Shakespeares Othello - Desdemona, the Heroine in Othello Essay

Desdemona, the Heroine in Othello In William Shakespeares Othello Michael Cassios praises of the profusely blessed Desdemona, as he awaits her arrival on Cyprus, are well up deserved. This essay will amply support this statement. Blanche Coles in Shakespeares quadruple Giants interprets the protagonists very meaningful four-word greeting to Desdemona which he utters upon disembarking in Cyprus Othellos four words, O, my souls joy, tell us that this charming Venetian girl has brought great joy, felicity, bliss to the very depths of his soul. This exquisitely glorious love that has come to a thoughtful, earnest man is indescribably impressive. For him it is promised land on earth. And all the while, almost within arms length, stands Iago, the frame of curse, like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. (87) In Act 1 Scene1, Iago persuades the rejected suitor of Desdemona, Roderigo, to accompany him to the home of Brabantio, Desdemonas father, in the pump of the night. Once th ere the two awaken him with loud shouts about his daughters elopement with Othello. In response to Iagos vulgar descriptions of Desdemonas interlocking with the general, Brabantio arises from bed and, with Roderigos help, gathers a search party to go and come on Desdemona and bring her home. The fathers attitude is that life without his Desdemona will be much worse than before It is too true an evil foregone she is And whats to come of my despised time Is nought but bitterness. (1.1) So simply the senator has great respect for his daughter, or at least for the comforts which she has afforded him up the beginning of the play. This respect is shared by her new husband Othello, who ... ... You told a lie, an odious, damned lie Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie. She false with Cassio (5.2) wherefore she accuses him of causing murder And your reports have set the murder on. Emilias stunning interrogation and conviction of her own husband as the evil mastermind behind the mu rder results in Iagos murder of her. naif Othello, grief-stricken by remorse for the tragic mistake he has made, stabs himself and dies on the bed next to his wife, his sorrow being as deep as his love for Desdemona prior to Iagos machinations. WORKS CITED Shakespeare, William. Othello. In The Electric Shakespeare. Princeton University. 1996. http//www.eiu.edu/multilit/studyabroad/othello/othello_all.html No line nos. Coles, Blanche. Shakespeares Four Giants. Rindge, New Hampshire Richard Smith Publisher, 1957.