Desdemona Analysis
The woman, usually played as a really weak character, challenges her father in the Act 1 Scene 3 with the following words:
“But here’s my husband
And so much duty as my mother showed
To you, preferring you before her father,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord…”
By saying this, Desdemona demonstrates not only her bravery, but also her strength while her father is a very influential person. Although he is a controlling man, the woman has enough courage to stand up to him.
Othello and Desdemona
Making a decision to tie her life with a black man, Desdemona faces with severe criticism caused by her choice.
According to the Othello words, Desdemona is the one who pursues him that she felt attraction for him with Othello’s valour stories. In the other words, the author proves that Desdemona is not just a passive play character. She has chosen her man and she is brave enough to pursue him.
Unlike her husband, Desdemona is never being insecure, even though she’s been called a “whore”. Despite of all, Desdemona manages to keep fire in her feelings regardless of Othello’s misunderstanding of her. In the face of adversity Desdemona remains stubborn.
As for the relationship with Othello, Desdemona says the following:
That I did love the Moor to live with him,
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world: my heart’s subdued
Even to the very quality of my lord:
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind,
And to his honour and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me,
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.
Tenacity of Desdemona
The tenacity of the woman serves actually as her downfall. Desdemona tends to champion the cause of Cassio especially when she is well aware of the fact that this may lead to some problems in her life. When Desdemona believes he is dead, she sincerely moans. This proves that Desdemona has nothing to be ashamed of.
The love Desdemona feels for Othello is eternal. As she says in Act 4, “My love doth so approve him That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns – Prithee unpin me – have grace and favour in them”. The woman bids Othello to ask Cassio about where he got handkerchief from, but for Othello this turns to be too rational. Besides, at the moment he has already ordered Cassio’s death. Even when the time to face with the death comes, Desdemona approaches Emilia and asks the woman to commend her to the “lord”. Her love never vanishes even though she knows that the responsibility for her death is in Othello’s hands.
Having the choice of more suitable men, Desdemona gives her heart away to Othello because of his boldness regardless the race difference.
This was an example of Othello essay, written by ThePensters.com essay writers.