Domestic abuse has been a prevalent and reoccurring issue throughout the world for several centuries. For instance, Hammurabi’s Code from 1780 BC, stated that adultery would be considered a felony for women. However, if a man committed adultery, there would be no punishment. According to NCADV, “nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner in the United States. During one year, this equates to more than 10 million women and men.” This shows that this is not a small issue to be discussed. Domestic abuse happens so frequently that it can also be found in many well-known novels and plays. For example, in the play “Othello” by Shakespeare, Othello is seen as the abuser in his relationship with Desdemona. Othello kills his wife over a rumor or false accusation. In lines 80-85, Othello suffocates Desdemona with a pillow, killing her. This shows the prevalence of violence in relationships that it even shows up in famous plays by Shakespeare.

Many people may experience domestic violence and not even realize it since it can be so subtle but can grow into a greater issue later on. Some people may ask “What is domestic violence?” Domestic violence is a broad subject and spans from a pattern of “physical, sexual, emotional, economic, psychological, or technological actions” that can “intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure” others in a relationship. Being involved in an abusive relationship may result in isolation, low self-esteem, and a sense of powerlessness. To explain the seriousness of being the aggressor in a relationship, in the poem “Inferno” by Dante, violence against other people is considered one of the worst sins you can commit. Dante’s seventh circle of hell is for people who committed violence toward others. For comparison, there are nine circles of hell and the ninth circle is where Satan lies, showing that violence is not tolerated anywhere and is punishable.