desdemona as a strong character

This causes Desdemona’s relationship to have communication problems. Shakespeare's Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a Moorish man several years her senior. Strong-willed to Passive Believes initially she can ‘tame’ Othello ‘His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift’ Teases Othello and is able to hold her own in verbal battles with Iago. Desdemona fails to see Iago is using her, and it is through him her troubles thicken.She is playing into Iago’s plot to make Othello’s “jealousy so strong/That judgement cannot cure. They had to look a certain way. Despite this awareness of hers, she still decides to bother Othello about Cassio. Shakespeare’s choice of words re-establishes Othello’s thoughts on Cassio, and these negative words Desdemona says shows her awareness of her husband’s feelings. Get Your Custom Essay on. Shakespeare has portrayed Desdemona to have both weaknesses and strengths that make her personality appear normal. This passivity, while truly apparent, is one with reference to the Desdemona’s influence on the plot, and not to her character itself. Desdemona agrees to sweet talk Othello until he gives in and says he'll take Cassio back. Desdemona’s marital bliss is slipping rapidly, and her blind nature is letting it happen. Act 1, scene 1 Her argument is that by gaining the world, one could judge adultery to be moral, thus undoing the crime. As we know, several characters (like Brabantio and Iago) claim that black men like Othello contaminate white women they have sexual contact with. Desdemona does show conformity to Othello, she says in act three scene three “I am obedient” but she also shows obedience to Cassio, whom she tells that she will use her “abilities in thy behalf” to get Cassio reinstated. https://www.britannica.com/.../Desdemona-fictional-character For all the claims of military straightforwardness of some other characters, Desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in the play. General Overview Desdemona is Othello’s wife. Desdemona finds Othello to be incorrect in his actions and she expresses her feelings to Othello. Is Desdemona a figure of weakness or strength?. However, if Desdemona is a strong female character who becomes weaker, whose voice becomes repressed, Emilia starts as a wife who is oppressed but becomes stronger and whose voice carries the drama at its end. Othello would be very attractive to someone in Emilia’s position; he is very demonstrative in his love for Desdemona but sadly this turns sour and his In case you can’t find a sample example, our professional writers are ready to help you with writing William Shakespeare’s Othello and Dame Alison from The Wife, Desdemona does not stand for these accusations thus she replies to Iago saying “Oh, fie upon thee, slanderer!” (Shakespeare 2.1.124) Not only is Iago insulting Emilia, but also his statements are referring to women in general. Yet, it is her innocence that despite trying her best she cannot prove her fidelity before Othello. Cassio is a character to be loved in the fashion of Desdemona. Desdemona is a beautiful, young, white, Venetian debutante. While she is a completely innocent character she is victimized and is killed by the end of the play by her husband. The timeline below shows where the character Desdemona appears in Othello. Desdemona Character Timeline in Othello. Desdemona is the current leader of the mysterious and secretive organization known as the Railroad. You can get your custom paper from (fathers and husbands), and had no use other than birthing and mothering. Therefore, Desdemona is shown as an all-around powerful. She believes that it is her duty to be a “good wife” and that it is her only role in life. She speaks disparagingly of men, but, until the last scene, she supports her husband when needed. Othello is about many … Interracial marriages were considered extremely taboo. In Greek, Desdemona means ‘the unfortunate’, perhaps reflecting an ideology that she is not meant to be liked, merely pitied for her misfortune as a tragic victim (commonly defined as someone who dies due to the faults of others). Despite all of these weaknesses, her strengths do shine through her actions and words. To you I am bound for life and education. When Iago wants to set up the appearance of inappropriate behavior between Cassio and Desdemona, he decides that “my wife must move for Cassio to her mistress” (2.3.) Other characters—notably her father—may be horrified that she could give herself to this alien creature, but his appearance is of little importance to her, compared to the essence of what he is. Shakespeare's Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a Moorish man several years her senior. reason she married Othello is because ‘she feared to look on’ him. I am hitherto your daughter. Act 1, scene 3. To her are given the words of truth and it … She is one of the most pitiable victims in all of Shakespeare’s plays. Desdemona is virtuous and should not have met the tragic end she did . Answer: This is a strength born of her great love for Othello. My interpretation of this is Desdemona calls Cassio “lieutenant” because she feels that Othello loves her, thus he will do anything for her. Desdemona in William Shakespeare's Othello Desdemona does seem to be an all rounded person however it is her weaknesses, which brings about her downfall. Shakespeare has deliberately made Desdemona say these good things about Cassio so that it can be seen she is playing into Iago’s hands, and making Othello insecure at the same time. This has stemmed from the apparent strength that she first shows in act 1 scene iii to her death in act V scene ii. Character Analysis: Desdemona Is Not A Strong Woman. How Was This Question Answered by 18th Century Thinkers? I would say that, on the whole, Desdemona is not a passive character. When her husband is deployed to Cyprus in the service of the Republic of Venice, Desdemona accompanies him. “He” is Cassio, and through this question, Othello can see she is eager to invite him for dinner to settle the dispute, which makes him more suspicious. As we know that it is a domestic tragedy. Desdemona, also known as Dez, is the leader of the Railroad in the Commonwealth in 2287. In this play, Desdemona is an example of perfect womanhood. As a feminist she believes Desdemona is too independent for an Elizabethan wife, how from a modern day opinion, a woman’s independence is seen to be a great strength and quality which is highly valued. Boyce 155, Orlin 175). Those that understatement Desdemona’s character miss out on the vast … Desdemona’s love for Othello results her repelling against her father’s wishes in act one which reflects great courage and strength for an Elizabethan daughter. The duke and the senators discuss the movements of the Turkish fleet and conclude that its target is, indeed, Cyprus…. character. She speaks disparagingly of men, but, until the last scene, she supports her husband when needed. She is a good friend and companion to Desdemona. The article “a feminist critique of the character Desdemona” offers an analysis of the character of Desdemona from the theoretical framework of feminism. Women were property and were utterly controlled by men. The main example of this is when she attempts to persuade Othello to take back Cassio as his lieutenant.She is convinced that she can “talk him out of patience” but she does not understand that, in Othello’s public life he may be a different person to what he is in his private life. Desdemona Quotes. This does reflect independence and does also reflect that as a woman, not being afraid to speak her mind is her subtle way of resisting against the patriarchal society. Desdemona is a strong character, and at the beginning of the play, she proves herself to be Othello’s equal. He has an intense need for control, which seems to be a symptom of his self-doubt--a self-doubt which concerns whether he really "belongs" with Desdemona, and really "belongs" in her world, due to the fact that he is a "Moor" and she is white. “seen but not heard,” is a fair statement. Desdemona is a more plausible, well-rounded figure than much criticism has given her credit for. Thus, the character of Desdemona as a truly strong willed and resolute woman, must still take a back seat, which may come across as passive to an unmindful audience. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote about two types of women, virtuous subhuman or deceiving subhuman. For all the claims of military straightforwardness of some other characters, Desdemona is the most direct and honest speaker in the play. 853 Words 4 Pages. As Desdemona does not follow the hidden requirements of an Elizabethan wife, it can be said she is trying to escape from the patriarchal society. Desdemona does also show the renaissance side of her personality, by trying to break free from the patriarchal society, and critics would argue why should she not speak her mind, however some other critics such as feminist Jardine would disagree. But here’s my Emilia says to Desdemona of Othello “I would you had never seen him” (Act 5 Scene 1, Line 17) presumably this is out of love and loyalty to her friend as opposed to a lingering affection for him. Iago is one of the most notorious and mysterious villains of all time—it's no accident that... Desdemona. Othello is the first great black protagonist in Western literature... and he's still one of the... Iago. Desdemona fights back against, Centuries ago in Elizabethan England there were many traditions about marriage and the treatment of women. She is one of the most pitiable victims in all of Shakespeare’s plays. With her character, Shakespeare reminds us of the vulnerability of being saint-like, of being unaware of the filth the world caries within itself. Therefore she could perhaps be expecting an immediate, positive response. My life and education both do learn me How to respect you. “you” is Cassio and she decides through her own will that she wants to help Cassio. Manipulation is a major flaw within Desdemona, and it is this flaw that has played into the trouble that has been stirred by Iago. If you need this or any other sample, we can send it to you via email. Iago warns Othello about Brabantio’s anger, but Othello is confident in his own strength and in his love for Desdemona…. Another weakness which can come to view is Desdemona's tendency to poke her nose into Othello's public life, which is … Character Analysis Emilia She follows Iago in wifely duty, but during the play develops a strong loyalty to Desdemona and, at the end, denounces Iago's lies to defend Desdemona's reputation. It is her simple mindedness and inability to think critically which leads her to trouble no matter what her train of thought is, whether it is innocent and helpful as in Othello , or brash and violent like in Goodnight Desdemona . Unfortunately, she contributes to the events that lead Othello to believe that he has seen proof of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Desdemona (/ ˌ d ɛ z d ə ˈ m oʊ n ə /) is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello (c. 1601–1604). Desdemona is a strong character, and at the beginning of the play, she proves herself to be Othello’s equal. Wife Emilia who has more marital experience and who does know when to away! 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