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Analysis of William Shakespeare´s Othello

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The Tragedy of Othello, a play by William Shakespeare, was written in the early 1600’s. If Othello was written in a different time, 21st century America, the view of people of different genders and races would differ, women would be held to a more equal social standard and the issue of Othello being black, wouldn’t be as prominent when he marries Desdemona. This play was written in a time where it was essential to follow cultural values. During this time women were expected to respect all male figures in their lives no matter how powerful or how old were. This concept is evident in Othello, specifically how Desdemona acts towards her father, and at times towards her husband Othello. Overtime this cultural value of the man being a dominant figure in society has lessened.Today in 2014, a 21st century American woman, is not held to such high expectations. Women are seen as equals to men in many aspects, so it is no longer part of our culture for women to respect men as much as they were expected to in the past. In the first act, Desdemona speaking to her father says, “My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty: To you I am bound for life and education; My life and education both do learn me How to respect you…but here's my husband, And so much duty as my mother show'd To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.”(528-530) At this point she goes against the cultural value for a woman to respect the male

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