This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Knowing that Desdemona is on the same ship as Iago, Cassio rejoices, and declares that the jagged rocks and dangerous sands "As having sense of beauty, do omit [forget] / Their mortal [deadly] natures, letting go safely by / The divine Desdemona" (2.1.71-73). The Female Protagonist. Othello and Desdemona: An Analysis 'The Merchant of Venice' Act 1 Summary. The Divine Desdemona " So would not I: my love doth so approve him That even his stubborness, his checks, his frowns- Prithee, unpin me- have grace and favour in them." She describes her commitment to him: If you were Desdemona’s best friend, what advice would you give her?Â, Throughout rehearsals, I have realized increasingly that Desdemona’s decisions stem from the fact that she is a newlywed trying to figure out how to be a wife. . Desdemona is the daughter of Brabantio, a man of some reputation in Venice. How is this production different from others you have done?Â. A messenger enters, and confirms that the Turkish fleet was broken apart by the storm, and that Cassio has arrived, though Othello is still at sea. 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 greets them all, especially praising Desdemona; somehow, Iago and Desdemona enter into an argument abou… Personally, I think this portrayal doesn’t do her justice. The process has suited the dense, frill-free structure of the play: these first few weeks have been solely about text and character and relationships. Conveying the TRUTH of each moment—not falling short of the needed intensity, but not wallowing in it either—is a fascinating but tricky tightrope to walk. There are no subplots; everything revolves around this one central storyline, and the action is fast-paced and non-stop. Furthermore, Desdemona is the victim of some violence in this story, so he’s had to guide me and my fellow actors through those scenes. He asks for the curtains to be drawn, for Gratiano to administer the Moor's estate, and for Iago to be punished. 179–180]) and her terse fury after Othello strikes her (“I have not deserved this” [IV.i. The female protagonist in the tragic play “Othello”, Desdemona is truly one rare character who astonishes the readers as much with her outer beauty as with her inner grace. I LOVE 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). CASSIO She that I spake of, our great captain's captain, Left in the conduct of the bold Iago, Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts Or Belle. I noticed immediately his depth of knowledge about and care for this story, these characters, and the audience, and so I knew from the start that we were in good hands. The Desdemona Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. Once again, I return to the intensity. Desdemona’s handkerchief was a gift given to her by Othello upon their marriage. In Cyprus Montano asks Cassio if Othello is married. Plot Summary of Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" Description of Enargia. . She is described by another character as “the divine Desdemona,” and I think this is true: she is almost too good to be human. That’s quite a roller coaster ride for an actor! This is a powerful story, and an important one for our time. The Turkish attack may have been quelled, but it also bodes badly for Othello's ship. Pingback: Leaving Cert English- “Desdemona–a saint?” | Lit & Comp Resources, ” and laments giving up his single status “, When Desdemona enters, full of concern for her beloved “, “, he says he has a  headache and she is gentle and loving “. Desdemona, of a Venetian origin, is the daughter of Brabantio (a senator) who elopes to marry a Moorish Army General, Othello. Rosencrantz or Guildenstern in Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead, or Nina in The Seagull. This is the moment when she drops her handkerchief & by the end of the scene, her husband is plotting her murder! I suppose that would be another difficult aspect of the role, to return to an earlier question: finding Desdemona’s humanity and portraying her as a richly nuanced PERSON, rather than a paragon, is a tricky mission in which I am determined to succeed. I mean, it’s Belle.​ Thinking beyond Shakespeare or musical theatre, I might say . This enrages Othello, and he strikes Desdemona and commands her to leave. It’s 4,500 words long – an exam length essay is between 1000 and 1200 words so bear in mind that this is four times more detailed than any discussion of Desdemona you need to offer! As such, she is part of the upper class of Venetian society. Juliet again. Here’s everything you never wanted to know about her. Desdemona as the object of men’s lust & a puppet in Iago’s scheme: early that night, following a party to celebrate the destruction of the Turkish fleet in the storm, Othello whisks Dedemona away and implies that they are about to have sex for the first time “Come, my dear love, the purchase made, the fruits are to ensue, that profit’s yet to come twixt me and you“. Characterisation Desdemona. Desdemona is totally drooling over Othello's "valiant parts:" Othello's a hottie with a body. Meanwhile, Iago convinces Roderigo that if he wants Desdemona he should kill Cassio. Richard III Themes: God's Judgement. 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. 236]). • ‘…our great Captain’s Captain’ Iago suggests Desdemona has power over Othello or that at least they are equal in rank. She is described by another character as “the divine Desdemona,” and I think this is true: she is almost too good to be human. How is she different? Desdemona is a model wife, if perhaps too trusting of Iago. However, though I do try to live thusly, I’m afraid I fall rather short of Desdemona’s standard in many ways. Every time I perform a Shakespeare role, I dive into the script already excited, but I’m also always surprised by how much I come to love my character. The Divine Desdemona " So would not I: my love doth so approve him That even his stubborness, his checks, his frowns- Prithee, unpin me- have grace and favour in them." . . Cassio is showing his courtly behaviour, however he is hypocritical as he treats Bianca differently in further Scenes. Wake up and start sniffing.”. What is it like to work with our guest artist, director Dennis Henry? Over and over, until I’m too old. Othello is one of the most important plays in English Literature. Othello gave to Desdemona, as an act of his love for her and her dropping of it perhaps symbolizes the break in their love. Character Analysis of Desdemona in Othello. Desdemona and Othello have fought and Othello accuses her of being a whore. The divine Desdemona. Having made the accusation and been denied, he reacts with anger rather than reassessment. What do you enjoy most about playing the role? The article “a feminist critique of the character Desdemona” offers an analysis of the character of Desdemona from the theoretical framework of feminism. 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