Shakespeare’s play Othello touches upon the main themes of betrayal, sex, and racism. During the Elizabethan era these themes were used frequently by Shakespeare to hook his audience. Many would say that Shakespeare was attempting to either create a strong bond between the audience and the character, or was trying to spark his audience’s interest. Desdemona the main character’s wife was created in an attempt to compare her to an idealistic Elizabethan woman. An idealistic woman of Desdemona’s rank would be privileged with an education from a young age, would marry a man of the same race, expected to marry while young and protect their virginity for marriage, and that the woman would be inferior towards the men in their lives.
Desdemona’s character …show more content…
To you I am bound for life and education.
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you. You are the lord of duty.
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,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord” (1.3.180-189)
Desdemona is also described as an adventurous free spirit who would sometimes sneak off from chores to finish listening to Othello’s stories. Woman in the victorian era weren’t allowed to just sneak away from chores doing so would most likely get them into trouble. The women in the Victorian era also didn’t have as many rights a Desdemona had, for example a woman in the Victorian era were expected to stay quiet and not to speak unless permitted to by the man in her life.
“My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs.
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful.
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my …show more content…
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful.
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake.
She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them.” (1.3.129-171)
While she has both Othello and Brabantio backing her, here, Desdemona continues to assert her will in a highly public forum among men. Desdemona and Othello also portrayed their love and devotion towards each other, although not excessive sexual passion.
“That I did love the Moor to live with him
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued
Even to the very quality of my lord.
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honor and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.”
Desdemona’s character …show more content…
To you I am bound for life and education.
My life and education both do learn me
How to respect you. You are the lord of duty.
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,
So much I challenge that I may profess
Due to the Moor my lord” (1.3.180-189)
Desdemona is also described as an adventurous free spirit who would sometimes sneak off from chores to finish listening to Othello’s stories. Woman in the victorian era weren’t allowed to just sneak away from chores doing so would most likely get them into trouble. The women in the Victorian era also didn’t have as many rights a Desdemona had, for example a woman in the Victorian era were expected to stay quiet and not to speak unless permitted to by the man in her life.
“My story being done,
She gave me for my pains a world of sighs.
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful.
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my …show more content…
She swore, in faith, twas strange, 'twas passing strange,
'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful.
She wished she had not heard it, yet she wished
That heaven had made her such a man. She thanked me,
And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,
I should but teach him how to tell my story,
And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake.
She loved me for the dangers I had passed,
And I loved her that she did pity them.” (1.3.129-171)
While she has both Othello and Brabantio backing her, here, Desdemona continues to assert her will in a highly public forum among men. Desdemona and Othello also portrayed their love and devotion towards each other, although not excessive sexual passion.
“That I did love the Moor to live with him
My downright violence and storm of fortunes
May trumpet to the world. My heart's subdued
Even to the very quality of my lord.
I saw Othello's visage in his mind,
And to his honor and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,
A moth of peace, and he go to the war,
The rites for which I love him are bereft me
And I a heavy interim shall support
By his dear absence. Let me go with him.”