How is Desdemona described?

Like Othello, Desdemona contradicts early descriptions of her character when she first appears in the play. Her father tells us that she is his ‘jewel’ (I. 3.196), ‘a maiden never bold, / of spirit‘ (I. 3.95–6), modest and opposed to marriage, afraid to look on Othello.

Desdemona is a strong and independent woman. She spoke for her herself, refused to be crushed under the feet of patriarchy. However, her position as a woman made her vulnerable. Though she asserted her individual personality but under the impact of a male dominant society she could not exercise her freedom.

Even when called a “whore,” she remains loyal to him and resolves to love him despite his misunderstanding of her. As Othello mistreats her, Desdemona’s feelings are unwaning: “My love doth so approve him / That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns,” (Act Four, Scene Three).

Examine the view that, in this passage and elsewhere in the play, Desdemona is presented as a ‘typically naïve young woman whose love is little more than hero worship‘. … This adjective shows how much Desdemona loves Othello, as she has described him in the highest way possible, and this is an example of romantic love.

She is an embodiment of virtue, purity, gentleness, sympathy and kind-heartedness. She is indeed, far from perfect and is not without Faults, but she wins the profound admiration and deep sympathy of the reader and fascinates him by her various qualities and graces.

Desdemona does seem to be an all rounded person however it is her weaknesses, which brings about her downfall. Desdemona shows blatant signs throughout the whole play that she fails to realise she is being manipulated by the main vice character Iago. … Another weakness Desdemona faces is the mistreatment of men.

Desdemona is extremely naïve, but we can believe that she has been faithful and has never thought of straying from her husband. … The fact that Desdemona is naïve is not her fault because in Venetian society wives and daughters were cloistered.

His paternal love of Desdemona has been wise. He rejected the unworthy Roderigo, as we see when he sternly reminds the failed suitor that Desdemona ‘is not for thee’ (I. 1.97). Brabantio has also allowed Desdemona to reject suitors herself.

At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare portrays Desdemona in a negative light. Our first impression, derives from Iago in Act 1 Scene 1. … Ironically, Desdemona is “a maiden never bold”, from Brabantio’s point of view, but later in the play she challenges her Father.

Desdemona was the daughter of a senator, a well regarded, upper class man. … Social position was an influence in Othello’s belief of Desdemona’s betrayal, as he thought that he wasn’t good enough for her.

The play, then, depicts Desdemona contradictorily as a self-effacing, faithful wife and as a bold, independent personality.

Desdemona’s innocence is part of her undoing because she never stops to think about how her behavior might appear to someone who is viewing it with suspicion. Instead she assumes that everyone will see her integrity and purity. … Here, Desdemona pleads for her life in the moments before Othello kills her.

Desdemona has been criticised as a two dimensional character who is simply too good to be true; a paragon of virtue who embodies everything that is pure and true in humanity.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as is virtue. Such is the case of the virtue of the character Desdemona, from the play The Tragedy of Othello, by William Shakespeare. … But the overall character of Desdemona is of high stature, it is her very innocence that makes her a victim of circumstance.

Desdemona was the faithful wife of Othello in Shakespeare’s play. She was kindhearted and wished for all to be well with the male characters, and it is her sympathy towards Cassio which made Iago’s lies more credible. It is her naïve nature that made her an easy target for the antagonist in the play.

Trapped by Iago, Othello comes to believe that his wife is unfaithful to him. He thinks he must kill her to prevent her further adultery. At her death Desdemona tells a lie that she had killed herself. … Her lie is a lie of love and sheds light on the whole story, making it noble and dignified.

In consequences, suspicion in the mind of Othello makes its roots deeper. Iago proves this scene a key edge for his success and downfall of his opposition Desdemona, Cassio and Othello. So, it is the fault of Desdemona that she let herself be killed. Because she thinks that she does everything perfectly.

Desdemona ( DEZ-di-MOH-nə) is an inner satellite of Uranus.

Othello is a Moorish prince living in Venice as an ambassador of the Moors. After time in Venice, Othello is appointed general in the Venetian Army. His officer Iago tricks him into believing that his wife Desdemona is having an affair with his Lieutenant, Michael Cassio.

Othello won Desdemona’s love by telling her stories of his past adventures. Desdemona chooses to go with her husband to Cyprus and feels loyalty to him over her father.

Desdemona continues to eschew sex but sometimes gives in, as much from her own need as Lefty’s. She gets pregnant and gives birth to a daughter, Zoë, who had no birth defects.

Desdemona enters, and Brabanzio asks her to tell those present to whom she owes the most obedience. … Desdemona, however, confirms that she married Othello of her own free will and that, like her own mother before her, she must shift her primary loyalty from father to husband.

Cassio describes to Montano Othello’s new wife, Desdemona, with respect and a little awe as “our great captain’s captain” (74).

Desdemona has more to say than Othello. She explains that, contrary to what has been implied, Othello has not kidnapped her against her will. She says she fell in love with him because of the stories he told her about his adventures as a military man. She loves him for his “qualities,” such as courage and honor.

They say that she has eloped with the Moor and is currently “making the beast with two backs” with him. They tell him that Brabantio will have crude animal grandchildren. You just studied 12 terms!

How does Iago describe Cassio’s departure? Iago says that he does not like the fact that Cassio is speaking to Desdemona in private. Iago also says that the fact that Cassio leaves when he sees Othello coming makes Cassio look like he has something to hide.

Brabantio warns Othello, “She has deceived her father, and may thee” (289), but Othello is certain of Desdemona’s faithfulness.

He assures Roderigo that everything is going according to plan. After telling Roderigo to go, Iago finishes telling the audience the plot that is to come: he will convince Emilia to speak to Desdemona on Cassio’s behalf, and he will arrange for Othello to witness Cassio’s attempts to woo Desdemona.

The Story. Desdemona, a young aristocrat of Venice, has just eloped with Othello, a hired general in the Venetian army—and a Moor. … For service to his general, Iago is appointed Othello’s new lieutenant. Stunned by her husband’s accusations, Desdemona pleads with Othello—first for his compassion, then for her life.

The social status of each of the three female characters in Othello determines how they are treated dramatically: Upper-class Desdemona is honoured and revered, which is why Othello’s brutality towards her is so shocking.

Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca are all treated poorly amongst the other men in Venice. During this time the text was set in, women in society were merely born and brought up to marry, bring up children and tend to housework. This was the only occupation that the women were allowed and taught to do.

She is unwittingly responsible for her friend’s death because, she never mentions the handkerchief until Desdemona has been killed. … Desdemona’s death is caused because Emilia is naive and has poor judgment of Iago. Iago believes that Emilia is promiscuous this sparks his jealousy toward Othello.

She is really an unfortunate woman. … An innocent woman like her is a misfit for the society which is fill of hypocrisy, cruelty and jealousy. She is a victim of circumstances, but if she were tactful, she could avoid such a tragic consequence. Thus, Desdemona is partially responsible for her tragic end.

Desdemona can be seen as both a tragic victim but also a tragic heroine: she endures suffering that is greatly out of proportion to her mistakes but also lacks the wisdom to see that her effort to reunite Othello and Cassio as friends is the background to Iago’s manipulation of Othello.

Throughout the play, Desdemona’s name is invariably accompanied by positive adjectives. For instance, Othello refers to her as “gentle Desdemona” (Shakespeare, 1.2. 25),2 Cassio calls her “divine Desdemona” (2.1. 73) as well as “virtuous Desdemona” (2.3.

William Shakespeare is known as a master playwright, creating characters such as Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet and Ophelia, but Shakespeare’s Desdemona is usually viewed as one-dimensional. Shakespeare’s Othello is riddled with complex characters, of which Desdemona most definitely falls in the category.