Shakespeare’s Othello is commonly regarded as a work depicting man’s ability to use his reason towards evil intentions. A lowly ancient in a general’s army is able to destroy him through manipulation and deceit. But although Iago’s deceit of Othello is undoubtedly a central theme in the play, another theme regarding the nature of the man towards woman is apparent. Shakespeare’s Othello suggests that men mistreat women because women, as a sex, allow themselves to be mistreated.The mistreatment of women by their men occurs throughout the play. The main characters view their wives or significant others as inferiors and usually merely as objects of lust and physical desire. This misogynistic view is reflected in some form or other by all of the main characters. Iago is the most misogynistic of the men. He considers love to be “merely a lust of the blood and a permission of the will.” (1.3.377-378) He also believes all women are whores who “rise to play, and go to bed to work.” (2.1.127) Iago’s misogyny is manifested in the treatment of his wife. He seems to have only unkind words for his wife, and even kills her when she exposes his double-dealing plot at the end of the play. The other two male characters also mistreat their women. Cassio appears to have no real feelings for Bianca. He is a lady’s man, and therefore cannot be concerned with such things as true love. Even Othello, the one character who truly loves his wife, mistreats Desdemona. He ends up suffocating her because he believes she has been unfaithful to him. The fact that Othello, a noble and loving husband, mistreats his wife illustrates the general contempt and misogyny that the men feel throughout the play.But though the men regard the women as inferiors, the women never confront or resist their mistreatment. On the contrary, they remain subserviently loyal to their spouses. One such example f...
