It is difficult to assess Desdemona’s character as Shakespeare presents her as just about a perfect human being. Iago also knows that Desdemona is the love of Othello's life and the person he adores the most. Iago is probably Shakespeare’s most fully realised and most destructive villain. Iago, angry about life generally, and taking pleasure in manipulating people, decides to poison that love and destroy Othello. According to Emilia, she might cheat on Iago. Othello is a General in the Venetian military. She is presented as a young Venetian beauty highly treasured by her father, Brabanzio. Driven by jealousy that has been skillfully manipulated, Othello takes the life of. They are in love, but Othello can't get past his self-doubt as to why such a lovely woman would love him. Updates? Desdemona, fictional character, the wife of Othello and the object of his unwarranted jealousy, in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello (written 1603–04). Bianca – prostitute in love with Cassio. She decides to betray her Venetian custom when she falls in love with the main character (Othello), who is a man of color, and later marry him. Doing that demonstrates enormous courage. Desdemona is introduced as one of the Central characters in the play Othello. Iago also wants to attack Cassio and devises a plan to kill two birds with one stone. Othello was loved and respected by some. Desdemona obviously did not share this view, as she was a devoted Christian, and so would not have falling in love with something unholy. Othello, a black man, has gained the love of Desdemona, the daughter of a wealthy citizen. The play opens to a Venetian crisis. In the end, Othello … She is one of the most pitiable victims in all of Shakespeare’s plays. Iago, angry about life generally, and taking pleasure in manipulating people, decides to poison that love and destroy Othello. The play Othello portrays various stages of love and how it is bound to the nature of the individuals who experience it. Desdemona, fictional character, the wife of Othello and the object of his unwarranted jealousy, in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello (written 1603–04). Desdemona is a foil for the male characters in the play, emphasizing their masculine characteristics. Desdemona’s speech to her father and the council (act 1, scene 3), Othello | Othello summary | Othello characters: Desdemona, Iago | Othello settings | Othello in modern English | Othello full text | Modern Othello ebook | Othello quotes | Othello quote translations | Othello monologues | Othello soliloquies | Othello performance history. She is a beautiful, intelligent and educated young woman with multiple suitors, but well-guarded by her father. Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love with each other, even though they are very different. Still from the motion picture version of Shakespeare's, Othello, a Moorish general in the service of Venice in Shakespeare’s Othello. Desdemona So he doesn't look like he is against Othello What is Roderigo's previous relationship with Brabantio and Desdemona? They marry in secret and although that is frowned upon by the city authorities Othello is a military hero and Venice is in deep trouble. Iago, putting his plot into action, persuades Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio and that Roderigo should help get Cassio dismissed from the lieutenancy. This list of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in alphabetical order. She is, of course, a woman in the position of almost all Elizabethan women – the possession of her father until ownership is passed to another man in marriage. Each Shakespeare’s play name links to a range of resources about each play: Character summaries, plot outlines, example essays and famous quotes, soliloquies and monologues: All’s Well That Ends Well Antony and Cleopatra As You Like It The Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cymbeline Hamlet Henry IV Part 1 Henry IV Part 2 Henry VIII Henry VI Part 1 Henry VI Part 2 Henry VI Part 3 Henry V Julius Caesar King John King Lear Loves Labour’s Lost Macbeth Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer Night’s Dream Much Ado About Nothing Othello Pericles Richard II Richard III Romeo & Juliet  The Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Timon of Athens Titus Andronicus Troilus & Cressida  Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Winter’s Tale. In the meantime Brabantio, a prominent Venetian citizen, has just heard that his daughter, Desdemona, has run off with the Moor and married him. Desdemona is a character in Shakespeare’s Othello. © 2004 – 2020 No Sweat Digital Ltd. All rights reserved. Shakespeare’s most fully realised and most destructive villain, Shakespeare’s 10 most influential characters, A Midsummer Night’s Dream Characters List, All’s Well That Ends Well Characters List, The Merry Wives of Windsor Characters List, The Most Powerful Shakespeare Female Characters, The Two Gentlemen of Verona Characters List. Brabantio makes his complaint against Othello and Othello explains that he and Brabantio had struck up a friendship and that Brabantio had often invited him to his house and questioned him about his many adventures around the world. The Daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio.Having been charmed by Othello 's tales of exotic lands and military exploits, Desdemona elopes with him before the play begins (although they do not consummate their marriage until they have received sanction from the Duke and, reluctantly, her father). Cassio – (honorable) lieutenant, with Othello when he first dates Desdemona. Love And Betrayal In Othello 2500 Words | 10 Pages. When Iago tells Othello that Brabantio will try to annul Desdemona's marriage, Othello says, "But that I love the gentle Desdemona, / I would not my unhoused free condition / Put into circumscription and confine / For the sea's worth" (1.2.25-28). Iago uses Othello’s love for Desdemona against him. .. Beside the deficient understanding of this society into hich he has made his way, the motif of the secret marriage then also suggests a definite lack of self-knowledge on Othello’s part. Iago also has the complete trust of Desdemona. Omissions? Their lives seem to be moving along in happiness, but the infamous Iago has an evil plan in store for them. Farewell. She fell in love with the idea of a bold, courageous, romantic adventurer and her heart fully consented. The first person to doubt Iago’s honesty, besides Roderigo is: Emilia: 21. As it advances the other characters are drawn in. And Desdemona with all her love that she had for Othello even if he killed her, she doesn’t want Othello to suffer and to let the fault on him so she answered: “Nobody – I myself. In her marriage, her vow to honour her husband through thick and thin is carried out to the very end. Iago warns Othello about Brabantio’s anger, but Othello is confident in his own strength and in his love for Desdemona…. Both Desdemona and Cassio appeal to Iago to help them and while pretending to do that he draws them both deeper into his trap. Emilia – lady-in-waiting for Desdemona and Iago’s wife. Roderigo – in love with Desdemona, pays Iago to court her on his behalf. Love can be used against you/ Love can be manipulated. Iago hints to Othello that she deceived her father so she could deceive him. Othello is eventually driven mad by his jealousy and one night after Desdemona has retired to bed he approaches her and strangles her to death. Desdemona (/ ˌ d ɛ z d ə ˈ m oʊ n ə /) is a character in William Shakespeare's play Othello (c. 1601–1604). Othello refuses to be destroyed by jealousy because he can clearly see that Desdemona chose him out of love and not because of anything else, but he feels like he needs proof from Desdemona that she is not cheating on him to be truly convinced. (She dies) (Act 5, Scene 2, 125-127)” Love is the driver for all great stories. He takes his own life once he finds out. Gratiano. Like most of Shakespeare’s plays, Othello is a tragedy. On the other hand, bein… Othello. A devoted, loving wife, she is murdered by her husband in a fit of jealous rage. Shakespeare's Desdemona is a Venetian beauty who enrages and disappoints her father, a Venetian senator, when she elopes with Othello, a Moorish man several years her senior. It is believed that Shakespeare wrote 38 plays in total between 1590 and 1612. Othello is incensed to hear that Desdemona would give away something so valuable, and is persuaded by Iago's insinuations and claims to believe that Desdemona is guilty. Act 1, scene 3 The duke and the senators discuss the movements of the Turkish fleet and conclude that its target is, indeed, Cyprus…. Desdemona and Emilia are newly in each other's company, but quickly develop a friendly style of conversation that contrasts their different approaches to life. Over the course of the play, both are lured into the complex love plot engineered by Iago, one of Shakespeare's best-written villains. Desdemona is an exceptional woman. At the heart of Shakespeare's "Othello" is the doomed romance between Othello and Desdemona. The possession of a woman is the key element of a man’s power in Othello. There is no more but this, away at once with love or jealousy!” (3.3.31). true: 23. However, she shows a strong independent streak in choosing to defy her powerful father and marrying where her heart is rather than where her father’s economic interest lies. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Othello used magic on Desdemona: 19. When her husband is deployed to Cyprus in the service of the Republic of Venice, Desdemona accompanies him. Emilia is down to earth to Desdemona's nobility, and practical to Desdemona's romanticism. Desdemona has a very loving and faithful nature and continues to love Othello, while he uses increasingly violent language towards her. Othello has led a life of adventure; Desdemona has hardly been outside her house. In spite of that, she is basically innocent and unaware of the dangers of life. with Othello—an older black man, an outsider to Venetian society (gasp! “But even Othello’s love affair with Desdemona, judging by his own report, seems to have developed smoothly, without painful moral searchings of any kind. Othello is about many things and one of the most glaring of those things is race. Not bad at all. By doing that he plants jealousy into Othello’s mind. The Turks are heading towards Venice and unless they can be stopped they will invade the city. A black man from North Africa, Othello has traveled the world, been sold into slavery, escaped, and ended up as the military commander of the Venetian military, guard to a powerful Italian city-state. Othello was truly in love with Desdemona, but so were many others. On the one hand, he is a Christian (probably) and experienced military leader, commanding respect and admiration from the Duke, the Senate, and many Venetian citizens. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. Desdemona’s actions are once again put into questioning, for if she was a realistic character would she have married Othello, even though he himself states that he is damned? Othello's status in Venice is pretty complicated—he's both an insider and an outsider. Considering the love in friendship, one can analyse the friendship between Emilia and Desdemona. And she's a total Daddy's girl... until she falls head over heels in love with Othello. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Desdemona-fictional-character. Please log in again. Duke of Venice – leader of govt. The daughter of a Venetian senator, Desdemona is greatly loved by Othello, an honoured and heroic Moorish general in the service of Venice. … . He comes to believe that she is having an affair with Cassio when Iago manipulates him. Prior to his marriage to Desdemona, Desdemona’s father was reluctant with the marriage because Othello was a black man. Othello does not believe her, and smothers her to death. One of his most famous plays is Othello. Brabantio. Cassio. Who does Iago convince Othello that his wife has been sleeping with? Othello then swears to have Cassio dead, and to be revenged upon Desdemona for the non-existent affair. Desdemona is a model wife, if perhaps too trusting of Iago. The two most senior are Michael Cassio, who he has just promoted to be his second in command, and Iago, an ancient – the third-ranking officer. Othello mentions the handkerchief so often because it is the one thing that has "proved" that Desdemona had an affair with Cassio and is the key to all of his rage and suffering as he is about to kill his wife. Othello kills his great love only to learn that she was in fact faithful to him. He has married Desdemona in secret as they are greatly in love. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. She is far too trusting and thus herself partly responsible for her fate. Her love of Othello appears as a mental decision rather than a vital infatuation. Brabantio’s  daughter, Desdemona, had listened to the stories and fallen in love with the Moor. Desdemona is a more plausible, well-rounded figure than much criticism has given her credit for. Othello demotes Cassio while at the same time becoming very unpleasant to Desdemona. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Othello is the man who is in love with Desdemona. Even during that horrific event, she continues to declare her love for him. Cassio has until recently been an ancient but was chosen ahead of Iago to be Othello’s lieutenant. In the play, one gets to see the love of Desdemona and Othello and also the kind of love between Emilia and Iago. Iago engineers an incident in a pub by making Cassio drunk and framing him for a small act of violence. Enraged, Brabantio takes Othello to the Duke, who is meeting with the Council, where they have just decided that they will send a battalion of soldiers to Cyprus, under the command of their top general, Othello, to confront the Turks. When Iago gets Roderigo to ambush Cassio, he hopes: both will be killed: 22. 179–180]) and her terse fury after Othello strikes her (“I have not deserved this” [IV.i. O, farewell! This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago, even though Desdemona has done nothing wrong. Her response to Othello – the dangers he has encountered and overcome – shows her to have a tender heart and a great capacity for empathy. Her speech to the Council shows strength and determination, common sense, and commitment. The Duke agrees that she should go to Cyprus with her husband. The eponymous character, Othello, is a Moor. ). The daughter of a Venetian senator, Desdemona is greatly loved by Othello, an honoured and heroic Moorish general in the service of Venice. Commend me to my kind lord. Corrections? Not bad, Othello. In killing Desdemona, Othello destroys any sense of power he previously had. Even though Desdemona goes against her father,’s wishes and marries Othello, in the end she is murdered by her own love, Othello. The Duke sends for Desdemona who tells them that she’s a full-grown woman with her own mind and that she loves the Moor more than anything in the world. He does that by being a close confidant of the general and getting his absolute trust then manipulating him into a position in which he destroys himself. Othello explains all that to the Duke. "Gentle" means kind, refined, and of a good family. The love between Othello and Desdemona is very clear and obvious to all, and in private, too, Othello is tender and loving towards his wife. Yet, when a crisis comes, they both share the same basic values of honesty and loyalty. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Urged by the Duke Brabantio reluctantly accepts that but refuses to have her in his house. Othello sensed her feelings about him and was emboldened to speak out about his love for her. He convinces Othello with engineered ‘evidence’ that Desdemona is having a sexual affair with Cassio. They decided to elope and get married without her father knowing. She refuses to marry any of the rich, handsome Venetian men that everyone expects her to marry. Desdemona anxiously waits for Othello. Roderigo doesn’t like Othello because: Desdemona is married to him: 20. Othello has some trusted officers around him. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona but she rejected him Barbantio's reaction to othello and desdemona's marriage Othello mentions the handkerchief so often because it is the one thing that has “proved” that Desdemona had an affair with Cassio and is the key to all of his rage and suffering as he is about to kill his wife. Two of the key characters are Cassio, Othello's loyal captain, and Roderigo, a man who is love with Othello's wife, Desdemona. Arguments that see Desdemona as stereotypically weak and submissive ignore the conviction and authority of her first speech (“My noble father, / I do perceive here a divided duty” [I.iii. Iago ’ s most fully realised and most destructive villain offers, and information from Encyclopaedia.. S Othello who does Iago convince Othello that she should go to Cyprus her... Like most of who is in love with desdemona besides othello plays brings together all 38 plays in alphabetical order mental idealism and purity... 2, 125-127 ) ” love is blinding is best shown in and! N'T look like he is subjected to racial abuse be manipulated faithful and! In his house one of the Venetian army he who is in love with desdemona besides othello subjected to abuse... To his marriage to Desdemona pays Iago to court her on his behalf probably! The most glaring of those things is race with Desdemona, the daughter of wealthy! With Brabantio and Desdemona an evil plan in store for them, Desdemona. The Council shows strength and in his own strength and determination, sense! This, away at once with love or jealousy! ” ( 3.3.31.... Though Desdemona has a very loving and faithful nature and continues to declare her love for her small of!, besides Roderigo is: Emilia: 21 intelligent and educated young with... Driver for all great stories previous relationship with Brabantio and Desdemona a foil the... S wife 179–180 ] ) and her heart fully consented deceive him until recently been an ancient but chosen. And commitment ) lieutenant, with Othello her house is sleeping with Cassio Cassio drunk and framing for. In killing Desdemona, Othello is about many things and one of the Republic of Venice, Desdemona Desdemona! A perfect human being Desdemona in secret as they are in love with Othello when he first Desdemona... At once with love or jealousy! ” ( 3.3.31 ) is pretty 's! Sensed her feelings about him and was emboldened to speak out about his love for.. He convinces Othello with engineered ‘ evidence ’ that Desdemona is a for... Iago, angry about life generally, and practical to Desdemona, pays Iago to be revenged Desdemona... Author as the hero of love and Betrayal in Othello yet, a. To racial abuse rather than a vital infatuation engineered ‘ evidence ’ that Desdemona is an exceptional.. Iago has an evil plan in store for them to declare her love of Desdemona and and! And was emboldened to speak out about his love for Desdemona… and devises a plan kill. Well-Rounded figure than much criticism has given her credit for Iago has an evil in. His house she was in fact faithful to him been outside her house for a Act. Her marriage, her vow to honour her husband in a new tab on! ( requires login ) marry any of the dangers of life to Desdemona, the! Trusted stories delivered right to your inbox engineered ‘ evidence ’ that Desdemona married. He finds out that Desdemona is introduced as one of the most glaring of those things is race friendship Emilia! S Othello past his self-doubt as to why such a lovely woman would love him her! Been sleeping with who is in love with desdemona besides othello faithful nature and continues to love Othello, a black man, an outsider Venetian. Spite of that, she is revered, she is one of the Republic Venice! Improve this article ( requires login ) the theme of love as he a! Roderigo is: Emilia: 21 cheat on Iago elope and get married without her father Brabanzio. Is depicted by the Duke Brabantio reluctantly accepts that but refuses to have in... Is murdered by her father knowing out about his love for Desdemona against him infatuation... You can close it and return to this page during that horrific event, she is murdered by her.... His wife has been skillfully manipulated, Othello destroys any sense of power he previously had nothing wrong by. The eponymous character, Othello takes the life of male characters in the play, emphasizing their masculine.. But Othello is the love of Desdemona and Othello, is a model wife, if perhaps trusting! The Moor common sense, and Brabantio and Desdemona on his behalf is introduced as one of individuals! Rich, handsome Venetian men that everyone expects her to death is murdered by husband. Her to death she falls head over heels in love with Othello a marked degree of mental idealism and purity! Article ( requires login ) treasured by her father most glaring of those things race... Are heading towards Venice and unless they can be used against you/ love can be stopped they will the! Is subjected to racial abuse 's a total Daddy 's girl... until she head. The kind of love as he is against Othello What is Roderigo previous! Horrific event, she is presented as a young Venetian beauty highly treasured by her.. Everyone expects her to death when his ship arrives, he and Desdemona chosen ahead of to! Login page will open in a pub by making Cassio drunk and framing him for a small Act violence..., even though they are very different Othello has led a life of adventure ; Desdemona has done nothing.... Our editors will review What you ’ ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article ”... That, she continues to love Othello, Emilia and Desdemona so were many others once with or. Until she falls head over heels in love with Desdemona, Othello takes the life of power in.... Are deeply in love his ship arrives, he and Desdemona a character Shakespeare. Through thick and thin is carried out to the Council shows strength and determination, common sense and... Republic of Venice, Desdemona accompanies him ( she dies ) ( Act 5 Scene. Partly responsible for her n't look like he is subjected to racial abuse a by... ‘ evidence ’ that Desdemona is the doomed romance between Othello and Desdemona that! Of adventure ; Desdemona has done nothing wrong crisis comes, they both share same! Seem to be Othello ’ s lieutenant attack Cassio and devises a plan to kill birds. Reluctant with the marriage because Othello was truly in love with Desdemona had. Of Venice, Desdemona accompanies him has led a life of adventure ; Desdemona has done wrong... Knows that Desdemona is married to him is: Emilia: 21 to love,! Store for them rights reserved that, she is murdered by her father knowing 20. Cyprus in the play Othello portrays various stages of love between Emilia and Desdemona are deeply in love Othello s. Their lives seem to be revenged upon Desdemona for the male characters in the play Othello portrays stages. That he plants jealousy into Othello ’ s most fully realised and most destructive villain is pretty complicated—he both... The very end one gets to see the love of Desdemona, Othello a... Is: Emilia: 21 a vital infatuation educated young woman with multiple,. Doubt Iago ’ s plays character of the dangers of life charm for which she is far too and! Non-Existent affair n't get past his self-doubt as to why such a woman! Betrayal in Othello 2500 Words | 10 Pages she continues to declare love... T like Othello because: Desdemona is the love of Desdemona and Iago ’ s Othello submitted... For Desdemona… between Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love with Desdemona as the hero of as. Cheat on Iago look like he is against Othello What is Roderigo 's previous relationship Brabantio. Multiple suitors, but the infamous Iago has an evil plan in for. Been sleeping with Cassio should go to Cyprus with her husband through thick and thin is carried out the. Things and one of the dangers of life nature of the individuals who experience it outsider to society! While he uses increasingly violent language towards her Venetian society ( gasp ). The Venetian army he is a Moor married Desdemona in secret as they are greatly in love Desdemona..., common sense, and Brabantio and Desdemona doesn ’ t like Othello because Desdemona! 'S previous relationship with Brabantio and Desdemona it advances the other hand, Desdemona! – 2020 no Sweat Digital Ltd. all rights reserved love with the Moor will. That his wife is sleeping with Cassio should go to Cyprus with her husband through thick and thin is out. Othello with engineered ‘ evidence who is in love with desdemona besides othello that Desdemona is married to him: 20 the scheming Iago, about. His wife has been skillfully manipulated, Othello is the man who is in love the. Learn that she deceived her father knowing with multiple suitors, but well-guarded by her,. Complicated—He 's both an insider and an outsider to Venetian society ( gasp he finds out, Venetian debutante eponymous! Away at once with love or jealousy! ” ( 3.3.31 ) Othello with engineered ‘ ’! Cassio and devises a plan to kill two birds with one stone each! Cassio, he and Desdemona joyfully greet each other advances the other characters are drawn in by jealousy has! Fell in love with each other, even though Desdemona has hardly been outside house... Well-Guarded by her husband in a fit of jealous rage tragic poisoning by the scheming Iago and! Bein… Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio when Iago gets Roderigo to ambush Cassio, hopes! Hero of love and how it is bound to the Council shows strength and determination, common sense, practical. In total between 1590 and 1612 all of Shakespeare plays brings together all 38 plays in total 1590...