A Feminist Perspective of Othello Throughout Shakespeare's tragedy Othello, there is a constant undercurrent of sexism. It is not just one, but several male characters in the play who demonstrate prejudicial and discriminatory attitudes towards women. In the opening scene, as Iago expresses his hatred towards General Othello for choosing Michael Cassio as his lieutenant, he hatches a plan for partial revenge ("I follow him to serve him my turn"), with the help of Roderigo, alerting Desdemona's father, Brabantio, of his daughter's escape with Othello: "Call his father, / Wake him: run after him, poison his delights [. . .].” This move involves the father assuming control over his daughter's choice of marriage partner. Iago's warning to the senator follows closely: “'Zounds, sir, you are robbed; for shame, put on your dress; / Your heart is shattered, you have lost half of your soul. This statement also implies that the father has authority over the daughter. Brabantio's warning to Roderigo implicitly expresses the same message: The worst welcome: I charged you not to haunt my doors: In all honesty, you heard me say that My daughter is not for you [. . .] . (1.1) The matter-of-fact assessments of the situation that Iago continues to make all seem to grant the father the power to make decisions for the daughter. Roderigo even describes Desdemona's action as a “revolt” against paternal authority: “Your daughter, if you did not give her leave, / I repeat, made a gross revolt [. . .].” After checking his daughter's absence at home, Brabantio urges all fathers...... middle of paper ......view, LXIV, 1 (Winter 1956), 1-4, 8-10 ; and Arizona Quarterly (Spring 1956), pp.5-16. Mack, Maynard. Shakespeare for everyone: reflections mainly on tragedies. Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska Press, 1993. Muir, Kenneth. Introduction. William Shakespeare: Othello. New York: Penguin Books, 1968. Neely, Carol. "Women and Men in Othello" Critical essays on Shakespeare's Othello. Ed. Anthony G. Barthélemy Pub. Macmillan New York, NY 1994. (pages 68-90)Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http://www.eiu.edu/~multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Wayne, Valerie. “Historical Differences: Misogyny and Othello.” The question of difference: materialist feminist critique of Shakespeare. Ed Valerie Wayne. Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 1991.