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Why Do We Love Desdemona

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Hypothesis: Desdemona is genuinely in love with Othello
After reading and studying Othello written by William Shakespeare I strongly believe that Desdemona was a faithful, loving wife who did not deserve to die. When Othello became jealous and abusive towards Desdemona and accusing her of sleeping with Cassio, Desdemona continued to express her love for Othello. Desdemona was astonished that her husband Othello could be so jealous and abusive, but she still remained only faithful and loyal to Othello right up until she died in the play. While researching this topic I have discovered a variety of different ideas on the character Desdemona. I have investigated this topic because I’m intrigued in discovering different ideas on Desdemona by a variety …show more content…

Dillenkofer recognises that Desdemona loves everything about Othello but most importantly his personality which is important because through the ravages of time people age or obtain severe illnesses which change a person’s physical appearance but they are still the same people inside and if one can love them for who they are as people, they will love them regardless of their physical appearance and stand by them. In Othello, Desdemona states herself that “My hearts subdued even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othello’s visage in his mind and to his honours and valiant parts did I my soul and fortunes consecrate”. (Line 247-251, Act I scene III). In the Elizabethan times when Othello was set, most Europeans thought that black people were unattractive and by Desdemona stating that saw past his exterior and looked at the beauty inside of him where she saw his honour and courage and because she fell in love with his attributes she gave her whole heart to him and would dedicate her soul and her entire future to him. This suggests that she loved him deeply for who he was as a person rather than his looks or power in society. Another point that Dilenkofer makes is that “Desdemona sees past the colour of Othello’s skin and manifests herself as anti-racist. She accepts and loves Othello for who he is irrespective of his skin colour and proudly flaunts the racism of Venice”. Evidence of this is shown in the play when Desdemona went behind her father’s back to marry a black man and in the 16th century interracial relationships were forbidden Evidence of this is shown in the play when Iago says to Desdemona’s father Brabantio that “an old black man is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise! Awake the snorting citizens with the bell or else the devil will make a grandsire of

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