Literary texts are always concerned with the construction of gender and the meaning of belonging to one sex or the other. In the play Othello, by William Shakespeare the gender construction is used to define the roles of men and woman during the time in which the play was written, the Elizabethan era. The characters of Othello, Iago, Desdemona and Emillia are utilized to represent the different aspects of these roles with in their particular social circumstances .The issues of power, class, occupation and ideology are constantly made reference to illustrate the characters conformance or non-conformance of the social expectance during this time.
             In the play the character of Othello is used by Shakespeare to represent the stereotypical image of men during this time period. Venetian men as was expected were seen as the holders of power within society and woman were seen as insignificant. They controlled all aspects of life and were seen to hold greater power by the positions with which they held in the army. A general would out rank a lieutenant as a lieutenant would out rule an ancient or solider. This aspect possibly made Othello the greatest power holder within the play, as he was a general .He believed in the ideas of honesty and justice and did not hold back in relinquishing his power on those who seem to challenge it, "Cassio, I love thee, But nevermore be officer of mine"(Ln 243 Act2, 3). His ability as a leader was exceptional as was his ability to dominate situations of conflict "Were it my cue to fight, I would have known it With out a prompter..."(Ln 84 act 1,2). Othello may be seen as a non-conformer to the traditional views on woman as he treats his wife with great respect and recommends her highly. This how ever is only to an extent and may be seen as an extremity of the relationship between man and woman or husband and wife. Othello shows this when he murders his wife because of the accusations of adul...