William Shakespeare is the person who has really left some unforgettable master pieces behind him. For many years, his plays, poems and stories have been the focus of discussion and even the subject essentials in the lives of people and in many institutions. That is why he is called ‘Bird of Avon’ of Elizabethan period. Whether it is a romantic play, a sad poem or any other situational work, William Shakespeare has made each of his writing a memorable piece. Othello is one of those master pieces. And this piece is worldly known for its twist and chemistry in presentation.
Firstly, in brief, we need to know about the main characters of the play and their relationship. The story is about how pure love between Desdemona and Othello (husband & wife) is polluted by the poison of jealousy and abhorrence. At the very beginning of this play we find the essence of much hatred and a bit hint of love too. The important matter is that, Iago depicts himself as an evil from the first scene and we become ready to face any type of occurrence made by him. And finally he has succeeded in Act IV, scene ii. There we see that Othello accuses her beloved wife of adultery which has made her speechless and ruins their love and faith for each other. Desdemona forgets to defend herself because she was always loyal to Othello and no doubt she loves him a lot. We find its proof from the following dialogue which she utters in act I, scene iii to make his father understand about her love for Othello:
My noble father,I do perceive here a divided duty.To you I am bound for life and education.My life and education both do learn meHow to respect you. You are the lord of my duty,I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband,And so much duty as my mother showedTo you, preferring you before her father,So much I challenge that I may professDue to the Moor my lord (I,iii)
Othello is hated because of his black skin and titled ‘the Moor’. But Desdemona loved him unconditionally and shifted her primary loyalty from her father (Brabanzio) to Othello. But unfortunately it does no good to Othello. Because Iago being full with hatred for Othello begins to make a plan to cheat Roderigo out of his money and to convince Othello that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. Iago suspects that Othello has slept with his wife Emilia. And to take revenge he decides to use Othello’s innocent and unsuspecting nature to bring him to his demise.
If we see Desdemona’s character very closely from the beginning, we can understand why she behaves like that after Othello’s nonsense accusation. In act I, scene iii, Desdemona’s behavior remarkably appears smart and determined in Othello’s account in comparison of that time. On the other hand, Othello also loves her passionately. In act II, scene ii, we again find Desdemona as an innocent, independent girl. But Iago here gets a clue to establish his evil plan. He tells us in soliloquy that he will not mind to make a mountain out of a molehill representing Cassio’s holding Desdemona’s hand. Iago has used Cassio, Roderigo, Emilia to succeed his mission. He fills Othello’s mind with suspicious poison. A loyal husband can’t bear his wife’s dishonesty. At first he doesn’t believe Iago and becomes angry. But Iago’s evil spirit and way of persuading make Othello confused. Iago’s plot was strong enough to deceive a man like Othello. Believing Iago, Othello appoints Emilia to follow Desdemona when Cassio is with her. Othello begins to believe that Desdemona loves him no longer because he is too old for her and he is black too. We find him lamenting:
She’s gone, I am abused, and my reliefMust be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,That we can call these delicate creatures oursAnd not their appetites! I had rather be a toadAnd live upon the vapor of a dungeonThan keep a corner in the thing I loveFor others’ uses. Yet ’tis the plague of great ones;Prerogatived are they less than the base.’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death. (III.iii).
Iago manipulates all the characters so skillfully that all are seemed puppets in Iago’s hand. All were doing according to Iago’s command. Cassio’s departure, Desdemona’s words on Cassio’s behalf and her handkerchief in Cassio’s hand all these incidents are misinterpreted by Iago to Othello and being decent and naive Othello believes him without question. Othello becomes so unhappy and his love turns to hatred for Desdemona. He then determines to kill her as punishment. On the other hand, Desdemona has no idea about all these happenings. She tries to convince Othello to return Cassio’s old position which makes Othello outrageous. Here Iago plays the role of fixing everyone’s doing. He alone is the dodger. Every incident and every character appear how Iago wants to see that. There is no truth except Iago (Shakespeare 4).
In act IV, scene ii, Othello enquiries Emilia to inform about Desdemona’s adultery. But Emilia repeatedly tries to make Othello understand that Desdemona is as innocent as flower. Othello believes no word of Emilia rather he also claims her dishonest. Then keeping Emilia as guard, Othello goes to Desdemona and claims her as whore what gives Desdemona a great shock. Othello starts crying and crying. He asks Desdemona’s pardon claiming her ‘cunning whore of Venice’. Othello without saying a word storms out the room. Desdemona remains same generous, articulate wife what she has been in previous scenes after Othello’s enter counting. Every time Desdemona ardently denies allegation. Though Othello was determined not to believe her, he made her swear in the name of God. It seems that he wants to see how much lie she can tell him. Desdemona listens to all claims without being angry. She uses no harsh word. As soon as Othello leave the room, she calls Iago to interrogate if he knows anything about Othello’s rage. Emilia tries to soothe Desdemona saying that she should not see Othello anymore but she does not listen. When Iago informs Desdemona that it’s nothing but official matters may disturb Othello, she determines to try to ask Othello calm down and listen to him.
Desdemona here represents female characters of renaissance. Though Othello accuses her of false crime, she can’t shout or show attitudes towards Othello. She politely and repeatedly denies his assertion. On the other hand, Othello is so obsessed with his thoughts that he fails to believe his own wife who one day has left her family for his sake. Suspicion and jealousy bring nothing. And Othello falls into the grip of these two things together. As a result, he becomes blind towards his wife’s innocence. He does not feel it necessary to check it again by himself. He depends a lot on Iago. And situations also do not favor him rather these help to firm his suspicion. Being black Othello feels that Desdemona may not love him anymore. It also influences his belief. But Desdemona becomes so silent facing such an unexpected situation. In the beginning, we find Desdemona so firmly presents her thinking in front of her own father to establish her love. But when her that very precious love begins to suspect her, she becomes speechless and becomes shocked. Whose presence, whose love one day make Desdemona leave her father’s house, when he suspects her loyalty, no one can make him believe. Even knowing that, she tries to fix that last time. But she could not let Othello out of Iago’s enchantment. But finally what Iago gets is noticeable in this tragedy. In this scene, we find Desdemona as a submissive character.
In conclusion, we can say that Othello’s misjudgment and Desdemona’s silence let Iago win. There are many Desdemonas, Iagos and Othellos around us still today. And this is for what William Shakespeare is still remembered by all. The key elements for his successful works are his friendly and eye catching style of writing and simple thus unique words’ selection. These qualities cannot be found in any other person’s poems and plays.
Works Cited
William Shakespeare, No Fear Shakespeare, Othello, William Shakespeare, (2013), Retrieved: 04-05-2013 :< http://nfs.sparknotes.com/othello/page_220.html>
