Explore the different attitudes towards women in Othello

... Access English Studies Unit 2 Shakespeare's Othello Emma Marshall Explore the different attitudes towards women in the play. 'Othello' by William Shakespeare is considered as one of his most well known tragedies. In the play, there are many types of jealousy explored through love, hate and deceit. There are three main female characters, Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca, each of them having distinctly symbolic roles in the play. Desdemona is Othello's loving dutiful wife and symbolizes purity and fidelity. Iago's wife, Emilia, shows frustration and assertiveness while Bianca the court prostitute or courtesan symbolizes sin and ignorance. Shakespeare characterises the three women through their words and actions and in turn develops their character, showing the attitudes that the other characters have toward them. Desdemona is a young Venetian woman of high birth. Her father Brabantio is a wealthy senator and renowned resident of Venice. She is married to Othello and is loyal, faithful and passionately loves

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