The character of Desdemona 2.1 Desdemona in Othello by William Shakespeare Lastly, I will briefly summarize the different characters of Desdemona in both Othello and Otello. Next, I will compare the two characters of Desdemona and will explore in which ways their qualities coincide, or rather, in what extent they differ in their personalities. I will first analyze the figure of Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello and then in Rice’s Otello – one after another. In this paper, I will compare the character of Desdemona in the play Othello by Shakespeare with that in the burlesque opera Otello by Rice. In fact, they both gradually reveal themselves as rather different people. When taking a closer look, however, it becomes apparent that the two characters are not that comparable in their personality as initially seems to be the case. Both become victims of their husbands’ jealousy and finally have to die despite being innocent. Depicted as a rather subordinate role in both the play and the opera, as compared to her husband and the title character Othello/Otello, Desdemona actually portrays the heroine in both stories. Apart from that, it appears that the two characters of Desdemona in both Othello and Otello are quite alike. Yet the most conspicuous alteration is Desdemona’s resurrection after being killed at the end of the play. In Rice’s parody, Otello and Desdemona have a child and Shakespeare’s handkerchief has become a common towel. The opera’s plot is essentially similar to that of the play by Shakespeare, yet a few changes have been made. Watts, Acknowledgements 27), has been the basis for numerous subsequent adaptations, such as the burlesque opera Otello by Thomas D. The tragedy thus represents love and good on the one hand (embodied by Desdemona) and the involved problem of jealousy and revenge (personified by Othello) – not least the issue of miscegenation 1 – on the other hand.Īs many of Shakespeare’s works (which usually are adaptations themselves), Othello, first performed in 1606 (cf. Mislead by Iago, his ensign and also the play’s villain, Othello develops an unfounded suspicion of his wife Desdemona and his lieutenant Cassio, which results not only in Othello’s suicide, but also in the murder of his wife who, as it turns out, has been innocent of adultery all along. William Shakespeare’s Othello portrays the mixed-race love between Desdemona, a white Venetian beauty, and the Moor Othello, Venice’s general. RiceĢ.3 A comparison of the character of Desdemona in Othello and Otello His character also shows in the end how wrong prejudices are.2.1 Desdemona in Othello by William ShakespeareĢ.2 Desdemona in Otello by Thomas D. So, in the end, he descends into a helpless zone where Iago isolates him from everything which might’ve saved him. His character is up for instant judgement so he looks for immediate results. Desdemona falls in love with him after knowing how he has fought through the difficult terrains of life and reached the position where he is now.Įven though his tragic flaw resides in his vulnerability to what might be resulting from complexes due to his social identity, but one must understand he has a great capacity for passion and in that great passion when jealousy arrests him, it becomes uncontrollable. When in reality, his character is truly an adventurous character. Even when he has such a command, it is easy for someone like Iago to make him look suspectable and prejudiced. He is identified as a moor which is of a different racial origin. In the play, his character is an isolated character. Once the suspicion over Desdemona is planted in his vulnerable mind, he says, “ no my heart is turned to stone I strike it, and it hurts my hand.” Even with all this poetic vision of life, he is too simple due to which he is unable to judge characters like Iago. He shows his respect for others whenever he deals with others in worldly issues. Othello has natural fearlessness and a habit of command. Later Lodovico out of surprise questions, “ is this noble soul whom our full senate call all in all sufficient?” We come to understand the respect and command he has in that society due to his integrity and force. It shows his capacity to deal with things even under such pressure. Good signior, you shall more command with years than with your weapons.” When his life is threatened at that moment, he says, “ keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them. The love and pity one feels for Othello is much different from what one feels for any of his other protagonists.Īt the beginning of the play, Brabantio comes out angrily looking for Desdemona and Othello after hearing the news, confronts him in a manly way but with supreme calm. Due to this, his suffering becomes heart-rending.
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