Subaltern is a term derived from the cultural hegemony works of Antonio Gramsci and refers to individuals with inferior status who are excluded from the established structures of the society and are denied a voice (Mandal 63). Spivak’s definition of subalterns was created during the post-colonialism geographies. Subalterns have to adopt western ways of thinking and abandon their own for their voices to be heard. Othello is considered a subaltern play that illustrates the conflict between the moral voice and silence of female characters and the treacherous voices of male figures.
The female characters’ voices have been silenced in Othello, depicting sexuality projection of racism and misogyny. Desdemona and Emilia submit to their husbands, who do not listen to them. Desdemona transforms from being outspoken to silent, suggesting Othello’s ability to control her voice. Iago’s lies make Othello accuse Desdemona of being a sex worker. Othello demonstrates self-condemnation when he silences Desdemona and the boy impersonating her vocals. Desdemona’s handkerchief is a stage prop with the symbolic meaning of female silence. When Desdemona loses her handkerchief and speech, it shows her infidelity. The role of Bianca represents Othello’s illustration of masculine structures that deny women voices and perceive their bodies as books the male figures read (Hamamra 6). Finally, Iago’s diabolic silence is a technique to arouse Othello’s eagerness and poison him. According to Shakespeare, Iago’s silence torments Othello’s mind making him believe he knows more than he is telling.
To conclude, this paper analyzes Shakespeare’s Othello to show the treatment of marginalized groups in society based on their gender. The play highlights the relationship between speech, silence, and sex, and shows how men use consensual submission of women to achieve supremacy. The text assesses the link between female voice and sexuality to demonstrate the evil in men’s minds and shows that male defiance of female voices causes tragedy. Desdemona and Emilia are silenced by their husbands, causing the deaths of almost all characters in the play.
Works Cited
Hamamra, Bilal M.T. “Silence, speech and gender in Shakespeare’s Othello: A presentist, palestinian perspective.” International Journal of Comparative Literature and Translation Studies, vol. 3, no. 4, 2015, pp. 1-13. Web.
Mandal, Tribeni. “Subaltern voice in Shakespeare: A study in the Tempest.” International Journal of Computational Research, vol. 4. no. 5, 2014, pp. 63-67. Web.