Desdemona as a Tragic Victim in ‘Othello’ Essay - 733 Words

In Shakespeare’s play â€Å"Othello† the main characters Othello and Desdemona suffer a tragic fate due to their actions and unforeseen circumstances. A majority of Desdemona’s suffering is down to Iago’s manipulation. However, it could also be argued that Iago is not completely to blame for the misfortune of Desdemona. We as the readers can see evidence of this at certain points in the play where Iago has planted the seeds of despair and Desdemona and Othello have fallen for his plans. In this essay, I will look at key moments in the play where Desdemona is presented as a tragic victim by the writer and justify why she is a tragic victim using quotes from the play. A victim can become tragic in a variety of ways. First, the person could be†¦show more content†¦When her husband and his apparently trustworthy friend Iago enter, Cassio exits. As the audience, we have to question Shakespeare’s intention for this stage direction. The audience will now have to evaluate whether Cassio’s exit was for the best. Iago’s line after Cassio’s exit which is shown above presents Desdemona and Cassio as two characters that have something to hide from Othello. Desdemona is presented as a victim at this point. This is because Iago has embedded a sense of doubt in Othello’s mind about Desdemona. Having said this, Desdemona partly contributed towards her victimisation by promising to talk about Cassio to Othello and doing just that. Desdemona says the line â€Å"to suffer with him†. By â€Å"him† she is referring to her friend in need Cassio. For Desdemona to say the word â€Å"suffer† to Othello in relation to Cassio’s sadness indicates a strong sense of passion which holds them together. This could make the audience feel uneasy for Desdemona because her lines are building more tension. This is also dramatic irony because Desdemona is unaware of the trouble her constant mention of Iago is doing to Othello. One of the things that make up a tragic victi m is loss. The character Desdemona losses her handkerchief. Second, the victim might be placed in situations that are out of their control. For example, the victim might be in the wrong place at the wrong time and as a result they become part of the issue. In Act 4 Scene 3, we see the brideShow MoreRelatedTo What Extent Is Desdemona Presented as a Tragic Victim in Othello?1489 Words   |  6 PagesTo what extent is Desdemona presented as a tragic victim in the play ‘Othello’? Desdemona, the daughter of Venetian senator Brabantio, is captivated by Othello’s fables of bravery as a warrior and she falls in love with him. In view of the fact that Desdemona is a â€Å"fair† woman and Othello is â€Å"an old black ram†, commonly referred to as ‘the Moor’, their marriage indicates that her fate might be tragic. In ‘Othello’, Desdemona is portrayed as a courageous young woman whose character is used againstRead MoreOthello presents women as the victims of men1276 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿To what extent do you agree that in â€Å"Othello† Shakespeare presents women as the tragic victims of men? Throughout ‘Othello’, Shakespeare uses the manipulation of the protagonist, by the antagonist, Iago, to present a play controlled by men. In such a male dominated society, Shakespeare presents the women in the play as tragic victims at the hands of their husbands, in particular Desdemona and Emilia. Throughout this essay I will relate to the Aristotelian and Senecan descriptions of tragedy toRead MoreDesdemona from Othello Essay example1358 Words   |  6 PagesIn Greek, Desdemona means ‘the unfortunate’, perhaps reflecting an ideology that she is not meant to be liked, merely pitied for her misfortune as a tragic victim (commonly defined as someone who dies due to the faults of others). Throughout Othello, Desdemona is presented as pure and innocent – in regards to this, Auden’s comment is unusual as Desdemona is seldom criticised; indeed many critics are complementary, giving her titles such as ‘gentle Desdemona’. Desdemona is a victim of both Othello’sRead MoreThe Tragic Flaw Of Shakespeare s Othello1108 Words   |  5 Pages â€Å"Othello† tragedy, written by Williame Shakespeare, is an excellent example of Renaissance humanism. Tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw. Othello was brought down by a fatal fault jealousy in his character. Shakespeare s other great tragedies -- Hamlet, Macbeth and King Lear -- deal with issues that affect the well-being of entire nations, whereas Othello is a tragedy withRead MoreWas Othello Really a Tragic Hero?1202 Words   |  5 PagesOthello: The Wife Abuser When first introduced to the play, Othello, I had been told that Othello was a tragic hero driven insane by a villain. The person who described him to me had led me to believe that Othello was a victim. However, when reading the play Othello, I did not feel he was a victim at all. On the contrary, Othello demonstrates all of the classic signs of a wife abuser:, interference in the relationship between his loved one and her family, prior use of violence, elevating his lovedRead MoreOthello Character Analysis Essay839 Words   |  4 PagesOthello is exemplified and referred to as an exceptional character that falls as the result of a tragic flaw. Othello; a black moor downfalls from a highly respected general to a jealous man who murders his own wife and himself. Othello is portrayed as a man that shows greatness; as a general from Venice who received high respect from his townspeople. However, Othello suffers from a moral dilemma, â€Å"jealousy.† Therefore he becomes convince d by a once trusted, scheming friend;Iago, that his wife, DesdemonaRead MoreOthello, By William Shakespeare1518 Words   |  7 PagesIn William Shakespeare’s Othello, the newlywed couple was truly and madly in love at the time they’re married the couple were unable to consummate the marriage. Perhaps it is because there were a few moments for the pair to be alone together. However when a chance did arrive for the couple to finally have a â€Å"honeymoon†, some unfortunate event would happen and the immediate moment was lost. It is for this reason of this unconsummated marriage that Desdemona’s virginity is a key factor in the fallRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Othello - The Moor Of Venice1513 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s tragic play: â€Å"Othello: the Moor of Venice† starts out in the place of love and water, the beautiful Venice, Italy. In this play Shakespeare brings to life the true definitions of love, betrayal, jealousy , and revenge. Iago and Roderigo, two characters in the play, that are plotting against the general of the Venetian Army because Iago was not chosen to be the lieutenant. Instead Othello chose Cassio. In the quest for vengeance the two tell the very influential Senator BrabanotiRead MoreThe Real Victims Of Othello1197 Words   |  5 PagesThe REAL Victims of Othello Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello, gives insight to broken relationships and tragic deaths all caused by lies. But the main component of these lies is faults in relationships. Shakespeare explores the ideas of Othello’s actions toward Desdemona, their relationship, but forgets an important detail: her side of the story. Desdemona, along with the other women in the play contrast each other tremendously. All three women show victimization in their own way, but how farRead MoreThe Protagonist in Willima Shakespeare ´s Othello810 Words   |  4 PagesThe central character, or protagonist, in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello, The Moor of Venice is Othello. Aristotle defined the concept of a tragic hero as the destruction of a noble person, usually with a personal flaw, and this flaw determines their fate. Othello is a tragic hero with a tragic flaw in one of Shakespeare’s most known tragedies. Shakespeare so prominently exhibits the tragic flaw Othell o obtains, allowing implications and thoughts, to overrun reality and show how just the insecurity