Desdemona - character Flashcards
‘I do perceive here a divided duty’
1.3 Desdemona
Reflective of the rigid patriarchy of which marriage reinforced the patriarchy by imposing widespread expectations on how women ought to behave.
‘Let me go with him’
1.3
The use of clear, simple language could highlight Desdemona’s pure and simple love for Othello, reminding us of her innocence, purity and potential naivety. However, the clear, declarative tone could suggest Desdemona’s dominance and outlandish nature, which would have been shunned upon by most of Elizabethan/Jacobean society for she is a woman. This could foreshadow Othello’s reasons to mistrust her.
‘O fie upon thee slanderer’
2.1
The directness of the statement highlights Desdemona’s strength and ultimate sense of honesty and truth. The violent accusatory tone of the noun ‘slanderer’ could magnify Desdemona’s arrogance, this type of comment is way out of line for a woman, especially of her status, to say. This could suggest that her privileged position in society has made her ignorant and blind to whats considered acceptable, could be foreshadowing the room for doubt Othello feels.
‘Come how wouldst thou praise me?’
2.1
again directness challenges the view that women are property
commands Iago, contrasts what we have seen about Iago
‘I will watch him tame and talk him out of patience
imperative tone reinforced through both the modal verb and dental alliteration
Desdemona is painted as determined
Effective as it has an ironic ring to it as she does indeed fulfil this statement.
It also reveals her sense of naivety and innocence
‘Why this is not a boon?’
The assertiveness is another reminder to the audience that if Iago’s manipulations weren’t apparent, Desdemona’s actions would seem completely innocent. Exposing Desdemona’s good nature suggests that everything she is saying is for the greater good for Othello and his career. This is tragically ironic since Othello’s myopic view of Desdemona forces him to be sheltered from this truth. However, this type of assertiveness could infer that Desdemona has overstepped her boundaries as a wife and as a woman, foreshadowing her death.
‘nay we must not think men are gods’
Does this subvert the standards of Elizabethan men? Although a deeply religious society, it could be reflective of the patriarchy that men remained superior to women.
‘but jealous souls will not be answered so;’
Fitting of Othello (Emilia says this btw)
‘lay on my bed my wedding sheets’
‘Am I that name Iago? Such as my lord did say I was?’
Desdemona’s refusal to say the word ‘wh*re’ reminds the audience not only of her christian virtue and innocence, but of how young she actually is.We have no real idea how old Desdemona is, but upper class women married from as young as thirteen at the time as well as a large age gap between her and Othello heavily implied from the beginning. This could suggest that Othello would have also been a paternal figure for Desdemona, making it all the more tragic that he calls her the very words he should be protecting her from.
‘she had a song of willow’
Willows are typically associated with feelings of death, loss a sadness. They have implications of fragility, due to their thin, stiff and brittle branches that easily snap. The fact that Desdemona is talking of willows in a resigned manner is a display of the tragic circumstances she is in due to Iago’s manipulations. This also foreshadows how Desdemona is to die, she is strangled (her neck snaps). Willows also have biblical associations with the death of Christ, suggesting that Desdemona’s death will be for the greater good, as if she represents a martyr or even Christ-like figure.
‘Have mercy on me!’
Makes Othello her god
allusion of religious imagery, presents Othello as an allegorical figure of justice, with the comparison to Greek mythology, the titan god prometheus we see that he becomes Desdemona’s god…..
‘some bloody passion shakes your frame’
links back to act 2.2/3
‘ by heaven my blood begins my safer guide to rule’
‘alas he is betrayed and I am undone’
tragic victims
‘a guiltless death I die’
‘O falsely falsely murdered’
sums her character
