While the primary themes of Othello are related to jealousy, appearances, racial prejudice, and self-knowledge, misogyny plays a crucial role in the development of the play's plot. Misogyny, or contempt for women, figured heavily into early modern English theater, often as a source of comic relief. The fact that boys or young men played female roles on stage contributed to expressions of prejudice against women, though these slights were usually appeared in jest for the entertainment of audiences. Indeed, it is important to remember that a large number of Shakespeare's plays were written and performed while a woman was on the throne. Queen Elizabeth I, known as the "Virgin Queen" for never having married, reigned until her death in 1603, and as such the representation of women on stage during the Elizabethan era has been of particular interest to scholars of early modern English literature.
Because Othello is a tragedy, misogyny does not appear as a lighthearted or humorous element in the play. On the contrary, characters' misogynistic perceptions are often what lead to their rash, dark, and condemnable behavior. For the lead character, misogyny appears as a fundamental mistrust of women: despite Desdemona's incontrovertible purity, her expressions of love for Othello, and the physical evidence of her virginity (the blood on the marriage sheets), Othello is still convinced that she is unfaithful to him. The play suggests that Othello's behavior extends beyond his relationship with Desdemona and is instead a manifestation of his fundamental inability to trust women in general. Notably, this was not an uncommon fear to possess in early modern England. As the country operated on a patrilineal system of inheritance – meaning that one passed their estate, wealth, and titles to the firstborn son – men were increasingly concerned with policing women's sexuality in order to guarantee that their own children were legitimate. This lifestyle mostly affected noblewomen, as lowborn or common women (as well as men) engaged quite regularly in premarital sexual relations.
Thus, misogyny becomes an integral character trait that leads to Othello's murder of his wife and eventually his own demise. While few are quick to argue that Othello is a "feminist" play, most agree that it is in many ways a cautionary tale – warning of jealousy, to be sure, but also of blind misogyny, hearsay, and a preoccupation with women's purity.
