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Bianca - Coggle Diagram
Bianca
Cassio refuses to engage with Bianca in the public sphere because she is a lower class courtesan. Thus, he fears that she can undermine his authority and identity by compromising his highly esteemed reputation- a reflection of his identity.
When he uses degrading language to describe Bianca, it is behind her back. She is never given the chance to champion herself- this is perhaps evocative of the set place assigned to women of a lower class like Bianca in society. They were not given the opportunity to succeed but confined within one realm.
"I marry her? What! A customer! Please bear some charity to my wit, do not think it so unwholesome."
"I do attend here on the General, and think it no great addition, nor my wish, to have him see me womaned."
In private, however, he refers to her as 'sweet love', and treats her with respect.
"He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain from the excess of laughter."
Bianca could perhaps be explored as Othello's foil. They both deal with jealousy and anger, but in Bianca's case rationality prevails and she confronts Cassio.
Her love makes her vulnerable. She loves Cassio, despite this being unrequited. She is committed to him and is thus vulnerable to his ill-use of her, she cannot argue it. She is forced to put up with his mistreatment because she is so desperate for his love.
Unlike the other characters, Cassio and Bianca do make up at the end. In Renaissance literature, prostitutes are usually quite foul and scolding. Bianca betrays this stereotype, as the constancy of her love towards Cassio despite her frustrations.
Ironically, she is the only woman who does not end up dead- she champions herself and survives. This is perhaps because she is unbound by marriage, thus not as susceptible to male domination. She is thus shown to be her own author, not guided by arbitrary cultural practices which disempower women. It is for this reason that she is able to challenge her alleged whoredom and survive.
"I am no strumpet, but of life as honest as you that abuse me." Bianca's passionate voice serves to bring into sharper focus the moral deficiencies of the society which condemns her. This is demonstrated within the lexis 'abuse', evocative of the pain which her condemnation elicits- she is ostracized from society, prevented from forming any meaningful connection. Shakespeare thus shows the corruptive power of cultural practices and reputation in Jacobean society.
The male characters all essentially want something from her, she is perceived only in relation to the male characters. Therefore she is always in a vulnerable position- we see her voice only through her self-justification and her interactions with other men.
Iago accuses her of being involved in the plot against Cassio and his killing. She is used by him to mask his own deceptive behaviour and ill-doings. He distracts attention from him, deflecting.
Her profession makes her morally dubious, and this allows Iago to utilise her as a pawn in his scheme and hold her to account for his own moral failings.
Bianca further depicts the unjust importance placed upon reputation, exacerbating loves intangibility and fuelling the disempowerment of women.
Her main vulnerability stems from her position as a lower class woman, she is subject to condemnation- stands no chance of possessing any true agency or autonomy. Her sexuality is vilified, her only power lies in her ability to attract customers. She lacks a level of respectability when judged by delineated ideas of Jacobean morality.
Shakespeare uses her to critique the double standards of male and female sexuality. Shakespeare condemns the hypocrisy of women's sexuality being vilified, whilst mens is championed. She is condemned and denigrated for her role as a courtesan.
She is seen as a lesser of the three females because of her class and her job. The toxicity of the patriarchy and what it does for women- nobody advocates for her, she has to do it herself.
In some definitions and translations of the name Bianca, it means 'white', signifying purity and decency. This is an ironic choice because of her role as a courtesan. She is not the typical corruptive courtesan we see, and her love for Cassio is genuine and honest, therefore linking her to decency and the purity of the love for Cassio that she holds. She also tells the truth throughout the play.
She cannot supplement Cassio's reputation, she can only damage it, and this is why he is fundamentally unable to love her as she loves him. Jacobean reputation as an impenetrable barrier to love thus the human condition.
"I pray you look upon her. Nay, guiltiness will speak though tongues were out of use."