ll. She doesn't ask that her life be spared, but only that her death be delayed. Othello believes she is in love with Cassio and when she lies about her handkerchief he thinks it's evidence against her. His revenge is made even sweeter by the fact that he is also able to turn Othello against Cassio, his chosen lieutenant. Her forgiveness of Othello may help the audience to forgive him However, Iago has a vicious way of manipulating everyone . Desdemona is a character in Shakespeare's Othello. William Shakespeare focuses on societal expectations of women in Elizabethan society through the three women present in the play, Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. Othello always respects Desdemona asa person and cherishes all her . Too often played as a weak character, Desdemona is strong and bold, especially when it comes to Othello. Brabantio in Othello by William Shakespeare | Quotes & Analysis, Desdemona in Othello by William Shakespeare | Character Traits & Analysis, Othello vs. Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare | Traits & Analysis, Emilia in Othello by William Shakespeare | Quotes, Relationships & Character Analysis, Othello's Soliloquy by William Shakespeare | Summary & Analysis, Cassio in Othello by William Shakespeare | Character Analysis & Quotes, Jealousy in Othello by Shakespeare | Theme, Quotes & Analysis, Roderigo in Othello by William Shakespeare | Quotes & Analysis, Bianca in Othello by William Shakespeare | Character, Quotes & Analysis, The Handkerchief in Othello by William Shakespeare | Significance & Analysis. Without Iago's honest reputation would never had allowed him smear Cassio and cause the death of Desdemona and ultimately Othello as well. The dissolution of Othello and Desdemona's relationship is in part brought about and symbolized by a handkerchief. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Iago's wife, Bianca, picks it up and delivers it to her husband, who then plants it in Cassio's room. The play opens with Iago talking to Roderigo, a gentleman in love with Desdemona, about Othello blocking his promotion in favor of a man named Cassio. Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support. Sometimes it can end up there. * Desdemona's profound love for Othello: Her love for Othello is profound and strong. Even so, Desdemona's arrival and then exit with Othello shows her continued obedience to Othello, and, more importantly, his confidence in that obedience. Her father appears to be a controlling man, and she stands up to him. As long as Desdemona has it in her possession, she will also possess Othello's loyalty and love. of her first speech (My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided after Othello strikes her (I have not deserved this [IV.i.236]). Reputation, reputation, reputation! (Merriam-Webster, 2015). When Desdemona left the house of her father, Brabantio, to wed the Moor, Othello, it was the first step in redefining her role as a woman. She leaves her father, it means that she betrays him. To the end he was concerned about his reputation. Its like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. You must cite our web site as your source. Although she does not have so much experience in life, she is still not ready to agree with Iago's offensive . Nobody suspects that Iago is a deceitful man and would plot to destroy Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio in such a cunning way. Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Othello, 3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeare's 'Othello', Iago Character Analysis From Shakespeare's 'Othello', Shakespeare Tragedies: 10 Plays With Common Features, 'King Lear' Act 1: Summary of the Opening Scene, Character Analysis of Helena and Demetrius. Brabantio gains the power of reputation from Desdemona by being her father. Othello was not fearful, aggravated or injured by Desdemona in any way. (2020, August 26). Ib. then, depicts Desdemona contradictorily as a self-effacing, faithful His reputation protected him from being confronted by Othello throughout the scene. Othello's reputation played a big role in the outcome of the play and in part caused Desdemona's death and his own. She does not shy away from her fear and bids for Othello to do the sensible thing and ask Cassio how he obtained her handkerchief. (one code per order). ThoughtCo, Aug. 26, 2020, thoughtco.com/desdemona-and-othello-2984765. In act I, scene 3 of Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello, Othello explains the reasons for his love for Desdemona and her love for him. Reputations of the main characters and its role in Othello In the play Othello written by William Shakespeare, the theme of reputation was a very important part of what made the play tragic. much criticism has given her credit for. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Their social class and race differences do not meet their society's standards. In setting up Cassio as a rival suitor for Desdemona's affection, Iago knows Roderigo will be more likely to help with his plan. jesting with Iago in Act II, scene i, is either an interpolation She had a song of willow. She is far too trusting and thus herself partly responsible for her fate. Othello is one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies and thus a pillar of what most critics take to be the apex of Shakespeare's dramatic art. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. After his superior leaves and shorn of his guard command, Cassio laments to Iago, O, I have lost my reputation! The Venetian society in which Othello is set reinforces these views, as the interracial marriage between Othello and Desdemona would be regarded as immoral, unnatural, and scandalous. Desdemona's innocent and pure reputation is destroyed by Iago when he had Othello to begin doubting her. lines 6184, when she attempts to persuade Her name by marriage is his, and a "good" name is the mark of a good reputation. Her killing was then also not an act of hatred. She, not Othello, asks Emilia to put her wedding sheets on the bed, The Essay on Othello Reputation Iago Desdemona. She makes a perfect wife because she is totally obedient and self-effacing. In his soliloquy at the end of Act I, Scene 3, Iago decides to use Cassio to hurt Othello. succeed. 2. He tells the Duke and Brabantio that Desdemona "loved me for the dangers I had passed" (I. iii. . learned from her mothers maid: She was in love; and he proved mad Suicide prevention resources can be found here: https://988lifeline.org/. Iago starts hinting that Desdemona is being unfaithful to Othello, "She did deceive her father, marrying you ; ( III, iii, 206-208). Indeed, a central thematic strand of the play is trust, honor, and reputation. . Iago engineers an incident in a pub by making Cassio drunk and framing him for a small act of violence. Othello is one of Shakespeares four great tragedies and thus a pillar of what most critics take to be the apex of Shakespeares dramatic art. At the end of Act 1, Scene 1, he says he will pretend to be loyal to Othello to destroy him. In the book Othello, Desdemona and Othello have a relationship that is indestructible. Iago then plants the handkerchief in Cassio's room, making it seem as though Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair. At first, the Duke sides with Desdemonas biological father, but upon learning that Othello is the object of Brabantios complaint, he shifts his judicial viewpoint significantly calling the Moor our own proper son. In essence, the patriarchal figure of the Duke allows Othello to adopt Desdemona. As Othello mistreats her, Desdemonas feelings are unwaning: My love doth so approve him / That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns, (Act Four, Scene Three). Iago in Othello by William Shakespeare | Character Traits & Analysis, Setting of Othello by William Shakespeare | Locations, Time & Analysis, Othello by Shakespeare: Act 3 Scene 3 | Summary & Quotes, 12th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, AP English Literature: Homeschool Curriculum, American Literature Syllabus Resource & Lesson Plans, Middle School Language Arts: Lessons & Help, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Study Guide, Create an account to start this course today. Othello's mental agony approaches the emotional climax of the play; here is the first turning point of the drama. Using examples from the text, explain the differences between how Othello speaks about and to Desdemona and how Cassio and Iago discuss the current "situation" between Othello and Desdemona. In the present article, our experts have analyzed major and minor figures. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/desdemona-and-othello-2984765. Iago is probably Shakespeares most fully realised and most destructive villain. However, she shows a strong independent streak in choosing to defy her powerful father and marrying where her heart is rather than where her fathers economic interest lies. The free trial period is the first 7 days of your subscription. That song tonight / Will not go from my mind (IV.iii.2730). . She was kindhearted and wished for all to be well with the male characters, and it is her sympathy towards Cassio which made Iago's lies more credible. Iago has been so successful that Othello feels compelled to kill himself, explaining that "I kissed thee ere I killed theeno way but this, Killing myself to die upon a kiss" (5.2. I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. Othello comments on her lost reputation in Scene 3 of Act III (line 387 line 389) Her name that was as fresh. The main male characters in Shakespeare's play Othello kill their wives in order to defend their own honor. They use lewd, racist language to inflame further Brabantio's anger at his daughter's betrayal of his trust. In this exchange, Iago avers: Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from SparkNotes and verify that you are over the age of 13. He chooses the words of Iago over his trust in his Brabantio of Desdemona s secret marriage with Othello. Othello sees himself as an old man, an old cuckold, one who has treasured Desdemona blindly, beyond reason. While part of his jealousy is fueled by honor, perhaps he would not have reacted so strongly if he had not loved Desdemona in the first place. Othello has some trusted officers around him. In the end, Othello stifles the speech that made Desdemona independent person, but midway through she must struggle against {{courseNav.course.mDynamicIntFields.lessonCount}} lessons Dont have an account? Women in Shake s peare's Othello are seen to be the possessions of men. iii. Iago, however, talks him out of that course of action as he needs Roderigo and his money. She is resolute in the face of adversity and remains committed to her husband. She remains in love with him, even while knowing that he is responsible for her death.
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