Othello: Act 3 - Analysis of Women's Roles and Presentation, Study notes of English Literature

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Othello

Act 3

Friday 8

th

October 2021

Learning Purposes

• Consider the presentation of women, specifically Desdemona and

Emilia.

• Recap Act Two
• Consider the role of women in relation to the Elizabethan period.

Recap

What female characters have we

seen in the play so far?

What has their role been?

Future learning

To gain an understanding of the

play, themes and context.

To improve through practise your

analytical writing.

Presentation of Women in Shakespeare

• Elizabethan literature portrays women first and foremost as wives and mothers.
• Almost all Shakespeare’s young women, and the majority of his major female characters, are involved in romantic plots.
• By the time Shakespeare began writing, women had won more freedom to choose their own husbands than they had traditionally enjoyed.
• Nevertheless, the daughters of nobles and other wealthy or powerful men were still frequently required to marry for political or financial reasons: to forge an alliance or to strengthen a business partnership
• In Othello, Desdemona too sneaks out at night to marry the man she has chosen against her father’s wishes.
• Although these heroines free themselves from their fathers, they do not free themselves from male control altogether.

Act 3, Scene 1 – Read together

• Cassio sends musicians to play for Othello, but one of Othello’s servants is given instructions to send them away.
• Cassio requests a meeting with Emilia so he can get access to Desdemona.
• Iago speaks to Cassio and tells him that he will get Emilia to come and speak to him, and that he will make sure Othello is out of the way so that Cassio can speak to Desdemona privately.
• Emilia comes to speak to Cassio. She advises him that Desdemona and Othello have discussed his case, but Othello is worried about the consequences of rehiring Cassio.
• Emilia invites Cassio into Desdemona’s rooms to wait for a meeting with her. Cassio – Clown – First Musician – Iago – Emilia – Stage Directions –

Act 3, Scene 1, from ‘ Exeunt Musicians ’

How are women presented in this scene?

You need to consider the presentation of Emilia, and what she says

about Desdemona – from ‘Good morrow, good lieutenant...’ to ‘To

bring you in again.’

➢Are they fulfilling expected gender roles?

➢Is Desdemona’s relationship with Othello unusual in any way?

Act 3, Scene 2 (page 25)

➢Iago, Othello and Gentlemen walk together through the town.

➢Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver back to Venice.

➢Othello decides to go and look at the town’s buildings.

This scene is only 11 lines long. What is the significance of this scene? Othello – Logan Iago – Sam Gentlemen – Emily

Read Act 3 until ‘Exit Cassio’

Read through the opening of the scene, in which Cassio pleads with

Desdemona to help him. Emilia, Iago’s wife, says this situation has also

upset her husband, and that Desdemona should help.

➢How does Desdemona meet our expectations in this scene?

➢How have gender roles been reversed in this scene?

➢Why have gender roles been reversed? Who is missing?

➢How are the wives shown to be equals to their husbands?

Emilia - Desdemona - Cassio -

Read on until ‘ Exeunt DESDEMONA and EMILIA’

As we read through this scene, annotate for how:

➢Iago begins to sow the seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind

➢Desdemona is treated by Othello

➢The role Cassio played in the early days of their relationship

Discuss with your partner : Othello dismisses Desdemona here, saying

he will do what she wants if she leaves him alone for the time being.

How does this conversation between the two demonstrate the role of

women in Elizabethan society?

Iago – Othello – Desdemona -

How is Desdemona portrayed in Act 3 so far? In Act 3 of Othello , Desdemona is portrayed as a dutiful friend and incredibly helpful character. She comforts Cassio during his pleas to be restated as lieutenant, telling him “If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it/To the last article”. The use of a conditional sentence here conveys the promise she is making him, if she will help him then she will. The use of the verb “vow” is a clear indication of the solemn and unbreakable promise she is making to Cassio, while the adjective “last” reinforces the lengths she will go to when helping a friend. While it could be interpreted that she is just fulfilling her role as a dutiful wife, encouraging her husband to do what is best for him, it could also be argued she is breaking the stereotypes of a woman of the Elizabethan era, doing something against Othello’s wishes. This dedication to others will be her undoing, as Iago has made his plans with her in mind, knowing she is “so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed” in her nature.

How is Desdemona portrayed in Act 3 so far? Using the plan you made earlier, answer the question above. Topic sentence Embedded quotations Explanations of quotations Close analysis of words/phrases – Attempt two pieces of close analysis! Links to context – Ensure this is included today, using your notes! Concluding sentence Good analytical vocabulary Subject specific vocabulary