Parental control over marriage was a key concern in Elizabethan society. Women, of upper classes especially, were defined by their father and husband, or any other relation to a man. This is emphasised in Othello through Desdemona’s use of “lord” to describe both her husband Othello and father Brabantio throughout the play. Her loyalty to these men, including the transfer of loyalty from her father to her husband through marriage, is particularly significant because of its adherence to the expectations of Renaissance Englishmen in Shakespeare’s audience. This piece of context is important to keep in mind throughout the reading of Shakespeare, or any text of this era for that matter, as it provides depth and helps us to understand why Shakespeare wrote about specific concerns and themes in this way.
