Male Dogmatism
Morison directs Desdemona to enlighten the reader on the evils of culture and male dominance. Over the years, the girl child has been disadvantaged in society because she is considered as an inferior being. Boys are raised knowing that they are greater and dominant while girls are raised knowing that that they are servants of men in all aspects. For instance, when Desdemona is born, her life and destiny are already determined because she is a girl child. The narrator articulates, “Perhaps my parents believed or imagined or knew my fortune at the moment of my birth. Perhaps being born a girl gave them all they needed to know of what my life would be like." Generally, a woman is under the control of men and culture dictates all women be submissive to men. As a result, males are advantaged because they have access to all opportunities while women depend on men for their entire life.
A Woman Embodies Life
Morrison depicts a woman as a mark of life and the truth remains that without a woman there is no life. According to the narrator, no one is greater than a woman despite the male prejudice that has been passed from one generation to the other. Desdemona asks, "Who is greater? He who claims supremacy here below or She, without whom there would be no life here below?" Women are the greatest because most of them suffer for the sake of raising their children. One of the challenges that women go through is withstanding the brutality of their husbands who think that they are more advantaged than the female gender.
The Theme of Behavior
The narrator’s mother is a woman of virtue who values good behavior. Desdemona is taught how to behave well and handle herself before others especially men. Being a daughter of a strict mother, Desdemona grows up knowing what is right and what is wrong. Whenever she does a mistake, she is severely punished to ensure that she does not repeat that mistake. The narrator says, "My mother was a lady of virtue whose practice and observation were flawless. She taught me how to handle myself at the table, how to be courteous in speech, when and how to drop my eyes, smile, curtesy.” She farther says, “And there was sensible punishment designed for each impropriety.” Subsequently, behavior emerges as one of the main themes in Desdemona.
