Theme 2 (Love) Critics

Question 1

F.R. Leavis (1952):

Answer 1

“Othello’s love for Desdemona is ultimately self-regarding; it is the love of possession and idealization, rather than genuine understanding.”

Question 2

Helen Gardner (1955):

Answer 2

“The love of Othello and Desdemona is a love of innocence and simplicity, destined to be overwhelmed by the complexities of the world.”

Question 3

Ruth Vanita (2000):

Answer 3

“Love in Othello is simultaneously empowering and destructive, a force that elevates the characters but also precipitates their downfall.”