Othello : Character of Desdemona for higher classes

2. Sketch the character of Desdemona.

Ans.      Of all the heroines that the pen of Shakespeare has brought into this world, probably, Desdemona is the most down to earth, simple, faithful and dutiful wife that seems to have no earthly desires except the nobility of her nature she is born with. She is brave and bold in the decision of eloping and marrying Othello, a Moor. But she also has the insight into the moral character of the Moor. Desdemona is in deep love for the character and personality of Othello.

When asked for whether Othello used charms and black magic to corrupt her nature, she responds her father in the manner that she will obey her husband as her mother obeyed her father. She even shows her inclination to accompany her husband wherever he goes: "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".

The life of this delicate wonderfully faithful lady is supposed to bear the fruits of her innocent and pure love but the treacherous cunningness of Iago combined with the foolishness of Othello plays its role in ruining the happy state of her love life that the flower withers away so soon to fill our hearts with the pangs of her pain and misery. The way she is killed at the hands of her own beloved Othello causes the hearts to feel the pain and agony of her soul. Her murder brings about the tragedy of Othello and shrinks the world for him. All ends and we are up with a mixed feeling for of hatred and pity for the cruel deed of Othello, not the Moor but foolish general onwards.

Desdemona has a halo effect throughout the play, she is the kindhearted and willing to help others in need. Iago's plans sets in motion when he suggest that Desdemona put in a good word for Cassio so he could get his position back. Once again her deception was done with only good-hearted intentions. Desdemona is at fault in her wifely conduct and innocently supplies the evidence that leads to her own death through assertion of her own independence. The ways she tried to convince Othello to give cassio back his position was not the smartest way. Her honesty would never have been questions if she was completely honest, more open with her husband and lest careless about the things she said and did.

Desdemona became a passive victim, her account of her mother's maid Barbara and her willow song proved her passivity. Desdemona knows of her impending death, but she is too good and too devout to do anything about it. Her singing the willow song foreshadows her death, and proves she's given up hope. Love can make people do some crazy things, and love can make one blind to the truth around him.

Desdemona loved Othello so much she was willing to go through the pain he was putting her through. She cannot help being made into a sign, and she cannot determine her signification. To what extent can we control ourselves, and love.

Desdemona is the martyr of the play the tragic female heroine who ends up being sacrificed to satisfy to fates. Desdemona, although an intelligent woman seeking liberation, fell into Iago's trap because she loved Othello and was upset that he had considered her a "whore." Desdemona's naivety, deceptions with good intentions and her passivity all play parts in her downfall, with the help of Iago's evil schemes. Woman in time depend for their class status from their affiliation with man, and Desdemona throws away that status and the protection is affords when she marries outside the categories her cultures allow. Since she desired something different, she was punished not only in the lost of status but even her life. The woman's desire is punished and ultimately its monstrous inspiration as well. Desdemona became "helplessly passive." This is the reason why she couldn't stop her death and was able to do nothing whatsoever.

(Collected and assembled from internet)