Desdemona - Character Quotes Flashcards
how does Cassio initially describe D when she arrives to Venice?
“the grace of heaven” - flatters and objectifies her - suggest grace of god surrounds her
How does D challenge Iago’s mysogony?
Emelia talks to much: responds “fie upon thee, slanderer!”
“heavy ignorance, thou praisest the worst best”- spirited nature’
- D challenges I to compliment “a deserving woman”
D warns Emelia about I after his mysogeny
“Do not learn of him, Emilia,” - Desdemona’s warning is portentous.
Act 3: Desdemona shows he loyalty to Cassio (getting his job back)
“You do love my lord” - good intentions clear to audience
“Before Emilia here
I give thee warrant of thy place.”
“For thy solicitor shall rather die”
- legal lexis
- makes clear she puts herself in a position of supporting Cassio that she cannot later, for honour’s sake, refute;
- if she is swearing in front of a witness - Emilia - and this will ultimately condemn her in Othello’s eyes, ironically as he will come to believe her the opposite of honourable. ‘Rather die’ is thus heavily ironic on line 29
Interesting use of Exits that connotes suspision
“Enter O and I”
emilia, cassio and D talking - then Exit cassio
Iago: “Ha! I like not that”
Desdemona good judge of character
“If he be not one that truly loves you … I have no judgement” - irony is she is right but he ends up believing I + audience knows this
Sense of division between O and D following her initial request
“Not now, sweet Desdemona”
…
“Tomorrow dinner, then?” :
- division so soon after harmonious reunion; - share lines metrically, indicating co-operation,
- Desdemona’s listing in regular controlled verse presents her as intelligent, and skilled in argument
Desdemona shows she has agency in relationship
“What you would ask me that I should deny
Or stand so mamm’ring on. What?” - D is very blunt and critical here in the use of ‘mamm’ring on’ indicating her open nature and agency at this point in the relationship. She expects him to treat her as she treats him. Nonetheless at the end of this section of the scene she states that she is an ‘obedient’ wife whatever he chooses to do. Desdemona’s nature is constrained by her social position as a wife.
Handkerchiefs worth to Desdemona
“Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse
Full of crusadoes.” “As some jealous creatures are”:
- handkerchief is worth more than money
- says much in Venetian society, which values wealth.
- This line echoes Iago’s ‘who steals my purse steals trash’ and makes the point that the handkerchief is synonymous with D’s reputation;
- some acute dramatic irony from Desdemona coming after Othello’s descent into overwhelming jealousy and rage in the last scene!
Desdemona tries to argue her hand does not suggest rebellion
“For ’twas that hand that gave away my heart.”
- formally phrased reply
- disagreeing with him yet remaining calm
- She turns the accusation of ‘rebels’ and ‘frank’ around to mean her honest love for him that defied social rules
- reminds us of the troth plighting ceremony before marriage
dialogue between D and O when they initially argue about handkerchief (i don’t have it) - Indicates towards othello’s language
“Why do you speak so startingly and rash?”
“Is’t lost? Is’t gone?”
an example of fast paced alternating lines - stichomythia often used in arguments between two characters. The effect is a bit like a verbal fencing match. Stichomythia is often used at moments of high intensity, as here.
Desdemona and Othello arguing about hankerchief - D talks about cassio - O about hankerchief
“You’ll never meet a more sufficient man”
“The handkerchief!”
“In sooth, you are to blame”
- three ref to Cassio are alternated with three requests for the handkerchief
- highlighting for Othello handkerchief represents her fidelity lack= infedelity
- Note how Desdemona is resolute in her pursuit of Cassio’s case, despite Othello’s irrational and forceful questioning,
- strength of character and showing the audience, ironically, that she is true to her word.
D’s comment that echoes “I am not what I am”
My lord is not my lord
D emphasises to Cassio she is risking much for him
“What I can do I will, and more I will
Than for myself I dare.”
- she is risking much for Cassio and even comments on her ‘free speech’ and how it has angered him - not subserviant at this point
Desdemona and Emelia scene - monster related imagery
“some unhatched practice
Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him”
“Heaven keep the monster from Othello’s mind!”
- unhatched practice suggests the eggs of insect, reptile –> monster-related imagery already seen
- using Heaven here associates Othello with the opposite as we know he does indeed have that monster growing in his thoughts
Desdemona and Emelia scene - Desdemona comments on men and their tempers
“Men’s natures wrangle with inferior things,
Though great ones are their object.” - the trivial ‘trifles’ that cause anxiety/jealousy and distract from one’s true purpose
Desdemona and Emelia scene - her comments on men in relation to god
“men are not gods”
- accepting the reality of marriage now but ‘men are not gods’ could also remind us of the fall from grace of the hero
Desdemona and Othello scene: a little before he slaps her - what does she say about cassio
“I would do much
T’ atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.”
- dramatic irony. The result of these two conversations taking place concurrently- one actually on a private topic, the other a public conversation, is striking and creates a very jarring and disjointed scene
Desdemona and Othello scene: a little before he slaps her - asks Lodovico is he angry?
“What, is he angry?” - she speaks to Lodovico not to him - distancing herself?
The slap
“DESDEMONA
Why, sweet Othello—
OTHELLO
Devil! [strikes her]”
“I have not deserved this”
- Desdemona’s line is interrupted by the insulting exclamation and physical violence ( note the strong religious epithet connoting sin). He is publically accusing her of some sin
Desdemona leaves after the slap
“I will not stay to offend you.”
Desdemona is seen here to fulfil the expectations of her as a Venetian woman, at least in public. Doe she retreat into this role out of fear?
4:2 Who has control in this scene?
- Othello
- “Upon my knee”
- using of stage action reflects Desdemona’s vulnerability and submission due to Othello’s rage
4:2 - D’s responce to O’s accusation of adultery
- “No, as I am a Christian” “to preserve this vessel for my lord … Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.”
- idea of woman as a vessel - lesser or empty - vessel can be boat or bowl - to be used by men
4:2 - what lines suggest she has fainted
“Oh, heaven forgive us!” - some interpreted as fainting
“Faith, half asleep.”
