Desdemona: A Tragic Portrayal of Innocence and Love in 'Othello', Summaries of English Literature

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Desdemona

Victim

Elizabethan Ideal

Pure Beautiful Virtuous Loyal and loving wife

Pure and Beautiful

Inexperienced in the ways of the world 'A maiden never bold' (Brabantio) Was initially frightened of Othello 'a maid / That paragons description and wild fame' (Cassio) 'an exquisite lady' (Cassio)

'the divine Desdemona' (Cassio) 'a most fresh and delicate creature' (Cassio) 'Now I do love her too' (Iago)

Has an Idealised View of

Othello

She is young and romantic 'I saw Othello's visage in his mind / And to his honours and his valiant parts / Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate' Cannot see that there is more to Othello than this Utter devotion and loyalty blinds her to the reality

Naive and Inexperienced

Iago exploits her innocence: ‘And out of her own goodness make the net / That shall enmesh them all. Asks Emilia if women could really be unfaithful and cannot believe that there could be women who 'abuse their husbands / In such gross kind' Her goodness contributes to her downfall

Errors of Judgement

Immaturity Relies too heavily on Othello’s love Stubborn Tactless We know how Iago will twist her words We know Othello is less perfect than she believes

Power Over Othello

‘I will refuse you nothing.’ (Othello) Othello says that if a time comes when he does not love Desdemona, ‘Chaos is come again’. Note of prophecy and danger in his words. Emotional blackmail - reinstating Cassio is proof of Othello’s love for her. Tactless and imperceptive.

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

Change

Cannot cope with the change in Othello Lies about the handkerchief rather than admitting the truth - very different from earlier girl who stood up to her father and expressed her views in front of the sentators Says of Othello’s jealousy: ‘I never saw this before’ Bewildered by his anger: ‘My lord? / Are you wise? / What, is he angry?’ Meekly takes the blame when he hits her: ‘I will not stay to offend you,’ but retains her composure and dignity: ‘I have not deserved this’.

Public Display of Anger

Othello’s striking Desdemona marks a turning point He humiliates her and speaks crudely of her in front of Ludovico and the other senators ‘Sir, she can turn and turn and yet go on.’ ‘And she’s obedient, as you say, / Very obedient’

Tragic Figure

Turns to Iago for advice ‘What shall I do to win my lord again? / Good friend… I know not how I lost him’ (Act IV scene ii)

Death

Realises too late that innocence will not save her ‘why I should fear I know not / Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel fear.’ Her cry of despair on hearing of Cassio’s death is misinterpreted by Othello: ‘weepst thou for him to my face? Meekly accepts that she will be murdered: ‘Then heaven / Have mercy on me’.

Final Impression

Refuses to blame Othello: ‘Nobody, I myself’ Life has no meaning without his love Loved her husband dearly, but in the end was undone by her innocence and goodness