Veronica Brasil

02-02-05

Engl 339

DESDEMONA

After reading Shakespeare’s Othello, it became evident to me that Desdemona seems to be the most passive kind of [SM1] victim in the entire play. She is smothered, deprived of breath and of words by her husband[SM2] . She becomes overwhelmed by Othello’s insane jealousy and physical strength. But before Desdemona’s murder, she is remarkable for showing more obedience when Othello is not around and more assertiveness when he is[SM3] .

An example of this would be in Desdemona’s first speech when she defends her recent marriage with Othello; she is confident and forthright. When she is giving this speech, she is the only woman there, surrounded by Othello, her father Bar[SM4] bantio, and the duke. But she is not ashamed to assert her belief in the strength and validity of her desires and actions. It is unfortunate though for Desdemona when Iago recognizes her forthrightness and uses it against her. He exploits her willingness to demand and justify what she wants by making Cassio her cause and, at the same time, Othello’s enemy[SM5] . In act III, scene iii, Desdemona persists on asking Othello to forgive Cassio, in spite of Othello’s rising dismay, until he declares, “I will deny thee nothing” (act III, scene iii. 41-48). Her courage becomes apparent when she refuses to search for the missing handkerchief in act III, scene iv[SM6] . Also in act IV, scene i, with her willingness to shout back at Othello as he abuses her; and in her insistence of her innocence in act V, scene ii. Her boldness seems to enrage Othello even more, as what he takes to be shameless lies convince him that she is unremorseful in what he believes to be her sin[SM7] .

The terrible effect of Othello’s brutality is obvious in the scenes with Desdemona and Emilia. Emilia is pessimistic and rude, and she gives Desdemona every possible opportunity to bad-mouth Othello. For example, in act III, scene iv, she says “men are all but stomachs, and we all but food. / They eat us hungrily, and when they are full, / they belch us” (act III, scene iv. 103-106). She insults Othello later when she says “He called her a whore. A beggar in his drink / Could not have laid such terms upon his callet” (act IV, scene ii. 119-120). Desdemona, however, despite of all that Emilia tells her, never says anything worse to or about Othello than “Heaven keep the monster from Othello’s mind” (act III, scene iv. 162). Desdemona does not speak ill of her husband, even as she shows the strain of his terrible abuse. And even on her deathbed, after he strangled her, she denied that it was not him who did it. This shows the loyalty she had toward Othello throughout the entire play[SM8] .

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[SM1]delete

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[SM2]good sentence

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[SM3]nice observation

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[SM4]ra

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[SM5]excellent observation of Iago’s possible inferences

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[SM6]good!

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[SM7]A rich transition from support from the previous point to the next observation

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[SM8]Veronica-- this is a brilliant insight and one that has further implications—everybody else likes to badmouth people behind their back and sweet talk them up front. Another incident you might consider is when he slaps her in public. There she does not confront him in order to save his face before the others. This is a valuable contribution to understanding Shakespeare’s character. Thanks!

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