Women have always struggled to gain respect in society. It has always been a problem and to this day it still is. There are many things that men can do that women can’t. When it comes to beauty, women are held to a higher standard. People think you have to look a certain way or dress a certain way. Men don’t have that problem. In today's society women are expected to wear makeup but if they wear to much then it’s not okay and they are seen as “leading someone on”, or making someone believe you look different than you actually do. Emilia has difficulties too. They are a little different than the ones today but have basically the same concept. Emilia and other women in society are belittled, are seen as servants, and are told to “hold their tongue”. Belittle. The definition is to …show more content…
Whenever she tried to say something he would always tell her to shut up. “Speak within door”(4.2 143) he told her. That phrase means to speak calmly. He would always make her shut up whenever she said something he didn’t like. That was a common thing during that time period. Women weren’t seen as being as important as men. Emilia always had to listen to what Iago told her to do because that’s how you be a good wife. She is supposed to be his servant and not speak against him. Iago could do basically anything he wanted and Emilia couldn’t. It was okay for Iago to cheat on Emilia but okay for her to cheat on him. He was allowed to speak to her in nasty, mean ways and says things to her like “Hold your peace!” (5.2 218). She was a really smart woman and started to put the pieces together with Iago’s plan which made it very difficult for her. She would try to speak to Othello or Desdemona and try to tell them what is happening and he won’t let her. Throughout the whole play he does this to her. Othello didn’t speak to Desdemona like that till Iago put it in his head that she was cheating. It didn’t matter what Emilia did, Iago didn’t like