Considers the ways in which men and women are represented in Shakespeare's Othello.

Representation of Gender within Othello. By Ainsley Brett Question: Women are always victims because it is men who determine social organisation. Consider the ways in which the representation of men and women in Shakespeare's Othello supports or challenges this assumption. Shakespeare's tragic masterpiece Othello contains many complex layers and issues that can be found by reading deeply into the play, and not simply reading it as a simple narrative. One such issue that is important …

…to a lesser extent men, displays clearly what social conditioning was the norm. Shakespeare gives to the reader a exhibition of how downtrodden women can be when in proximity to men's ?Vaulting ambition, which o'erleaps itself? and their inherently sexist attitude towards the subordinate women of the play. By probing into aspects of the portrayal of men and women, is is shown that women are always victims because it is men who determine social organisation.