Desdemona Flashcards
Expresses Brabantio’s concern that his property (Desdemona) has been stolen from him by Othello. Displays Desdemona’s status, as a daughter, she is under ownership of he father.
B: ‘‘What tell’st thou of me robbing?’’
Othello states emphatically that he would not risk his freedom except for the fact he loves Desdemona. Demonstrates that her love for Othello is reciprocated . Her status is elevated as she is wed to a top ranking army general. Hyperbolic language.
'’I love the gentle Desdemona/ I would not my unhoused free condition / Put into circumscription and confine/ For the sea’s worth.’’
Othello confesses how he wooed Desdemona. Desdemona falls in love with his bravery as he talks of his treacherous past. Demonstrates their mutual love. Desdemona is powerful enough to persuade the Duke to bless her marriage.
'’She loved me for the dangers I had passed,/ And I loved her, that she did pity them/ This is the only witchcraft I have used.’’
Othello is stolen away from their marital bed as he hears a violent conflict take place, leaving Desdemona alone. This could be a metaphor for Othello’s divide between being a good husband and a good army general. Othello’s frustration stems from the impossibility of him applying his military ideologies to marriage. Desdemona is presented as being passive and abandoned. Their love making has been disrupted which introduces the link between love and violence early on- foreshadowing Desdemona’s death in her and Othello’s bed.
'’What is the matter, dear?’’
Desdemona lists the many maternal services that she provides for Othello. Here the audience is offered further insight into their relationship. Litany has been used by Desdemona to overwhelm Othello in order to persuade him to reinstate Cassio. For Othello, this only provides evidence that they are having an affair.
'’Tis as I should entreat you wear gloves, Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm, Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit , To your own person.’’
Desdemona promises Cassio that she will do everything she can to convince Othello to reinstate Cassio on his behalf. Desdemona’s tone is sincere, she displays great loyalty to him.
'’Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do / All my abilities in thy behalf.’’
'’If I do vow a friendship, I’ll perform it to the last article.’’
Relates to the portrayal of jealousy as an illness that is out of the victim’s control. Desdemona is still with the opinion that Othello could never be jealous which is ironic as Othello could not be less jealous. Reference to Othello’s birthplace, would have been a sunny country.
'’Who? He? I think the sun where he was born/ Drew all such humours from him.’’
Enlightening feminist view from Desdemona
'’Nay we must think men are not Gods’’
Desdemona stands up for herself and rejects any responsibility for Othello’s cruel treatment of her.
'’I have not deserved this’’
Desdemona begs Othello to spare her life however she accepts that he will kill her. Desdemona exercises her minute power to attempt to influence when she will be slaughtered. Intelligently she offers tomorrow, implying in daylight where there will be witnesses as opposed to ‘‘tonight’’, under the cover of darkness.
'’Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight.’’
