Bianca
Character
Bianca is described in the play as a courtesan, essentially a prostitute. Under the best of
circumstances, courtesans were kept women who were financially dependent upon and socially
attached to the men they served. Bianca is Cassio's love interest in Othello.
She is only seen in relation to men and is always in a vulnerable position
Purely used to advance the plot
She serves as a figure of misfortune and a sharp contrast to the virtuous Desdemona and honest
Emilia.
Bianca is in one way a parallel for Roderigo. Both are besotted with someone who does not
adequately return their advances, and neither is quick to realise when they have been fobbed
off but remain hopeful that one day their love will be recognised and properly returned.
Her unfounded jealousy mirrors Othello’s, but because she has no power she can’t assert her
rights as the wronged party. The handkerchief causes Bianca the same anxiety that it causes the
hero.
There is a strong sense that the women in this play are hapless victims; Bianca, the least
powerful figure in the play, is – ironically – the only female survivor.
All three women are accused at some point or another of being promiscuous.
There is little to suggest that Bianca is not really in love with Cassio, but her situation would
necessitate an attachment to any man of position and means. It is possible Bianca fears losing
Cassio would render her without any other means of survival. Bianca does not have a soliloquy
or a revealing confidence with another character so that we may fully understand her
motivations.
Only appears in 3 scenes:
Act 3 Scene 4- Cassio has not seen Bianca for a week. Cassio gives Bianca Desdemona's
handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings (Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a
copy of it for him, as he will have to return the original when he finds the owner. Bianca
immediately recognises “This is some token from a newer friend! To the felt absence now I feel
a cause”, meaning it clearly belongs to a woman, who is the reason Cassio hasn’t been visiting.
She berates Cassio for having another mistress, which he denies. They planned to meet later
that evening.
Act 4 Scene 1- Cassio laughs uproariously as he tells Iago the details of Bianca’s love for him, and
even makes gestures to depict her sexual advances. Just as Cassio says that he no longer wishes
to see Bianca, she herself enters with the handkerchief and again accuses Cassio of giving her a
love token given to him by another woman. Bianca tells Cassio that if he doesn’t show up for
supper with her that evening, he will never be welcome to come back again. Angry and
betrayed, Bianca exits hastily, but not before her outburst convinces Othello that his wife and
Cassio are lovers, making Bianca's outburst a pivotal moment in the plot.
Character
Bianca is described in the play as a courtesan, essentially a prostitute. Under the best of
circumstances, courtesans were kept women who were financially dependent upon and socially
attached to the men they served. Bianca is Cassio's love interest in Othello.
She is only seen in relation to men and is always in a vulnerable position
Purely used to advance the plot
She serves as a figure of misfortune and a sharp contrast to the virtuous Desdemona and honest
Emilia.
Bianca is in one way a parallel for Roderigo. Both are besotted with someone who does not
adequately return their advances, and neither is quick to realise when they have been fobbed
off but remain hopeful that one day their love will be recognised and properly returned.
Her unfounded jealousy mirrors Othello’s, but because she has no power she can’t assert her
rights as the wronged party. The handkerchief causes Bianca the same anxiety that it causes the
hero.
There is a strong sense that the women in this play are hapless victims; Bianca, the least
powerful figure in the play, is – ironically – the only female survivor.
All three women are accused at some point or another of being promiscuous.
There is little to suggest that Bianca is not really in love with Cassio, but her situation would
necessitate an attachment to any man of position and means. It is possible Bianca fears losing
Cassio would render her without any other means of survival. Bianca does not have a soliloquy
or a revealing confidence with another character so that we may fully understand her
motivations.
Only appears in 3 scenes:
Act 3 Scene 4- Cassio has not seen Bianca for a week. Cassio gives Bianca Desdemona's
handkerchief, which he found in his lodgings (Iago had placed it there) and asks her to make a
copy of it for him, as he will have to return the original when he finds the owner. Bianca
immediately recognises “This is some token from a newer friend! To the felt absence now I feel
a cause”, meaning it clearly belongs to a woman, who is the reason Cassio hasn’t been visiting.
She berates Cassio for having another mistress, which he denies. They planned to meet later
that evening.
Act 4 Scene 1- Cassio laughs uproariously as he tells Iago the details of Bianca’s love for him, and
even makes gestures to depict her sexual advances. Just as Cassio says that he no longer wishes
to see Bianca, she herself enters with the handkerchief and again accuses Cassio of giving her a
love token given to him by another woman. Bianca tells Cassio that if he doesn’t show up for
supper with her that evening, he will never be welcome to come back again. Angry and
betrayed, Bianca exits hastily, but not before her outburst convinces Othello that his wife and
Cassio are lovers, making Bianca's outburst a pivotal moment in the plot.
