Desdemona as a Victim in the Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare
Desdemona as a victim in The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is widely known for his famous plays, sonnets, and other works including the tragedy. In The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, many characters are unjustly victimized. Throughout the play, Othello’s wife, Desdemona, is a victim of many false statements that lead to her ultimate death. In the beginning, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, believes that Desdemona is a victim under a spell of the Moor Othello. As the play progresses, Othello, who is overcome with jealousy, falsely accuses Desdemona of having an affair with his lieutenant and best friend, Michael Cassio. After acquiring “proof” that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, Othello becomes so enraged to the point that he kills Desdemona. In conclusion, it is pretty obvious that Desdemona is unjustly victimized.
In the beginning of the play, Brabantio believes that his daughter, Desdemona, is a victim under a spell of the Moor Othello. Because of this Desdemona has betrayed her father and she is said to be dead to him.
Ay, to me.
She is abus’d, stol’n from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err,
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not. (Oth. 1. 3. 59-64)
In this quote, Brabantio tells the Senators that Desdemona is dead to him because she married Othello. He is sure that Desdemona is either being tricked or drugged because there is no way she would make the mistake of not only marrying behind his back, but also marrying a black man. Shawn Smith states that from the moment Brabantio learned of his daughter’s marriage, he was not happy with Othello, accusing him of witchcraft. “... [Desdemona’s suffering] initially appears in Othello in a formal legal setting when, in the first act, Brabantio initiates a suit against his new son-in-law, accusing him of improperly obtaining the love of
William Shakespeare is widely known for his famous plays, sonnets, and other works including the tragedy. In The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice, many characters are unjustly victimized. Throughout the play, Othello’s wife, Desdemona, is a victim of many false statements that lead to her ultimate death. In the beginning, Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, believes that Desdemona is a victim under a spell of the Moor Othello. As the play progresses, Othello, who is overcome with jealousy, falsely accuses Desdemona of having an affair with his lieutenant and best friend, Michael Cassio. After acquiring “proof” that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair, Othello becomes so enraged to the point that he kills Desdemona. In conclusion, it is pretty obvious that Desdemona is unjustly victimized.
In the beginning of the play, Brabantio believes that his daughter, Desdemona, is a victim under a spell of the Moor Othello. Because of this Desdemona has betrayed her father and she is said to be dead to him.
Ay, to me.
She is abus’d, stol’n from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err,
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not. (Oth. 1. 3. 59-64)
In this quote, Brabantio tells the Senators that Desdemona is dead to him because she married Othello. He is sure that Desdemona is either being tricked or drugged because there is no way she would make the mistake of not only marrying behind his back, but also marrying a black man. Shawn Smith states that from the moment Brabantio learned of his daughter’s marriage, he was not happy with Othello, accusing him of witchcraft. “... [Desdemona’s suffering] initially appears in Othello in a formal legal setting when, in the first act, Brabantio initiates a suit against his new son-in-law, accusing him of improperly obtaining the love of
Cited: Carson, Ricks. "Shakespeare 's Othello." Explicator 55.4 (1997): 192. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 23 Mar. 2012. Shakespeare, William. Othello. Oxford School Shakespeare. Ed. Roma Gill. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print. Smith, Shawn. "Love, Pity, And Deception In “Othello”." Papers On Language & Literature 44.1 (2008): 3-51. OmniFile Full Text Select (H.W. Wilson). Web. 23 Mar. 2012.