Othello is among Shakespearian tragic plays as the story ends with numerous characters dead including the main principals. The play explores issues of power and the main difference that existed between male and female roles and occupation during the Elizabethan period. The play also focuses on jealousy, chastity, magic, love, murder and miscommunication. Out of vengeance Othello commits murder on the main basis of unfaithfulness. When basing the play on feminist perspective, we can analyse and judge difference social status and values that women held in Elizabethan society. Through Othello , we get to learn of privilege practices in patriarchal marriages and restrictions and suppression of femininity in the play. According to the play, women were only meant to marry whereby after marriage they were massively held responsible for child rearing and house management. In addition, Elizabethan society expected women to be obedient, silent and chaste to their fathers, husbands and brothers; let’s say that the society expected women to obey men in general. The society saw women to be psychologically and physiologically inferior to men. The following compares and contrast the principal female characters in the play Othello : Desdemona, Bianca and Emilia. It demonstrates the restrictions placed on women during Elizabethan era. Women as Possessions The play Othello clearly demonstrates women as possession. After hearing Othello’s defence and Brabantio’s complain, the Duke allows Desdemona to go with Othello to Cyprus. Iago is assigned by Othello who ironically describes him as an honest and trustworthy man to inform the Duke that “ To his conveyance I assign my wife ( Shakespeare 283).” Following Othello’s comments, we can clearly get to know how he views his wife; he treats Desdemona as his own possession. Actually, Othello see her as a commodity which should be transported and guided everywhere. The first senator asks Othello just before they leave to Cyprus to take good care and look after Desdemona. On the other hand, Desdemona’s father sees her as his property. Brabantion believes that Othello stole Desdemona from him without his permission. When Iago woke up Brabantio to inform him that Othello had eloped with his daughter Desdemona, he called out , “Awake! What, ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! Thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves! Thieves ( Shakespeare 1.1.7)!” Iago is actually suggesting by his shouts that Othello had stolen Brabantio’s property. The role and occupation of women is also depicted in Othello’s loving words to his wife Desdemona when he called her “Come, my dear love, /the purchase made, the fruits are to ensue ( Shakespeare II.3.8-9).” This clearly describes what marriage meant in Elizabethan society; it was an act of purchase whereby women were bought by their husbands as a favour while they were expected to sexually fulfil men’s desires since men considered it a return for the privilege done to them. Iago also depicted the view of women possession by men in the society when he believed that Othello had slept with Emilia his wife. Iago said ‘it is thought abroad that “twixt my sheets/He’s done my office ( Shakespeare I.3.381-2).” Iago felt very bad when he realized what Othell