Role Of Marriage In Othello

Tragedy of Marriage: A look at Relationships in Othello The idealistic love, for many people, is of the fiery passionate kind. Poets and playwrights have wasted a considerable amount of paper and ink to write about that one true love that never dies. I am not qualified to say that such love does not exist, but I believe that there are more to romantic relationships than just love, especially when marriage is concerned. Passions and desires alone seldom unite two people until death do them part. A marriage requires not just love, but devotion, understanding, and patience. It takes two people constantly trying to perfect themselves for each other. In Othello, Shakespeare explores the delicacy of marriage and how easily a relationship built on …show more content…
Othello worships the idea of love: “Perdition catch my soul/ But I do love thee! And when I love thee not,/ Chaos is come again” (3.3.98-100). Nevertheless, he still retains a self-centered attitude: “I will deny thee nothing./ Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,/ To leave me but a little to myself” (3.3.91-3). Othello thinks that his love is flawless and therefore he does not try to nurture the relationship with his wife. He stops trying to understand her when he marries her. At first, Othello does not know how much this glamorized love can affect him and speaks eloquently about duty: “And heaven defend your good souls that you think/ I will your serious and great business scant/ When she is with me” (1.3.269-71). But towards the end of the play, when Othello’s conception is love is damaged, he changes completely: “O, now, forever/ Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content!/ Farewell the plumèd troops and the big wars/ That makes ambition virtue!” (3.3.363-6). Othello is an experienced mercenary who fights for a living. He knows how to endure extreme adversities and discrimination, but he does not know how to maintain a romantic relationship. Similarly, Desdemona seems to be well-versed in spousal duty and virtue in marriage: “But here’s my husband,/ And so much duty as my mother showed/ To you …/Due to the Moor my lord” (1.3.187-91). Desdemona is too innocent to the point of naivety, believing that love is always pure and marriage is always faithful: “Beshrew me if I would do such a wrong/ For the whole world” (4.3.81-2). She also holds as idealistic idea of love: “The heavens forbid/ But that our loves and comforts should increase/Even as our days do grow!” (2.1.192-4). She wants a long-lasting relationship but she does not try to confide herself in her husband. Desdemona only talks about her insecurity to Emilia: “Heaven keep that monster from