Critics - Othello

Question 1

“is to be characterless … everyone wishes a Desdemona for a wife”

• Samuel Coleridge

Answer 1

• ‘Everyone’ - Could imply that Iago is jealous of Othello because of Desdemona.
  Beautiful, and very clever
• She is the embodiment of loyal - she supports Othello to the death, doesn’t fight back: everyone could want this because she is the ‘perfect’ wife to Othello
• ‘Characterless’ - She has no independence from Othello, her whole story in the play is correcting Othello’s wrongs.
  She does her duty as a wife.
• She is the perfect women because of her characterless in the Renaissance audience.

Question 2

“Just about every character misunderstands Desdemona” - Hongimann

Answer 2

• Iago misjudges her as an unintelligent, upper class noblewomen, but her character is multi-planed and just as complex as Iagos.
• She could be Iago’s foil - She constantly rights to correct Iago’s problems, and she has a large moral understanding and compass; as well as really bad luck - death, loses Cassio…
• She is misunderstood by Othello - leads to her death
• Although people think she is characterless (Samuel Coleridge),
• She has her own autonomy.

Question 3

“Desdemona is helplessly passive” – A.C Bradley

Answer 3

• ‘Helplessly’ implies a sense of futility regarding her fate. She attempts to argue her case but is only ‘helpless’ after being made aware of Cassio’s death.
• Ultimately, Desdemona is made a tragic victim due to Iago’s understanding of her ‘passive’ nature before her husband.
• She is ‘passive’ as a character as she ultimately does not drive the narrative.

Question 4

“Desdemona accepts her cultures dictum that she must be obedient to males” - French

Answer 4

• Desdemona is obedient as her undying loyalty to Othello is what brings about her demise.
• Duty that comes with that obedience does seem to be of significance to her as she takes it upon herself to try to resolve others’ issues. E.g. Cassio and his wish to be readmitted as lieutenant, soothing Othello’s anger towards her despite the severity of his accusation.
• Even though she is outspoken and strong minded, she is happy to submit to Othello as the dynamic within their relationship as husband and wife. Thus , she ‘accepts’ her obedient role in the sense that she is content with that.