Desdemona In Othello

Tragedy of Desdemona
In the play “Othello the Moor of Venice” by William Shakespeare, Desdemona is the Venetian beauty who upsets her father Brabantio, a Venetian senator by eloping with Othello, a man several years her age, she is introduced confessing love for Othello to her father Brabantio before the Venetian senate, where she expressed her feelings toward her father and at the same time proved loyal to Othello. Desdemona is simply a good person, however during the course of the play her character progressed from a woman of authority who took control, to a loyal wife constantly being accused and whose helpful nature end up being her downfall as Iago uses them against her. Desdemona takes control when she spoke with the Venetian senates
and her father proclaiming her love for Othello because Brabantio refused to accept his daughter would willingly want to marry Othello. When Desdemona is asked by her father to whom she owes obedience she says, “You are the lord of my duty; I am hitherto your daughter. 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” (I.iii.180-189). This is the first direct evidence we have that Desdemona’s able to take control of her situation and be brave enough to stand up to her father . She is saying her father is the one she must obey because she is his daughter and that just as her own mother once had to modify herself in favor of Brabantio over her own father, she must also shift her obedience from Brabantio to Othello. Later the Duke asked Othello to leave for Cyprus and put a hold on his marriage celebrations so he could take part in an expedition. Desdemona saw no reason why she had to remain behind while her new husband had to run off to Cyprus so she boldly requested to go with Othello. She says, “That I did love the Moor to live with him, 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” (I.iii.246-258). She is saying when she fell in love with Othello, she had already made up her mind that she wanted to live with him and that if she and Othello were separated she would be miserable, so by all means let her go with Othello. Iago saw Desdemona’s outspoken behavior as an opportunity to make Othello lose trust in her.
It’s Desdemona’s affection to care for other that caused Othello to distrusts her.
After the incident with Cassio and Roderigo, Othello demoted Cassio from lieutenant. Cassio was relentless in getting his spot back so he asked Iago what he suggested be done. Iago then tells Cassio he should ask Desdemona to help him with the situation he says, “She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested” (II.iii.284-285). Meaning Desdemona is kind and ready to help that she thinks it’s wrong to not do all you can. While she is genuinely commencing a favor for a friend, it becomes a moment of weakness for her as Iago uses this to falsely plant evidence of her unfaithfulness. Desdemona made the worst mistake possible when Cassio came to seek help in getting his lieutenant post back. She says,” If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it, My lord shall never rest; I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of patience; His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; I’ll intermingle everything he does, with Cassio’s suit”(III.iii.21-26). Saying when she makes a promise that she abides by it and she won’t let her lord sleep, and by constantly bringing up Cassio’s name every moment that Othello won’t be able to discard the topic. In aiding Cassio, Iago used that to his advantage to instill ideas into Othello’s mind saying, “Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio...” (III.iii.197). Iago advises Othello to
keep an eye on Desdemona noticing how she would often speak of Cassio. Everything Desdemona says onwards to help Cassio will sound as if she can’t stop thinking about him. These revelations will now give Othello something to worry about.
Desdemona is the perfect wife, yet she failed to observe what Othello is infuriated by. Desdemona tried to reason with Othello that he had let go of a loyal lieutenant and by helping Cassio, she had hoped to help Othello, which is why she is so determined in getting Cassio his post back and in doing so she failed to notice what she was doing wrong. The handkerchief is initially a gift given to Desdemona by Othello as a love token, Othello says a witch gave it to his Mother and when he questioned Desdemona about its whereabouts she lied and said it wasn’t lost and shortly after brought up Cassio in their discussion .Othello and Desdemona talks in isolation, Othello: The handkerchief! Desdemona: A man that has his time Hath founded his good fortunes on your love, Shared dangers with you_ Othello: The handkerchief!
(III.iv.92-96).
Desdemona avoided speaking of the handkerchief because she had misplaced it and in order to prove loyal to Othello, she lied thinking he would think badly of her if he realized she had lost it because of its meaning to both of them.
Othello began to assume Desdemona and Cassio were having an affair. Then a letter from the Duke and the Senators of Venice came assigning Cassio disputed government in Othello’s place. When Othello heard how happy Desdemona was for Cassio, he became jealous and furious which led him to hit her. She replies “I have not deserved this” (IV.i.224).
Desdemona’s final act of loyalty to her husband is when she laid on her death bed protecting Othello. Emilia the wife of Iago and attendant to Desdemona rushes to inform Othello of the fight that happened between Cassio and Roderigo, Emilia while talking to Othello hears her lady cries out for the last time. Emilia and Desdemona speaks, Emilia: O, who hath done this deed? Desdemona: Nobody_ I myself.
Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell! (V.ii.24-26).
Desdemona refuses to identify Othello as her murderer, blames herself for her own death and still died loving Othello.
Desdemona remained guiltless till the end; she also forgave her husband Othello. She tried her best to be a dutiful wife and a good friend and although things didn’t work out for the best it was still realized thanks to Emilia just how noble she really was.