Women were expected to embody, “chastity, courage, tenacity, and unquestioning acceptance of the prevailing hierarchy- unto death if necessary.”(p.100) This literally meant that suicide was a desirable recourse in order to protect the woman’s virtue or that of her husband’s. A woman’s loyalty to her husband was paramount. A story is told of a young girl who’s betrothed was slandered so her family arranged another marriage, but instead of allowing herself to be married to another man, she hung herself in order to stay true to her rightful husband. This demonstration of loyalty was deemed worthy and right, instilling a complete dependence of a wife on her husband.
The repetition of the letter “b” is suggests that she may be starting to cry thinking about the things that happened in her past. In both these texts Shakespeare and Duffy give a voice to people who wouldn’t usually have a voice in their society. In the Jacobean times Othello would have been discriminated against because of his race in the Venetian society and Miss Havisham wouldn’t have had a voice in her society as she is a widow, so the play and poem allow us to see how their feelings change. In both Othello and Medusa violent imagery is used to show the characters determination to gain revenge on the people who betrayed them or were accused of betrayal. In Othello Shakespeare uses repetition of the word “blood” in Act 3 Scene 3 and blood is associated with
The Role of Women in the Odyssey and King Lear This essay will examine Homer’s epic, The Odyssey and William Shakespeare’s tragedy, King Lear in order to explain how the female gender is constructed in relation to the protagonists in each of the texts. It will demonstrate how the denial or acceptance of the common female role makes an important statement about the relationship between masculine and feminine identity. The texts assert that a complete balance of masculine and feminine qualities is needed to ensure that the protagonists Odysseus and King Lear remain successful in their endeavors. This will be supported using the primary archetypes of the unconscious mind characterized by psychiatrist Carl Jung: the anima (female self) and the animus (male self).Both texts present the ideal female role as a motherly figure that is nurturing, caring and graceful. In doing so, the texts serve to make the cautionary statement of how the deviation of the female from this role may allow the male protagonist’s plans to go awry.
The marriage between Othello and Desdemona in Othello was, in fact, an abusive one. It is apparent that Othello and Desdemona love each other from the very beginning. They love each other enough to get married, despite all the obstacles they know they will have to encounter, including racism and Brabantio’s disapproval. Desdemona’s love for Othello becomes apparent when she states, “I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband, and so much duty as my mother show'd to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor, my lord” to her father, essentially telling him that her loyalty lies with Othello, and not with him (I.iii.180-189). It becomes clear that Othello loves Desdemona after he arrives in Cyprus, and says “As hell's from heaven!
In Pygmalion women play some of the most important roles. Eliza Doolittle, Mrs. Higgins and Mrs. Eynsford-Hill are very interesting strong women roles. In the play women are perceived as a lower class and as an audience we are exposed to the way women are treated differently in society very much so at the time the play was set for; 1914. In the play the audience views how men treat women differently and with this they are able to see the difference when shown through the roles of the women through the play. This is the point or message Shaw is trying to prove or show making the role of women very important.
In the tragic play, Othello, William Shakespeare uses foils to explores how jealousy, manipulation, and pride lead to suffering. Though he is a racial and cultural outsider of Venice being of Moorish decent, Othello has gained the respect of many by following the faith of Christianity, being the general of the Venetian Military, and expressing his true love for Desdemona; the beautiful daughter of the admired senator, Brabantio. However on the wedding night of Othello and Desdemona, there is a disturbance in the airs of good intentions; it is Iago, the pathological lying, deceiving, racist, sexist, thieving, murderous antagonist in the play that destroys the lives of many for his oath of revenge against Othello. He has been passed over as