The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society where women are only recognized as property; things to own and have children. Women in Elizabethan and Shakespearean society were not considered equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, respectful and not go against their husband's judgments or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan era where they were judged based on their social class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare has his female characters act as one would expect them to act in an Elizabethan society. The role of these women in Othello is crucial because they show how women were treated and how unhealthy their relationships between men were in Elizabethan and Shakespearean society. Desdemona is depicted as the highest class a woman can achieve. She is elegant, honest and faithful to her husband, as any good Elizabethan married woman would be. She is presented as the ideal woman. Desdemona symbolizes innocence and powerlessness in the face of men. Shakespeare presents Desdemona as a mature and knowledgeable woman for her age as she defends her love for Othello to her father, Brabantio. However, this is perceived differently in the eyes of society. Brabantio declares it "Against all the rules of nature" (scene.. reply...). This statement reveals what society believes, what is natural and what is not. For society, “natural” means that a woman complies with the wishes of her husband and father, but it is not natural for a woman to do anything else. Women are considered property, which is made clear when Desdemona's father angrily calls Othello a "thief" (scene...reply...). Here Brabantio addresses Desde...... middle of paper ...... he does not consider her a wife and this explains why he shows no commitment to her. Bianca knows she deserves much better than the way Cassio treats her and this is proven when she leaves him. Bianca is a bit like Emilia in the sense that she stands for something and in this case it is for herself: "I am not a whore, but as honest a life as you, so you abuse me." ( scene 5, lines 142). With this character, Shakespeare shows that lower class women know that they deserve better but that they do not have the power to be heard because they are considered nothing. Bianca would be Emilia's disciple if Emilia made a move to fight for women's rights. However, even Emilia treats Bianca badly because she believes what men say about her. Men have so much control in this society and Shakespeare has a little change in the women in his play. Works Cited Othello