The balance of power in Desdemona and Othello’s marriage is unusual for their time period. It is traditionally expected at this time that the man courts the woman, and generally is the one in charge of making decisions. Desdemona turns this stereotype on its head, reversing the roles on several occasions. Othello is a friend of her father, who often has him over to tell stories of his conquests. Overhearing these stories spark Desdemona’s interest in Othello. She goes out of her way to find him and convinces him to tell her these tales first-hand. In this way she claims Othello as her own before he has the chance to court her. Othello seems to only express his love of Desdemona to others, rather than her, as it seems he has created an image
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When her character is first introduced in Act 1 her father is in the middle of accusing her new husband, Othello, of using witchcraft to convince her to marry him as there is no way his innocent daughter would ever willingly marry a grown black man. When brought in to confirm or deny the accusations made by her father, Desdemona immediately stands up for herself and her newly wed. She admits that she has willingly betrayed her father by marrying Othello behind his back and he states that her allegiance no longer lies with her father, but with the man she has married,, “…I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband. And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father…” (Act 1 Scene 3). just has her mother had done so before her (find where this is in the play). In Act 2 Scene 1 whilst awaiting her husband’s arrival, Desdemona is waiting with Iago. Iago goes on this tangent about how women are deceptive and hypocritical (insert quote from play). She simply laughs it off and plays along with Iago before going off with Cassio to discuss Othello’s arrival. Simply by talking to these men and playing around Desdemona proves that she does not depend on Othello to be social. She is portrayed as more than just a wife in this scene, she is respected and talked to by Iago and the others just as they would act around …show more content…
She remains one of the only female characters in a Shakespearian play to be referred to as a warrior in the text, this happens once when Othello greets her on the battlefront of Cyprus in Act 2 Scene 1, and once again by herself in Scene 3 Act 4. Joan Holmer, a professor at Georgetown University, suggests that while Othello, “…represents a literal warrior in both the Christian and secular senses, Desdemona is literally a warrior in the Christian sense, with faith as her shield.” (Holmer 2). Perhaps her bravest moment in the play occurs after Othello strikes her, Desdemona while shocked and afraid keeps a level head. She orders Emilia to put her wedding sheets on her bed and knowing that Othello may attempt to murder her lets Emilia know that she wishes to buried in the sheets if something happens to her (Holmer 3). Desdemona’s bravest moments are fueled by her blind love of her husband Othello. Her trust and devotion to him leave her with no fear as to what is to come, even though what is to come is not so pleasant for
When her character is first introduced in Act 1 her father is in the middle of accusing her new husband, Othello, of using witchcraft to convince her to marry him as there is no way his innocent daughter would ever willingly marry a grown black man. When brought in to confirm or deny the accusations made by her father, Desdemona immediately stands up for herself and her newly wed. She admits that she has willingly betrayed her father by marrying Othello behind his back and he states that her allegiance no longer lies with her father, but with the man she has married,, “…I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband. And so much duty as my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father…” (Act 1 Scene 3). just has her mother had done so before her (find where this is in the play). In Act 2 Scene 1 whilst awaiting her husband’s arrival, Desdemona is waiting with Iago. Iago goes on this tangent about how women are deceptive and hypocritical (insert quote from play). She simply laughs it off and plays along with Iago before going off with Cassio to discuss Othello’s arrival. Simply by talking to these men and playing around Desdemona proves that she does not depend on Othello to be social. She is portrayed as more than just a wife in this scene, she is respected and talked to by Iago and the others just as they would act around …show more content…
She remains one of the only female characters in a Shakespearian play to be referred to as a warrior in the text, this happens once when Othello greets her on the battlefront of Cyprus in Act 2 Scene 1, and once again by herself in Scene 3 Act 4. Joan Holmer, a professor at Georgetown University, suggests that while Othello, “…represents a literal warrior in both the Christian and secular senses, Desdemona is literally a warrior in the Christian sense, with faith as her shield.” (Holmer 2). Perhaps her bravest moment in the play occurs after Othello strikes her, Desdemona while shocked and afraid keeps a level head. She orders Emilia to put her wedding sheets on her bed and knowing that Othello may attempt to murder her lets Emilia know that she wishes to buried in the sheets if something happens to her (Holmer 3). Desdemona’s bravest moments are fueled by her blind love of her husband Othello. Her trust and devotion to him leave her with no fear as to what is to come, even though what is to come is not so pleasant for