Iago is constantly talking about women in derogatory ways, from his joking assessment of women for the amusement of Desdemona in the second act to his put-downs of Emilia to his assumption that Desdemona will probably cheat on Othello eventually. Does the play support Iago's opinion of women, or refute it?
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• This play refutes most of what Iago thinks about women. For example Iago believes that Desdemona will cheat on Othello, his belief is incorrect because Desdemona stuck to Othello through the whole play and even when she was about to die she still was faithful to her husband.
ReplyDelete• Another example is that he is suspicious that his wife was cheating on him and even though we don’t know for sure, we see no evidence of her infidelity.
Here we go again, back to statements without support. Which parts of Iago's thoughts about women are refuted, does he really believe that Desdemona will commit adultery, etc. Where is the support from the play?
ReplyDeleteThe play refutes Iago's opinion of women through Desdemona and Bianca in their actions and spoken word. In the second act, around line one hundred, Iago calls Desdemona a chatterbox-"her tounge she oft bestows on me"; Desdemona however, barely talks at all. The only time she truly talks is when she defends herself such as her conversation with Othello, or when she is talking with her close friend Emilia. Although Bianca is whore, she loves Cassio, something others would never expect of a girl like herself. Though Emilia is put down by Iago, she continues to do her job, she continues to be a good friend, and she continues to assist Iago even though he is doing wrong. That is commitment most wives would never be able to accomplish, something that if Iago's put-downs were true, would never happen. Desdemona also never cheated on Othello, something Iago thought she did. In act four scene two lines 155-172, Desdemona clearly expresses her feeling and strong un-cheat able love for Othello. She is committed and demonstrates that Iago's judgement and opinion of women is wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe play refutes all of Iago's opinions because of three things Bianca's true love, Emilia's commitment and Desdemona's faithfulness. Bianca is a local whore but she has fallen in love with Cassio and shows that her love for him is more than just a way to keep her clients coming back. In Act 4 scene 1 lines 151 and 152 Bianca says to Cassio "If you come to supper tonight, you may; if you will not,come when you are next prepared for." by this Bianca shows that she is commited and if Cassio is not then she has no futher need for him. Act 4 Scene 2 Line 154 Emila explains to Iago how even he suspected her being unfaithful when in all reality Emilia is commited to her husband Iago even when he tempts her to steal from her Lady Desdemona. Desdemona shows a kind of faithfulness that may cause some to question her sanity Act 5 Scene 2 Lines 127-129 here Emilia is asking who murdered Desdemona and Desdemona responds by saying I myself. Even to her death which was brought apon her by the very hand which she loved she stood by Othello stating that she must have done something wrong to deserve this.
ReplyDeleteThe play clearly refutes all of Iago's opinions of women. Iago believes that women are unfaithful and liars yet, the only character in the play that truly holds these qualities is Iago himself. Because Iago was so insecure about himself, he made it seem as if everyone was unfaithful to their husband. He claimed that Emilia was unfaithful to himself yet never had proof of her actions against him. He made his wife seem as if she was a clueless and weak woman. In the end however, Emilia proved her husband incredibly wrong. She knew it was him that was behind everything and told the truth of his actions showing her strength and ability to be trustworthy. Iago also tried portraying Desdemona as an unfaithful woman but she clearly wasn't. Bianca's love for Cassio goes completely against Iago's claim that unfaithful women don't care for people. In the end when the truth comes out and all the women are proved innocent the play completely refutes Iago's claims by showing that women are faithful and strong while the men are spiteful and quick to assume things.
ReplyDeletemerely because he is a different race.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think the play completely supports Iago’s horrible opinion of women, but it does not refute it either. The women in the play are portrayed as helpless and submissive. When Desdemona is accused of cheated, she does not defend herself very strongly. She lets Othello say what he has to say and continues to speak in a calm manner. Even after Othello say some very unkind words to her, she remains loyal and continues to stick to her honest explanations. She defends herself but doesn’t turn against Othello- “I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.” The women in the play are not given the chance to prove themselves innocent; the men always take control of them.
The play constantly refutes Iago’s negative stereotypes of women. Iago repeatedly claims that Desdemona will eventually cheat on Othello simply because she is a woman; however, she never does. Desdemona remains faithful to Othello throughout the entire play, countering Iago’s false presumptions. In Act II Iago says that women are “as pretty as pictures” when out in public, but are noisy “devils” in their own house. Desdemona and Emilia’s quiet and honest manners clearly refute Iago’s claim. Many times Igao is shown verbally abusing Emilia for no good reason. His cruel attitude towards women makes his character seem even viler. This shows that Shakespeare thought very highly of women despite the numerous opinions against them.
ReplyDeleteIago’s opinion that women are only good for sexual deviants and nothing else is refuted in this play. Desdemona is the wife of a very high rank in the military; therefore, she has ways of getting her opinions across. Emelia, Iago’s wife is a maid and she has many roles that she uses to get her jobs done, sex not being one of them.
ReplyDeleteThe play refutes Iago�s opinion of women. Iago feels as if women are only pretty to look at outside of the home and that they enjoy speaking to much. Iago states that women �rise to play, and go to bed to work� (Act 2, Scene 1 line 117). He is calling women prostitutes. Bianca, who is also the mistress to Cassio, is the only prostitute in the tragedy. Iago tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is going to be unfaithful, but Desdemona stays faithful to Othello. Emilia is known to Iago as his �foolish wife�. Emilia ends up handing Iago the key to destroying the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. The handkerchief she found on the ground was the symbol of Othello�s love to Desdemona and was his first gift to her. Emilia recognizes the signifance of the token and aids her husband in his deceitful plan. Unfortunatly, Iago kills her. Shakespeare clearly portrays Iago�s ruthlessness once he kills Emilia.
ReplyDeletemy opinion is that the play refutes all of Iago's derogatory comments. Iago was so set on the fact his wife was cheating and made his own insecurities she made comments that all women were liars and unfaithful. At the end Iago's wife shows her true stength. The women were innocent and the fact that men need to have facts before assumtions is a big part, without facts its just a statment.
ReplyDeleteI believe the play refutes Iago's derogatory comments about women. He says they are liars and unfaithful, yet Iago is the lying and unfaithful character. Iago sets Cassio up in hopes that Desdemona will cheat on Othello with him, but she stays true to her husband until her last dying moments. Also, Iago believes Emilia is cheating on him with Othello. But she never was unfaithful to him. She even got the thing he wanted most, Othello's first gift to Desdemona, even though she knew it was wrong.
ReplyDeleteThe play definitely refutes Iago's opinion of women. Iago views women as unfaithful creatures. He is convinced that his wife, Emilia, has cheated on him, and he is sure that Desdemona will eventually prove herself unfaithful too. The play, however, does not support is claims. Throughout the entire play we never see any evidence that Iago's accusation of Emilia's infidelity is true. The play also not only lacks support for his claim that Desdemona will eventually be unfaithful, but it completely proves it to be false. Even when Iago's accusations to cause Othello to become hateful to Desdemona, she remains faithful to Othello and stays by his side even though she is not sure what he is going to do to her. Desdemona stays faithful to Othello throughout the entire play. The only person that the play shows to be unfaithful is Iago himself.
ReplyDeleteThe play refutes Iago’s opinion of women. Iago makes very sexist jokes and remarks to Desdemona and his own wife. Iago once says “Come on, come on! You are pictures out of the door, bells in your parlors, wildcats in your kitchens devils being offended, players in your housewifery and housewives in your beds."(Act 2 scene 1 lines 108-112) He thinks women to be perfect in public, but devils in the home. However, throughout the entire play all the women are shown to act the same way in public as they do in private- respectful and honest.
ReplyDelete