Shakespeares Advocation of Gender Equality

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In Othello, Shakespeare weaves an intricate story about three couples and how misunderstandings concerning sex deeply impact them all. The characters he creates embody different roles in the society of this time period, from the ideal woman to the abusive husband. Through the transformations and outcomes of these characters, Shakespeare successfully endorses feminist ideas, a rarity at his time; he rejects male sexual dominance and pushes for equal sexual responsibilities. Shakespeare uses Othello to criticize the double standard regarding male and female sexuality in his society through the portrayal of three relationships. Othello and Desdemona start off the story as an unconventional pair. With open devotion, the two begin equally infatuated with each other. Desdemona crosses racial and age barriers to marry Othello, a man whom others have called an “old black ram” (1.1.96) and one with a “sooty bosom” (1.2.89). After disembarking his ship to land on Cyprus, Othello proclaims, “If after every tempest...My soul hath her content so absolute/ That not another comfort like this/ Succeeds in unknown fate” (2.1.201-209). The two trust and consider each other equals with Othello calling Desdemona his “fair warrior” (2.1.197) and Desdemona calling him, “dear Othello” (2.1.198). Shakespeare reverses gender roles to emphasize their equal relationship; he has Othello call Desdemona by a traditionally male title, while Desdemona affectionately calls the general “dear.” At Cyprus during a night of revelry for the troops, the two agree to leave to bed with Othello saying, “Come,/ my dear love,/ The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;/ That profit’s yet to come ‘tween me and you.” (2.3.9-12). Their wedding night establishes Desdemona’s virginity until that point and a mutual agreement to progress in their relationship. As Iago impregnates Othello with mistrust in

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