The Importance Of Marriage And Love In Othello

Marriage and love played a critical role in human society. Societies consider marriage as a social institution that ensures continuity of values, beliefs, practices, and behaviors of individuals in the society. However, values, beliefs, practices, and behaviors attributed to marriage are subject to change. Evidence shows that marriage changes with time, the same way cultural values and beliefs of human beings do. For instance, Tavares (289) asserts that marriage practices, values, and customs of the past century vary significantly from the marriage value of the present time. The play Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by Shakespeare shows a different perspective of marriage than how it is depicted in the Elizabethan England period (1158-1603 A.D.).

In the Elizabethian England years, it was considered a foolish act to marry for love; people believed that love might occur in a marriage. When a man wanted to marry, he had to tell his parents since they had wisdom on how to marry. A young man was supposed to let them look out for the one 's best interest, negotiate, and then recommend a marriage

For instance, Queen Elizabeth gave the Duc d’ Alencon a diamond ring with the promise of her hand in marriage. The ring goes to the third finger of the left hand otherwise commonly referred to as the ring finger also used presently. This was done under the premise that women have a vein in their third finger that leads directly to the heart (Lualdi 73). Alternatively, we see a Desdemona’s handkerchief as a symbol of love in the play. The handkerchief is well embodied with strawberries and a magic web to symbolize love. In the play, love exists where people first fall in love, then take the next decision to get married. As opposed to the Elizabethan England, where people make contractual wedding based on their parents and friend 's choice (Applo