Desdemona - Tragic Victim Flashcards
Act 1, Scene 3
‘this to hear would Desdemona seriously incline’
‘greedy ear’
-Desdemona is provided with an outlet to an exciting would of military, valour and danger which she is shielded from, her intentions are innocent and naive
Act 2, Scene 3
‘she is so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed’
-ANAPHORA of Desdemona as naive in her own purity and goodness and this will bring about her tragic downfall, TRAGIC VICTIM unaware of her own FATE
Act 2, Scene 3
‘i will turn her virtue into pitch’
-METAPHOR of turning her pureness into a dark substance tainting her reputation
Act 2, Scene 3
‘as fruitful as the free elements’
-aware of Desdemona’s naivety and exploits this as her HAMARTIA and frames her as a TRAGIC VICTIM
Act 3, Scene 3
‘she so loves the token’
-handkerchief is a SYMBOL of Desdemona’s innocence + the love and purity of her marriage
Act 3, Scene 3
‘she let it drop by negligence’
-suggests Desdemona is caught of guard, naive and careless in her unaware behaviour
-TRAGIC VICTIM, so secure in her love she would never think of anything sinister in her interaction with Cassio, foresees no ill
-HAMARTIA is her unaware, careless behaviour, this seals her fate
Act 3, Scene 4
‘I know not madam’
-Emilia’s choice to lie about the handkerchief keeps Desdemona in the dark and contributes to both of there downfall, her HAMARTIA is her silence and complicity to please her husband
-Decision to lie could come from a more selfish place, wishing to preserve her relationship with Desdemona
Act 4, Scene 1
‘let her rot and perish and be damned tonight for she shall not live’
-TRIADIC STRUCTURE
-Desdemona’s JOURNEY TOWARDS DEATH
-use of EMOTIVE language conveys Othello’s determination
-DRAMATIC IRONY as we know of her innocence
-HAMARTIA Othello knows he can not live without her so choosing to kill her is also choosing to kill himself - TRAGIC HERO
Act 4, Scene 1
‘i have not deserved this’
-reinforces Desdemona’s status as a TRAGIC VICTIM
-DRAMATIC IRONY as the audience knows she is innocent
Act 4, Scene 1
‘i will not stay to offend you’
-contrasts her earlier behaviour, now is much more submissive and passive, the sense of equality in their relationship has TRAGICALLY been lost
Act 4, Scene 1
‘what ignorant sin have I committed’
-makes the audience view Desdemona as a TRAGIC VICTIM as she is such an honourable woman, inviting PATHOS
Act 4, Scene 3
‘I will, my Lord’
-simple response from Desdemona in the form of a MONO SYLLABIC LINE shows her dutiful submission contrasting her earlier confidence
-the switch in Desdemona’s response is RESTORATION OF HER ROLE AS WOMAN to be subservient characterising Desdemona as a TRAGIC VICTIM being silenced and failing to defend herself
Act 4, Scene 3
‘Sing all a green willow must be my garland’
-Willow song shows the audience that the play is moving closer towards the denouement foreshadowing death to come → introduces a SOMBRE + MELANCHOLIC MOOD
-the green willow tree is a SYMBOL of mourning and sorrow, and the garland symbolises honour and celebration, indicating that the only celebration or achievement for Desdemona is her death which characterises her as a TRAGIC VICTIM
-Desdemona seems strangely aware of her own fate, the natural order of things is seemingly about to be restored and this is Desdemona and Emilia’s last interaction in life
Act 4, Scene 3
‘that there be women who abuse their husbands..in such gross kind?’
-exemplifies Desdemona’s naivety and innocence suggests that she is incapable of considering being disloyal, makes her death seem even more UNJUST
Act 5, Scene 2
‘I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak: my mistress lies murder’d in her bed.’
-Indicates that Emilia’s loyalty is not devoted to Iago, but in fact lies with Desdemona, her mistress that she is willing to put herself in jeopardy for as she knows she is innocent
-Highlights Emilia’s outspoken and defiant nature against men, contrary to the loyal and doting wife she may have initially appeared as
-CHALLENGING THE SOCIAL ORDER even after Desdemona’s death
