Shakespeare 's Othello - Representation Of Characters And Archetypes

Desdemona’s entrance in the beginning of the story shows herself as a strong willed and outspoken women. According to Lewis “Desdemona display some traces of a more Cleopatra-like self-assertion. In her choosing of Othello as her husband, she exercises her own desire, subverting the female role of passivity within the patriarch, and marries him without parent consent” (L.Lewis). Lewis has a good point here which I agree with as Desdemona decides to stand up for herself by choosing Othello as her husband. She defends her marriage and is not afraid to assert in her beliefs. She is surrounded by powerful men where she is not ashamed to stand up for herself and her decisions. Desdemona shows this when she speaks to her father in Act 1, Scene 3:

She begins the play as a independent and thoughtful person, but she must struggle against all odds to make Othello believe that she is not too independent. Desdemona is a symbol of innocence and helplessness. However in the beginning of the play, she seems to be mature and quite insightful of events around her. Iago often tells Othello that she is unfaithful. It seems that she refuses to accept what Iago is doing. She has a tendency to be sympathetic towards other people's situations, like Cassio. This also further inspired Othello's jealousy when Iago pointed out that Cassio and Desdemona were speaking in private. She often pays attention to other people’s thoughts, yet remains distrustful if they differ from her own. She has a loyalty to her husband in all aspects of life,

Desdemona is of the higher class and is depicted as a fair, pure and respected woman who makes her own decisions. This is evident from the references made about her in the opening Act, scene 1, spoken by Iago “...an old black ram is tupping your white ewe” as well as in later scenes when she is constantly referred to as “fair Desdemona”. Her ability to make her own decisions was particularly evident within the opening Act where we learn of Desdemona’s deception to her father when she wed the man of her desire by denying her father any right to choose for her. This was Desdemona’s act of independence in her attempt to break away from male authority. Desdemona’s honesty and strong belief in morality plays on the good vs. evil concept with Iago’s character.

Desdemona is portrayed as a very inquisitive women, whom loves to explore the things and people outside of her class. She fell in love with Othello because of her curious nature and being attracted to his acts of bravado. Her intentions are sincere; however her curiosity in this act is seen as folly. She asks her cousin Lodovico about his arrival and informs him of Cassio’s dismissal. This angers Othello as she is praising another man, taking a persona of being proactive about him. For Othello this concludes that she is disobedient and has dishonored him - to put her in place, he resorts to violence:

Throughout the story Othello, written by Shakespeare, Desdemona is not only perceived as a victim in the story, but can also be seen as one of the tragic heros. She shows prowess through her mediating skills. Desdemona constantly wants peace between everyone, which is what she is known for. She shows emotional courage, standing up for what she believes is right. However, due to her nature and ability to see good in everything, she gets easily manipulated, which causes her downfall.

   A variety of roles have women in them in William Shakespeare’s tragic drama Othello. Let us in this essay examine the female characters and their roles.

Later on in the play she displays grit and a growth mindset. A growth mindset according to Carol Dweck is the “ belief that your basic qualities are things you can cultivate through your efforts” Desdemona efforts cultivate her innocent and trusting qualities even after Othello became jealous and doubted of her honesty. She also tries with much effort, to get Cassio back into the military. She explains “Be thou assured, good cassio, I will do all my abilities in thy behalf.” (3.3,1) Desdemona promises to peak to Othello until the issue is solved. Even while her husband's behavior began to change she still remained optimistic about her husband's actions. Additionally, Desdemona indicates that “Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. Oh, farewell!.”(5.2,123) Even before her death Desdemona still stood by Othello, she never gave up on him and she kept trying to believe there is still good in him. At her last breath, Desdemona loved Othello endlessly, and wanted still remained optimistic toward

Shakespeare's Desdemona is a sweet, naive victim. Othello does not have money, beauty or good manners, but to Desdemona, he is perfect. She loves him for what he is. She respects him, as well. Desdemona is a loyal spouse who will do absolutely anything for her husband. Emilia tries to teach the innocent Desdemona about the evils of life. Carefully watching over her, Emilia constantly tries to warn her that jealousy is a "monster." She is not at all afraid of men and does not think twice about defending Desdemona's honor to the raging Othello.

In Shakespeare’s Othello, Othello and Desdemona’s marriage was doomed from the start. They did not start well; their marriage was controversial because of their race and Othello’s failure to follow proper etiquette while he was courting her. However these issues could have been overcome with time. The biggest problem is Othello’s attitude to Desdemona. Othello’s model of Desdemona prevents him from considering her a person. He thinks of her instead as superior to himself in every way, to the point that she is a god. Her race, beauty, and status make her godly in his mind. She becomes untouchable in Othello’s mind, and he begins to distance himself from her. Because Othello thinks of Desdemona as “Alabaster”(5.2.5) he will never consider

Othello insults and strikes Desdemona in public and Desdemona being horrified by these actions says that “I have not deserved this” (4.1.241). Desdemona finds Othello to be incorrect in his actions and she expresses her feelings to Othello. This proves Desdemona to be ahead of the time the play was written since unlike other women Desdemona defends herself and her beliefs strongly. Therefore, Desdemona is shown as an all-around powerful woman.

Shakespearean Women The women in Shakespeare’s Othello show the audience many sides and facets of the female experience. The most notable thing being the archetypes they embody: from the fair maiden who is sweet, innocent, and youthful to the witch who is old, supernatural, and for the most part evil. Shakespeare has employed many of these female archetypes or had a hand in crafting them. Throughout his plays, Shakespeare characterizes his protagonists in a way familiar to his 17th-century audience.

Desdemona's reported sympathy and interest for Othello's tales of bravery paint a picture of an ordinary, kind young woman. When she is summoned to support Othello's story, she realises that her loyalties are divided. Her consideration for her father's anger is shown by the way she asks not to live with him. Her reasoning is that he would then not be angered by her presence.

We see Desdemona as a young beautiful white female, madly in love with a powerful black man. She is strong inside but doesn't tend to show that side of her as much as she would want to. She tends to play the peace-maker in her marriage and is always trying to understand Othello. Throughout the play she struggles to prove her loyalty and respect to her husband, no matter what it takes she tries to be a

Desdemona has, therefore, some quite serious faults as a wife, including a will of her own, which was evident even before she was married. This does not mean that she merits the terrible accusations flung at her by Othello, nor does she in any way deserve

The society in which Othello takes place is a patriarchal one, where men had complete control over women. They were seen as possessions rather than being just as equally human and capable of duties performed by men. All women of the Elizabethan were to obey all men, fathers, brothers, husbands, etc. Which leads me to the most reliable and trustworthy character of Desdemona, whom goes through many trials just to satisfy her love. Shakespeare brings the thought of Desdemona into the play by Barbantio, her father, “It is too true an evil. Gone she is.\...Oh, she deceives me\ Past thought! …” (1.1.163)(1.1.168-169), whom has just found she has taken off with Othello and firstly suspects they have been hitched. Shakespeare gives reader the