Some Othello insights
1. Who does Othello ultimately care about more – Desdemona or himself? Some critics have argued that Othello’s love of Desdemona is ultimately self-centered. Would you agree? Does this mean that, without Iago, they would have lived happily ever after?
Othello’s relationship with Desdemona does seem to be centered on Othello. “She loves me” seems to be what he thinks about Desdemona, while “I love him” seems to be what Desdemona thinks about Othello. Othello seduced a great beauty through his own charm, and while he loves her, it is very possible that he loves her because, in essence, she is his to love. The problem with this question is that their marriage is only about a week old. Othello is still basking in his victory (marrying Desdemona) and Desdemona is deeply, naively in love. Their emotions haven’t even begun to settle, and they have hardly had time to get to know each other intimately. Had there been actual trust forged between them, any at all, or had they at least trusted that the other would act a certain way in the face of external threats (if Desdemona knew Othello might get jealous, perhaps she would have, taken pains to tell the truth when he looked angry) they might have survived Iago.
And what if Iago was promoted over Cassio, and revenge wasn’t necessary? The marriage itself was too young to be tested so severely, and because of that, it is impossible to say if they would have lived happily ever after. Would Othello always have so little faith in his wife? Would Desdemona always be so in love with Othello? Perhaps, but perhaps not. Personally, I believe that because Othello and Desdemona both love Othello very much, their relationship would have survived, though how happy they would be at the end of it is debatable.
2. “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them” (1.3.167-168). This is how Othello describes how he and Desdemona fell for each other. What does this tell you about their relationship?
Othello’s relationship with Desdemona does seem to be centered on Othello. “She loves me” seems to be what he thinks about Desdemona, while “I love him” seems to be what Desdemona thinks about Othello. Othello seduced a great beauty through his own charm, and while he loves her, it is very possible that he loves her because, in essence, she is his to love. The problem with this question is that their marriage is only about a week old. Othello is still basking in his victory (marrying Desdemona) and Desdemona is deeply, naively in love. Their emotions haven’t even begun to settle, and they have hardly had time to get to know each other intimately. Had there been actual trust forged between them, any at all, or had they at least trusted that the other would act a certain way in the face of external threats (if Desdemona knew Othello might get jealous, perhaps she would have, taken pains to tell the truth when he looked angry) they might have survived Iago.
And what if Iago was promoted over Cassio, and revenge wasn’t necessary? The marriage itself was too young to be tested so severely, and because of that, it is impossible to say if they would have lived happily ever after. Would Othello always have so little faith in his wife? Would Desdemona always be so in love with Othello? Perhaps, but perhaps not. Personally, I believe that because Othello and Desdemona both love Othello very much, their relationship would have survived, though how happy they would be at the end of it is debatable.
2. “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them” (1.3.167-168). This is how Othello describes how he and Desdemona fell for each other. What does this tell you about their relationship?