Does Othello Love Desdemona Essay

The view of women during this time period has degenerated to them being seen as mere objects, tools, to be used (e.g. Marriage, Sex, Childbirth, work viewed as menial such as house keeping). While Othello and Desdemona seem to have a true passionate love for each other problems still arise and ultimately end in disaster. Showing that, because things did not take the natural path, where her father found someone for her to marry with his approval, it all came to death. The father knows best and to go outside of or against this can lead only to death. From the very beginning Desdemona is referred to or viewed as an object, such as when Iago says “Zounds, sir you're robbed” (p. 765, l. 88). To be robbed is to have something taken that belongs to you, something that is yours by right. It perfectly portrays Desdemona not as Brabantio's daughter, but as his possession to be gifted to someone of his choosing. Desdemona herself admits that her duty is to her father for life and education, she says, “To you I am

At some point he tells her to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona, and when she does his thanks is “A good wench! Give it me” (p. 821, l. 330). In this way women are just a means to an end, a tool to achieve something desirable and valuable, having no valuable in themselves beyond being an instrument. For example, a paintbrush has extrinsic value in that we use it to paint something of even more value. The moment we are finished, and put the brush down it loses all value, yet the painting has gained its own intrinsic value. Women here are much the same, as long as they have a man attached, they have value, they are being used to achieve something greater in value such as having children to continue the bloodline. Should they go off on their own they are like a brush without an artist.