Relationships In Othello

Superior Essays
Marriages and relationships are tough. Relationships take time, patience, and trust in order to with stand opposition from others. In William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is constantly on the rocks because of outside forces manipulating and causing chaos on their relationship. The impact of race, social position and the age differences causes Desdemona and Othello’s marriage to be strained and ending in with tragic event. The main cause of chaos and opposition of the marriage of Othello and Desdemona is the differences of race. A person’s race is one of the most important features that impact people’s lives negatively or positively. One is mistreated just by the color of their skin. In Othello’s case he …show more content…
If he do resist,
Subdue him at his peril! (1.2.62-81).
It is clear that the marriage of different races is not a common occurrence; the marriage is being challenged and it has not even been more than 24 hours. Desdemona has to defend Othello and their love in order for her father to believe she would marry a “Moor”. Her father still claims that Desdemona has deceived him and dooms their marriage before it can even truly begin. According to Kader, “the unavoidable and destructive effects of racism change the lives of Othello and Desdemona deeply” (140). Another factor that causes chaos and stress on Othello and Desdemona’s marriages is the difference in social position. Desdemona is the daughter of a Venetian senator, Brabantio. “During the 17th century Venice was a Republican city-state that was governed by a group of men honorably referred to as ‘the Senators’” (). Senators are wealthy men with power and prestige that controlled the important matters in the Venetian society. Brabantio is considered to be an aristocrat, the highest echelon of the Venetian city. He is powerful enough that Iago tells Othello: I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir,
Are you fast married? Be assured of
…show more content…
His social status is too low to marry his beloved daughter. It is seen in how appalled he is when he hears the news. Desdemona is considered to be pure and high in social status because of her father’s title. She is however still a woman in a patriarchal society. So she is still to be considered a second class citizen. Their differences in social class causes their marriage to be deeply questioned and also almost annulled. The marriage is only being weakened and looked down upon. The last factor that contributes to the downfall of Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is the issue with the significant age difference. Shakespeare does not truly state in the play the age of Desdemona and Othello, however it can be inferred that age difference is substantial. The age difference becomes a problem when Othello believes that Desdemona is possibly having an affair. Iago is trying to convince that Desdemona is not being faithful to Othello and not just with anyone, a man he trust Michael Cassio. Othello is concerned about his age also with his race once he thinks Desdemona is being unfaithful: This fellow’s of exceeding

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