Othello and Desdemona Relationship: The Brave Love of Desdemona

Believed to have been first written and played in 1603, Shakespeare’s Othello is a play which revolves around the societal issues of racial discrimination. The main narrative revolves around an African general in the army who is married to a daughter of a senator. The play which is set in Venice is introduced by a argument ensuing between Roderigo who happens to be a rich man and Lago. The cause of the argument between the two is because Lago has just learnt that Othello has promoted the young general above him in terms of the ranks and is not pleased. Roderigo is also not pleased as he had asked her father to marry her and this has not played it according to his plans. Throughout the play, Desdemona’s trait and character very much portrays and promotes the theme of love and bravery especially at a time interracial marriages was unheard of in Venice which resultantly leads to her demise due to the politics surrounding her marriage to Othello.

Desdemona is the daughter of Brabantio, and the wife of Othello. In the play Othello falls in love with Desdemona and persuades her to elope with him. Desdemona was a victim of Othello’s jealousy. Desdemona had given up almost everything to be with Othello, even broke a relationship with her father because she was married to a black man. Throughout the play Desdemona shows love, bravery and faithfulness towards her husband and family.

Othello didn’t do anything to force her into marriage, it took place after they both fell in love with each other at first sight. Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief as a first gift, the handkerchief to be represented as a token of his love and belief that he was loved by his wife, Desdemona did cherishes the gift from her husband. Othello believed that it took a symbol such as the handkerchief to prove their love. Brabantio her father, was against her marriage with Othello because he was black, she defended her husband to the fullest. Desdemona’s main motivation throughout the play is the love she had for Othello. She not only elopes without her father’s knowledge, She even divides her love between Othello and  her father Brabantio. “To my noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty …” In that quote from Desdemona she is convincing her father Brabantio that she must divide her love for him and Othello, just like her mother did to her father.

In the play “Othello”, Desdemona and Othello sneakly married, they desired to share their life together, Desdemona has a high status because of her father being a Venetian senator and she’s also married to the general Othello. Othello and Desdemona’s marriage seemed doomed from the start. Even considering the racial nature of the marriage. Desdemona had given up almost everything to be with Othello, even broke a relationship with her father because she was married to a black man. She was then disowned her own father with no further words directed to her by him. Desdemona’s decision to marry a black man was an act of rebellion, not only against her father but the norms of society.

Throughout the play, Desdemona is faithful to her husband. Othello gave Desdemona a handkerchief as a first gift, the handkerchief to be represented as a token of his love and belief that he was loved by his wife , Desdemona did cherishes the gift from her husband. Othello believed that it took a symbol such as the handkerchief to prove their love. Desdemona seems at first glance, nearly perfect. She undoubtedly possesses the characteristics of a truly good person. Desdemona portrays to be such a good person she doesn’t even protest the injustice inflicted on her, but she is not too innocent. Desdemona is extremely naive, but anybody can believe that she has been faithful and has never thought of straying from her husband. When Desdemona says “Dost thou in conscience think tell me Emilia that there be woman do abuse their husbands in such gross kind’’? This is very naive of her. Desdemona constantly shows mixed signals, even though she shows signs of naivety but how she shows this naivety with the boldness that she displays in the play.

Through analyzing this play, one can come to understand how much love Desdemona had for her husband, they fell in love at first sight. Desdemona was also a brave women she went against her father so she could be happy, she even married a black man which was out the norms of society. Desdemona was faithful and remained faithful to Othello up until the end even after all the drama. Her overall quality of loyalty and love to her husband and their union very much consumes her and causes her tragic demise. In addition her loyalty and love for her husband also reflects her other character trait which is that of innocence and grace which made her an easy target for the political games that were being spun around in Venice.

Works cited

1. Chandler, Michael. 'The Othello effect.' Human Development30.3 (1987): 137-159.
2. Neill, Michael. 'Unproper beds: Race, adultery, and the hideous in Othello.' Shakespeare Quarterly 40.4 (1989): 383-412.
3. Orkin, Martin. 'Othello and the' plain face' Of Racism.' Shakespeare Quarterly 38.2 (1987): 166-188.
4. Shakespeare, William. othello. Vol. 6. Classic Books Company, 2001.