Q-Why is a bride's dress always white? A-To match the appliances! Even though society has made great strides in trying to equalize women and men, there was a time when women were viewed as nothing more than a man's property. Shakespeare in his play Othello writes his male characters to view women in much the same demeaning way. In this play one can see two examples of women and the view their husbands place upon them. Both Desdamona and Emila are victims of the chauvenism of their husbands. Marriage is the vow between two people, to be there for one another, to share in pain and suffering, to share in the good times and the bad times, and to share equally in life's experiences. If this is so then why does Desdamona come across as property? Better question is why does she except this role! In this time era women were consider servants bonded by love to their husbands. Desdamona explains this clearly when she says:"But here's my husband,And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may professDue to the Moor my Lord" (Scene 1, Act 3, Lines 182-187)She talks about duty to her husband. This duty is to obey him and respect him. Then she again describes herself and her position: "‘Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,Or sue to you to do a peculiar profitTo your own person" (Act 3, Scene 3, Lines 77-80)This is the typical view of men in this era, a position of seen, but not heard. Shakespeare takes women places them in his plays in order to give motive. In both Macbeth and Othello women are the cause of the man's fall. In Othello if it were not for Desdamona, there would not be any jealous murders. She is the center point at which the book revolves. Even though her actual part is small her presence makes the play be possible. Desdamona's place in this play is to stand there with ...
