
I think my picture pretty much sums up what my response to this prompt is going to be. As a very strong minded, self sufficient, "miss independent" woman, reading Othello, I can't help but stop and think "What the F*ck is this woman thinking??" I have a very low tolerance for taking any kind of crap from a man. There is very little a man can do for me that I can't do for myself. Especially since I'm not looking to have any children in the near future, there is nothing a man can do for me that I can't do for myself. Yes it is nice to share love and be dedicated to one person, but what happens when that man turns on you? If a man were to ever call me a whore, tell me I was unfaithful, and belittle me just because he is insecure in himself, I would do a lot worse than just slam a few doors on my way out. Sticking around and listening to false accusations would not even be a possible option for me. If my own husband were to make the accusations, I feel like that would an even bigger betrayal . That is proof that the marriage has failed and the love has faded. If my husband loved me and didn't believe what was being said about me he would approach me in a different way than Othello approached Desdemona. If the slurs and slanders continued throughout the conversation I was attempting to have one with him, his chances of me staying in the marriage decreases. I would leave and not hesitate at all. Things may be rough for a while but I know it would be for the best if I left.
I do know that my mentality is in 2008 and women are VERY different than the women in Desdemona's time. Today women have options and are more aware of the fact that there is more than just one possible match for them. We see less arranged marriages and more freedom for women. Sadly Desdemona did not live with that luxury. For her time period and the constraints of her situation, I feel she reacted as any other sane woman would have. She is married to a prince whom she loves and respects completely. She has pretty much removed herself from the safety of her fathers name, and is living in a land she is unfamiliar with. Moreover, she has no real support system to turn to other than Emilia. Yet, even Emilia is not completely on her side because she is the dutiful wife of Iago. Desdemona had nothing to gain and everything to lose if she would've been defiant with Othello. Adding to the mixture is the zeitgeist that Desdemona lived in. It was only natural for the woman to do whatever it took to keep their husbands happy and she did. She took the belittling with a grain of salt and did what she could to rectify the situation. Even though I, in today's society, would've punched Othello in the mouth for speaking to me that way, I can't say for sure that my reaction would've been the same if I was living in Desdemona's time. So I guess in the end, and regardless of how crappy the actions she took were, she made the best choice for all of those involved.
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