'In Shakespeare's play Othello, Desdemona is presented as a weak character." In light of this view, discuss how Shakespeare presents attitudes towards women.

A guide to how the student should approach the question which they can follow in the exam:
1) IDENTIFY what the question is asking you to do - in this case, the question is presenting you with a statement. By asking you to "discuss" how the writer presents something, you must expand on your views regarding the statement. The question has 2 compartments that you must deal with. 2) DIVE IN to the themes that the question gives you - the focal point of the question is "attitudes towards women". 3) ARGUE YOUR STANCE in regard to the statement presented. Be aware that you don't have to agree with the statement - you are presented with a certain view, and it is up to you to express your own opinion as long as appropriate evidence is provided. 4) PREPARE COUNTER-ARGUMENTS and ways in which they can be attacked. This will take your answer from a C grade to a B grade. 5) CONTEXTUALISE - after reflecting on the theme and creating your argument, you must provide fruitful, appropriate quotations to strengthen your argument and refer to relevant sections of the text that will demonstrate understanding and knowledge. 6) REMIND YOURSELF OF THE QUESTION - it is absolutely crucial to stay on track and avoid going on tangents. You will not gain marks, and, may even lose marks, if the question is not addressed. 7) ASSESSMENT OBJECTIVES will hold the weight of your essay - you must demonstrate your knowledge of the text (is it a play? novel? poem? what are the themes? motives? the plot), you must be able to not only identify literary devices (metaphor, simile, dramatic irony) but explain the effects they achieve (e.g. dramatic irony is utilised by Shakespeare to intensify the villainous nature of Iago and so on...) You must also be able to refer to historical context, and present a strong, assured and sophisticated argument (covered in points 3 & 4).8) RESEARCH CRITICS who support your argument and incorporate their views into your essay. Alternatively, find critics who disagree with your stance, and attack their point of view. This will take your grade from an A to an A* as it demonstrates wider reading, deeper understanding, and the ability to apply multiple perspectives to an argument.
A possible two-paragraph sample answer following this guide:
One might agree with the statement suggesting that she is "weak" as she is subservient towards her husband which is in line with the treatment of women in Elizabethan England, and, more specifically, how Desdemona was expected to behave in Renaissance Venice. On a surface level, Desdemona represents the prototype of a passive and controlled young woman, evidenced by her father's cry, "How she got out!" upon discovering her escape with Othello. This weakness is emphasised by the multiple male forces acting upon her during the play, thus tapping into the social disempowerment experienced by women at the time. However, this view is limited as it ultimately fails to explore Desdemona's multiple dramatic functions in Othello, and does not encompass the scope or transformation of her character as the play progresses. In this essay I will assert the argument that Desdemona is a powerful woman who possesses strength and has a significant role in the play. An example of Desdemona's strength can be identified in the evidence that is Othello's mental destruction towards the end of the play. Though Iago is relevant in the creation of Othello's monstrous character, it is Othello's passion for Desdemona, and the power she holds over him which radically metamorphoses his nature. In Act 4, Scene 1, Othello "strikes" her, referring to her as a "devil" twice. In response, Desdemona says she "will not stay to offend you" which, could be perceived as weak, but more importantly one should assess the impact that her supposed infidelity had on Othello, and link this back to the power that Desdemona holds. This contradicts early critic Samuel Johnson's observation of "the soft simplicity of Desdemona". Therefore, I make the argument that Desdemona is a somewhat powerful woman and this reflects Shakespeare's attitudes towards women. It is crucial to keep in mind that Shakespeare is also a proto-feminist. Shakespeare, through contrast between men and women, illustrates that women can be strong and possess power while men, such as Othello, can disintegrate into madness and violence.