Desdemona is an embodiment of all the good traits. All the characters of the play are well familiar with her characteristics even the villain of the play Iago names her “fair Desdemona”. Othello was not only impressed by her beauty but her other kind traits attracted him to marry her.
This tenacity of Desdemona is partly what serves as her downfall; she continues to champion Cassio’s cause even when she knows this may create problems for her.
Desdemona is one of the most pitiable victims among English heroines. Encompassing all the good traits, a lady of spirit, intelligent, devoted, a loving wife, but she fails to justify her love to her husband and is murdered by her husband in a fit of jealous rage.
This contradiction may be intentional, meant to portray the way Desdemona herself feels after defending her choice of marriage to her father in Act I, scene iii, and then almost immediately being put in the position of defending her fidelity to her husband.
In Act III, scene iv, Othello knows that Desdemona does not have the handkerchief, and he implies that something ominous will happen if the handkerchief is lost: “To lose 't or give 't away were such perdition/ As nothing else could match” (67-68). Othello is using this love token to entrap Desdemona in falsity.
Desdemona is concerned because she has lost something. What has she lost? Her handkerchief.
Why is the handkerchief that Desdemona has lost so important to Othello? Cassio gives it to Bianca, a prostitute, and asks her to copy the strawberry embroidery of the handkerchief onto another one.
Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello; she is also worried that she has lost her handkerchief. When Othello enters, he claims a headache and asks her for a handkerchief to bind his head, but he will have only the embroidered strawberry handkerchief.
The handkerchief, a gift to Desdemona from Othello, symbolizes so much more than a mere token of affection. To Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes fidelity and his giving it to Desdemona represents a promise that he will be true to her, and a request that she stay true to him.
What does Iago intend to do with it? Emilia finds Desdemona's handkerchief, given to her by Othello. The handkerchief has special meaning to Desdemona and Othello because it once belonged to Othello's mother. Iago plans to plant it with Cassio.
An Egyptian sorceress gave it to his mother and told her that it would make her desirable and keep Othello's father loyal, but if she lost it or gave it away, Othello's father would leave her. Othello's mother gave him the magic handkerchief on her deathbed, instructing him to give it to the woman he desired to marry.
In the context of “Othello”, the tragic hero possesses several flaws, however arguably, Othello's flaw is his loss of faith. Not only does Othello lose faith in his marriage with Desdemona, he also loses faith with the myriad of relationships he has with other characters, the most fatal being Michael Cassio.
60-62). When she was dying, Othello's mother gave him the handkerchief and told him to give it to his wife when he married.
He tells Desdemona that it was woven by a 200 -year-old sibyl, or female prophet, using silk from sacred worms and dye extracted from the hearts of mummified virgins. Othello claims that his mother used it to keep his father faithful to her, so, to him, the handkerchief represents marital fidelity.
They go in to dinner, and Emilia picks up the fallen handkerchief, one that her husband, Iago, often urged her to steal from Desdemona. Emilia decides to have a copy made to give to Iago, but he enters, sees the handkerchief, and snatches it from her.
Who had the handkerchief at the end of act 3? why? Bianca, because Cassio wants ti make a copy of it.
Desdemona combines rationality and tenacity in her final conversation with Othello. 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. However, Othello is in too emotional a state to listen, and he has already ordered the lieutenant's murder.
She describes her commitment to him: Due to the Moor my lord.". This quote demonstrates Desdemona's strength and bravery. Her father appears to be a controlling man, and she stands up to him.
Othello may be impressive on the battlefield, but his own personal insecurity leads to the tragic end of the story. He admires and loves his wife, but he can't believe that she would be in love with him. Iago's lies about Cassio feed into Othello's self-doubt to the point that Othello doesn't believe the truth when he hears it; he believes the "evidence" that fits with his skewed, incorrect perception that is borne from his own insecurity. He cannot believe in reality, for it seems too good to be true.
Othello and Desdemona's Relationship. Desdemona may have the choice of many suitable matches, but she chooses Othello, even despite his racial difference. In marrying a Moor, Desdemona flies in the face of convention and faces criticism, which she handles unapologetically.
At the heart of Shakespeare's "Othello" is the doomed romance between Othello and Desdemona. They are in love, but Othello can't get past his self-doubt as to why such a lovely woman would love him. This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago, even though Desdemona has done nothing wrong.
However, Othello is in too emotional a state to listen, and he has already ordered the lieutenant's murder. This tenacity of Desdemona is partly what serves as her downfall; she continues to champion Cassio’s cause even when she knows this may create problems for her.
William Shakespeare's Othello is renowned as one of his most impactful tragedies. Set in the 16th century, the story addresses societal evils such as racism, misogyny, classism, and potentially homophobia. The story follows a Moor named Othello, a former slave who has risen to become an honored military commander.
So, who is Desdemona? Desdemona is introduced to us in the very first scene of the play, but through the lens of another character. A man named Roderigo bitterly alerts Desdemona's nobleman father, Brabantio, that his daughter has eloped with Othello, a Moor.
Desdemona's name comes from Greek and means "ill-fated" or "unfortunate." This seems a fitting name for her ultimate fate in Othello, but also fits her entire life. She was in a sense doomed from birth, fated for ill, on the basis of being a woman in a patriarchal society.
Othello claims that he is “one that loved not wisely but too well”. His reason for killing her is that he loved her too much . He defends that he is “one not easily jealous, but being wrought, perplexed in the extreme”.
Iago is responsible for Desdemona’s murder because he manipulated Othello; however, Othello is more accountable for the crime because he was too trusting of Iago. Iago did not kill Desdemona himself, but he is still to blame for her death. He planned to make Othello so angry with Desdemona that he would want to kill her.
Iago wants Othello to know that he thinks his wife is having an affair but wants Othello to come to his conclusion. Then, Iago tells Othello to “look to [his] wife. Observe her well with Cassio”. Again, Iago wants Othello to figure it out himself so the blame cannot be put on Iago. Emilia finds Desdemona’s handkerchief, ...
In Act 2 Scene 1, Iago has his first soliloquy and tells the audience his plans to convince Othello of the affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago claimed, “It is thought abroad that ‘twixt my sheets [Othello’s] done my office. I know not if’s be true, but I…will do as if for surety”.
In another monologue, Iago said that “nothing can or shall content [his] soul till [he is] evened with [Othello], wife for wife”. This comment shows he won’t stop at anything and is going to use Othello’s wife to get revenge. Iago launches his plans by first planting suspicion in Othello about Desdemona’s virtue.
Othello insists that “to be once in doubt is once to be resolved”. Othello means that when he is in doubt, he seeks out the truth at once.
Iago planned to control Othello, and his thoughts like one could play an instrument. This statement is evidence that Iago is responsible for Desdemona’s death , and it would not have happened if it were not for him. In another monologue, Iago said that “nothing can or shall content [his] soul till [he is] evened with [Othello], wife for wife”.
Desdemona herself is not so clever so that she can judge the plan of Iago. Now her lover does not love her like he did when they had newly fallen in love. Seed of suspicion in mind of Othello grew very soon and became jealous of Cassio’s courting with Desdemona (although it was not true).
Desdemona wins the sympathies of the audience’ for her goodness because of her virtuous nature.
Othello falls in love with her for her beauty, loyalty, grace and innocence. Desdemona seems passive, meek and submissive and her innocence is her main weakness that leads her to death. From the outset of the play Desdemona is just as innocent as she is pretty. Othello falls in love with her and persuades her to elope with him.
Desdemona died the undeserved death which makes her an innocent victim of others wrongdoings. Iago and Othello are equally responsible for her death who paid for what they did. Desdemona is just made to pay for having fallen in love with an adventurous military general, Othello.
Desdemona is a heroine in Shakespeare’s Othello. She is the daughter of the respected Venetian Senator Brabantio. Desdemona is one of the most pitiable victims among English heroines. Encompassing all the good traits, a lady of spirit, intelligent, devoted, a loving wife, but she fails to justify her love to her husband ...
Cassio also calls her “divine Desdemona” and “virtuous Desdemona” while Desdemona’s maid, Emilia refers to her as “sweet Desdemona”. When Cassio was removed from his post and requests Desdemona to request from Othello on his behalf to restore his position she replies:
After handing over Desdemona’s handkerchief to Iago, Emilia explains that Desdemona will become extremely upset once she notices the object is missing, so unless the handkerchief serves some important purpose, she would like to return it to her mistress.
Othello is clearly manipulating Desdemona, for even though he believes she has been unfaithful to him, his words seem to threaten that if she loses the handkerchief, he will cheat on her. Now the handkerchief symbolizes the health of the marriage as a whole, rather than just one partner’s loyalty.
Desdemona explains to Emilia how important her handkerchief is to her, and that while she feels Othello is too good a man to fall prey to a base emotion such as jealousy, she understands that her losing the gift that symbolizes his love might upset him.
Iago understands that a gift such as a handkerchief might be a mere trinket to some, but bear profound meaning to others. As a jealous man, Othello invests the handkerchief with great meaning. Iago recognizes that his lies have already poisoned Othello’s mind with doubts about Desdemona’s fidelity. He hopes that the handkerchief in Cassio’s ...
Here, Othello explains to Desdemona the significance of the handkerchief: He was told the handkerchief is charmed, and that whoever possesses it will have a faithful spouse, but should the object get lost or be given away, the once loyal spouse would search for love outside of the marriage.
The handkerchief, a gift to Desdemona from Othello, symbolizes so much more than a mere token of affection. To Othello, the handkerchief symbolizes fidelity and his giving it to Desdemona represents a promise that he will be true to her, and a request that she stay true to him.