Preview

Desdemona

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
485 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Desdemona
I want you to go back in time many years ago, the 16th century in Shakespeare’s time where there was hardly any technology and the society was very different. Now If that’s hard to imagine that’s ok because I’m an actor in the 21st century hear to talk to you about Desdemona. Desdemona was a beautiful, young, white Venetian girl but also she disobeys her father’s expectations by marrying a black man, she also challenges the society that largely disapproves of intercultural marriages and also she gets abused by her husband. In this way, Desdemona’s relationship with Othello speaks to the play’s concerns with the 16th century attitudes about Lust, Defying social standards of the 16th century and also domestic violence.
For example in the play it shows this by Othello saying “She loved me for the dangers I have passed, and I loved her, that she did pity them.” This is an example of a foreshadowing technique used to hint readers a certain plot development that will come later in the story. Also this quote is telling us that this is ardent admiration, which tells us that Desdemona is still not matured. To think about her future and what society’s expectations are. She admired the stories that Othello told about his brave journeys. In nowadays young teenagers are not drawn by personality but by looks and popularity. Also, Desdemona disobeys her father’s wish by refusing to marry any handsome, rich Venetian men and she goes for Othello an old black man, outside of the Venetian society.
For example her farther says. “Look to her, Moor, if though hast eyes to see, She has deceived her farther, and may thee.” This shows that Desdemona is a disloyal character and may disobey her husband as well, she also goes against the societies expectations by defying standards such as not owing the duty to her farther and then a duty to her husband. Also Intercultural marriages where she marries a black man rather than a white man. In modern societies most young people disobey

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Othello is a Shakespearean tragedy, set in Elizabethan Times that present the relationship between, Othello, a ‘moor’ who’s an official in the Venetian army and Desdemona, the daughter of a noble Venetian Senator, Brabantio, and how despite their different experiences in love, a strong relationship can occur, without any initial external input. Desdemona’s assertive behaviour towards romantically pursing Othello, demonstrates her confidence and power, which she maintains throughout the play. Most significantly, the fact that Othello did not ask for Brabantio’s permission to marry Desdemona, demonstrates how Othello did not consider the traditional values of Elizabeth society. However as they play develops, Iago’s manipulation of Othello’s insecurities, leads to the relationship between Othello and Desdemona falling apart.…

    • 486 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Shakespeare’s play Othello is the story of a man in the military, who meets the woman of his dreams and woos her over with his beautiful story telling. Othello comes across as a very smart man who respects everyone who he crosses paths with, he is the nice guy. Desdemona’s father has no idea of the relationship and believes Othello must have drugged his daughter for her to even think about being with a black man. Othello and Desdemona are madly in love but Iago has an evil plot to ruin their love as he is jealous that Othello gave Cassio a promotion and not him.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Desdemona after leaving her father to be with Othello and accompanying Othello on his voyage to Cyprus has had a similar motivation throughout the piece. Desdemona has wanted to prove that she is a good wife to Othello. By Act three Scene three Desdemona has noticed something is not quite right with Othello. However, she believes that it is just because of what is happening in Cyprus and because he has just been forced to fire his lieutenant for the time being. Desdemona wants to make Othello happy again and she believes by him making Cassio his lieutenant again he won’t be as stressed. Othello approaches Desdemona several times hinting at the “affair…

    • 1192 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Othello thinks that he knows his wife, Desdemona, better than anyone else knows her. He knows deep down that Desdemona would never be untrue to him. But, as Iago points out when he says “She did deceive her father, marrying you; And when she seem’d to shake and fear your looks, she loved them most” (III, iii). Othello now realizes that he does not know his wife well at all. As said in A Discourse of Marriage and Wiving, “Be advised before…

    • 1078 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of Desdemona's principal responsibilities is loyalty to the men in her life, her father and her husband. This is shown in the third scene, where Desdemona says tells…

    • 2956 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1600, Shakespeare was apart of a major cultural shift into the Renaissance Period. This caused the paradigm of society to shift from religious views to more secular views and a new emphasis on mans ability. The central aspect of this was the feel of a less stable, disordered world opposed to the order that had previous existed. However the nature of Venetian society was different to Shakespeare’s context and was a progressive city-state that represented an alternative to monarchy that was beyond the monarchical paradigm. Shakespeare portrayed the traditional order being torn apart with self-interested and ambitious characters such as Othello and Desdemona in Othello. These characters however are seen as outsiders and in this society although are established have been disempowered and robbed of a social, religious and political voice.…

    • 589 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    During the late sixteenth century in Venice, a male-dominated society thrived while women struggled to be heard. Desdemona, Bianca, and Emilia are all victims of this society throughout Shakespeare’s Othello. Desdemona, an obedient, loyal, and pure young woman, is ultimately a victim to Othello’s over-powering strength and jealousy. Conversely, Bianca lives as prostitute who is ignored by Michael Cassio, whom she loves, because of her low status in society. Emilia is not naïve like Desdemona, yet not tarnished like Bianca; she is a realist who displays great bravery and heroism. In the end, however, she is defeated by her husband Iago. Although these three women in Othello possess conflicting characteristics, they all act as victims to their male counterparts.…

    • 1079 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the first relationships seen during the play Othello is that which runs between Desdemona and Brabantio of a father to his daughter. As was the attitude of the time Brabantio considered Desdemona as a procession and a prize rather then a person. This stemmed from the patriarchal society of the time. The way women are treated as possessions can clearly be seen in the way Roderigo and Iago refer to Desdemona in Act one - 'Thieves, thieves! Look to your house, your daughter and your bags! Thieves, thieves!' Act 1, Scene 1, 80-3. Brabantio loves his daughter but considerers her as a piece of property to shelter and own. From this attitude of possessing women Brabantio becomes utterly infuriated when he discovers that Desdemona has eloped with Othello and thus deceived him which was unheard of at the time. Brabantio's possessive nature of Desdemona reveals itself clearly when he stands before the Duke, 'She is abused, stolen from me and corrupted.' Act 1, Scene 3, 60. Upon leaving the Dukes chambers Brabantio says to Othello - 'If she can deceive once she can deceive again.' Act 1, Scene 3, 190, - this is the key line which plays an immense part in the final outcome of this play for it runs through…

    • 1229 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Othello, the Moor is accused for alluring Desdemona with the help of drugs and black magic. The lovers are cited to the Viennese senate. However stands up and tells her father that she totally loves his husband not because he wants to respect his father but because her duty is divided. While saying this Desdemona is standing in front of his father and denying his will in…

    • 68 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Othello: A Story Of Tragedy

    • 2284 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Othello is a story of tragedy; a failed marriage between a Moor and the white daughter of a political figure. Through jealousy and deception, Othello and Desdemona’s, his wife, marriage goes from a love story to two tragic and preventable deaths. Othello is a highly respected general in the defense forces of Venice; his charismatic and intelligent demeanor allows him to gain power and status in a majority white atmosphere. Desdemona is the daughter of a high ranking chauvinistic political figure. Desdemona is nothing like her father, she believes in true love which is why she falls in love with Othello even though during the 16th century, interracial relations are frowned upon. The Great…

    • 2284 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    She obeys her husband without a second thought when he ask her to get ready for bed. She is afraid of upsetting him again. Desdemona and Othello’s relationship now resembles an abusive relationship. Everything was going smoothly when they were perceived as equal. Once Desdemona steps out of line, all hell breaks loose. Now she willingly submits to his beck and call. Desdemona’s actions define the definition of submissive. As much as Desdemona wants to appear like a strong willed woman, she cannot escape the submissive stereotype that is buried deep down inside of…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    By stating that Desdemona “loved me [him] for the dangers I [he] had passed” and that he “loved her that she did pity them” corroborates Carol McGinnis Kay’s argument that the basis for Othello’s and Desdemona’s love “is the grand romantic picture of Othello that they both admire and pity” (265). Hence, Othello’s “love” for his wife derives from “the image of Othello that Desdemona reflects to him” (265), which is, I would argue, even more explicitly indicated by Shakespeare when he has Othello proclaim to Desdemona that he “does love thee [her]”, and “when I [he] love[s] thee not, chaos is come again” (1314). Although I would insist on approaching those hypothetical nature of the roots of the couple’s relationship with a non-absolutist attitude, considering the limited access the audience has to the two characters either in the form of revealing asides or an adequacy of mutual interaction in any of the acts, I concur with Kay’s point, in that Othello’s love for Desdemona is rather self-oriented, a mirror of his own desirable self-concept as a romantic warrior, contrary to Mose Durst’s rather simplistic perception of “Othello’s love for Desdemona”, namely as having “given his life its most profound meaning” merely…

    • 940 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The tragedy of Othello portrayed different social dysfunctions in each character. The main character Othello represented a psychiatric disorder known as delusional jealousy or called Othello syndrome after the Shakespeare’s play; and this social dysfunction interfere in his relationship with wife Desdemona. Although, this play refers long time ago, morbid jealousy is present today in males than women. Therefore, Othello syndrome obstructed Desdemona and Othello’s relationship causing the death of both.…

    • 997 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First of all, the relationship between Othello and Desdemona is weak because it is merely based on pity and not true love. Othello tells the Duke of Venice about how his love for Desdemona began after he was accused of eloping and marrying her without her consent.…

    • 858 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Othello and Desdemona’s manifestly love-filled relationship was somewhat shielded by society’s views of the age, social position and race differences, that would evidently cause implications. In the late sixteenth century, the time in which Othello is based, it was disreputable to do anything that was thought of as abnormal, for example, marrying below your class. Othello and Desdemona’s relationship was quickly looked down upon, simply due to the fact that it was seen as unconventional at the time. The implications that were apparent in the relationship were; the fact that Desdemona was considerably younger then Othello, the difference in social position of the two, and of course the obvious reason, being that Othello was dark skinned and Desdemona fair skinned. Beneath these implications, the two shared a deep, meaningful and adoring relationship, for the start of the play, that is.…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays