The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society in which women are recognized only as property; objects to own and to have children. Women in Elizabethan society and Shakespeare's society were not seen as equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, be respectful, and not go against their husbands' judgments or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan era where they were judged based on their class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare makes his female characters act the way 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 really were in both Elizabethan and Shakespearean society. Desdemona is described as the highest class a woman could achieve. She is as elegant, honest and loyal to her husband as any other good Elizabethan married woman would be. She is presented as the ideal woman. Desdemona symbolizes innocence and helplessness towards men. Shakespeare presents Desdemona as a mature and competent woman for her age as she defends her love for Othello to her father, Brabantio. However this is seen differently in the eyes of society. Brabantio declares it "Against all the rules of nature" (scene... line...). This statement reveals what society believes, what is natural and what is unnatural. For society, "natural" is when a woman fulfills the desires of her husband and father, but it is unnatural for a woman to do anything else. Women are considered property, as clearly stated when Desdemona's father angrily calls Othello a "thief" (scene...line...). Here Brabantio addresses Desde... in the middle of the paper... he doesn't see her as wife material and this explains why he shows no commitment towards her. Bianca knows she deserves much better than the way Cassio treats her and this is proof when she leaves him. Bianca is a bit like Emilia in a way where she stands up for something and in this case it's for herself: "I'm not a slut, but an honest life like you, so you abuse me." (scene 5, lines 142). With this character Shakespeare shows that lower class women know they deserve better but they have no power to be heard because they are considered nobody. Bianca would be Emilia's follower if Emilia moved to fight for women's rights. However, Emilia also 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 women in his work. Works Cited Othello