Many writers use characters from existing works to add different dimensions to their own pieces of writing. That being said, the characters in both pieces can be characterized in completely different ways creating a sense of humour throughout the new piece of literature; as is the case in Ann-Marie MacDonald’s play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet). In her play, MacDonald choses to use the character of Desdemona from William Shakespeare's play Othello but chooses to characterize her in an opposing light to the Shakespeare version, creating an interesting plot line filled full of humor and irony.
In Shakespeare's play Othello, Desdemona is characterized as the dutiful wife to Othello. She innocent and pure and the epitome for all that is good within society. She sees the good in everyone and everything taking joy in life's pleasures. Desdemona is so good and faithful to Othello that even as she is dieing by his hand, is true to him stating that “Nobody; I myself” (Shakespeare 5.2.124) when asked who has done this to her. That being said, by marrying Othello against her father’s wishes and also by accompanying Othello to Cyprus it is hinted upon that Desdemona has to have a stronger and adventurous side which is never fully developed throughout the play. It is this underdeveloped side of Desdemona which MacDonald takes advantage of when writing her play.
In McDonald's play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet), she play upon the underdeveloped strength and adventurousness in Shakespeare's Desdemona to mold an almost entirely new version of her, a version which resembles that of Othello himself. In McDonald's play while Desdemona still loves with her whole heart, she is also strong and valiant. She is quick with ...
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...swinging swords and going into fits of jealous rage. The juxtaposition of the two versions of the character make for a lot of humour and many laughs.
As you can see, while Macdonald takes inspiration from Shakespeare's play Othello while writing her own play Goodnight Desdemona (Good Morning Juliet) she does not characterize her characters in the same manner, instead she draws upon underdeveloped characteristics on his characters and places the character on one character into another, an example being Desdemona. Not only does MacDonald play upon and underdeveloped sense of strength and adventurousness in Shakespeare's version of Desdemona, she also modeled her version in light of Shakespeare's character Othello, Desdemona's polar opposite. This is done to create humour and irony which make the play impossible to put down until every last word has been consumed.
The director of ‘O’ has made errors which causes Othello to lose its literary value. Othello is known as classic artistic play however, the director of the film has caused the play to lose this element. Of course the director has made overt links between the play and the film. The obvious links between the play and the film include the naming of the characters for example naming Othello’s character O and naming Desdemona’s character Desi. When Desi and O first have sexual intercourse they are in a hotel called ‘Willow’ which represents the song sung by Desdemona when she is about to die. The role of women in the play and the film remain the same, the submissive and obedient type. Yet, in today’s society women would be more confident and feministic in their ways. These obvious and almost childlike connections between ‘O’ and Othello does not necessarily mean that ‘O’ is effective appropriation of the play.
The story of Othello and Desdemona in Othello is one that can be compared to that of the story of Catherine and Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights. In Othello, Othello is a Moor who works under the king and marries Desdemona. However, in Othello, Iago convinces Othello of Desdemona's unfaithfulness. In Wuthering Heights there is a love between Catherine and Heathcliff from a very young age. Catherine then falls in love with Edgar Linton, a man who has loved her for a while, and marries him. Although this play and novel seem different from each other in many aspects they are very similar.
Macbeth: Shakespeare's Comparisons and Contrasts. Throughout Macbeth Shakespeare uses comparison and contrast to bring out characteristics of his main character, Macbeth. Shakespeare uses comparisons with Duncan, Lady Macbeth, and Banquo to bring out aspects of Macbeth's character. After hearing of Macbeth's courageousness on the battlefield, Duncan, a good and honest king, bestows the title of Cawdor on Macbeth.
Further dramatic tension is created in Lodovico’s polite address towards Desdemona being contrasted with Othello’s domineering commands (pg153). lines 1-10). Dramatic tension is also conveyed through characterisation in Othello’s embodiment of the attitude of a. typically patriarchal man, and Desdemona’s obedient tolerance. Evidently, Othello takes pleasure in publicly victimising Desdemona. who has in turn come to fear Othello.
He transformed a straggling narrative of sordid crime into compact drama and high tragedy. The masterly first act is essentially Shakespeare’s invention. In this act, Othello, who has eloped with Desdemona, is accused of stealing her. Blinded by prejudice, Desdemona’s father cannot believe his daughter can love the Moor, a man of a different race. But Othello movingly defends his love and demonstrates the nobility of his character.
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 impression Desdemona is a devious imp full of disrespect towards her father. However, surpassing normal tradition of asking of her fathers’ permission to wed, Desdemona ran off and did marry the moor. This in a sense was her emancipation of her father’s possessiveness and oblivion of Othello’s dominance over her. Othello replies to Barbantio’s accusation, sedating or using black magic on his daughter, by saying, “My very noble and approved good masters, That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter. It is most true.” (1.3.79-81), which brings me to the claim that Desdemona’s character in this tragedy, was only to become and to serve as Othello’s private possession rather than a typical beloved daughter or wife as in modern time. Shakespeare bases this tragedy on the foundation of Desdemona’s character by the symbol of the discrimination of women in the Shakespearean time era. Desdemona even for the first and only time within the play stands up and challenges her inferiority under her father’s aut...
Othello is a man of romantic nature. He fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter.
In 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 one of the protagonists of the play contributes to the play and also fleshes out certain aspects of characterisation mainly where Othello and Iago are concerned. Thus her relevance is highlighted consistently throughout Othello, since without her ppresence, Iago would not have succeeded in manipulating Othello, and Othello's drastic transformation would not have been made evident.
Although Desdemona is a prideful woman, Othello falls in love with her and loves her jealously. Desdemona, daughter of a Venetian senator, lives in her father’s household. Her father, Brabantio,
The tragedy of Othello, written by William Shakespeare, presents the main character Othello, as a respectable, honorable, and dignified man, but because of his insecurities and good nature, he is easily taken advantage of and manipulated by his peers and alleged friends. The dynamic of Othello’s character significantly changes throughout the play. The contrast is most pronounced from the beginning of the play to its conclusion, switching from being calm and peaceful to acts of uncontrolled venomous rage. Othello’s motivation in the play appears to be his love and concern for his wife Desdemona, which ironically, ends up being his downfall in the end.
The main character, Othello, is a very interesting character. He is bold is every wear. He is an insecure person. His only experiences are the ones that he has had on the battlefield. He is a General who is a strong willed and is demanding, in his own way. He is socially inexperienced, and you can tell by the marriage that is apparent. The way that Othello treats Desdemona. You almost feel as if he has a kind of control over her. When Othello thought and suspected that Desdemona was having an affair, he confronts her. That is then followed by her death. [scene 5 act 2]Desdemona "O banish me, my lord, but kill me not!Othello: Down, strumpet! Desdemona: Kill me tomorrow, let me live tonight. Othello: Nay if you strive- Desdemona: But half an hour! Desdemona: But while I say one prayer!- Othello then proceeds to strangle Desdemona. He was best described as " one that loved not wisely, but too well." It almost seemed as if he had so much love and trusted D...
In essence, Othello follows the Aristotelian model of tragedy. Shakespeare’s text documents Othello’s downfall from a position of nobility and self-assuredness to a man ruined by jealousy. Othello’s downfall is made apparent by his degenerating language as the play progresses. His early eloquence, most notably displayed in his speech to the Venetian court declaring his love for Desdemona, is lost and taken over by bestial imagery once attributed to Iago. Iago describes Desdemona and Cassio “as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys” and his earlier plan to “pour this pestilence into [Othello’s] hear” is achieved when Othello mimics him, eventually exclaiming “Goats and monkeys!” Dramatic irony also intensifies the demise of Othello and Desdemona. Responders are aware of the consequences when Desdemona innocently describes Cassio as her “suitor” as they are privy to Othello’s doubts of her infidelity and the effect of the euphemism. Similarly Ia...
Shakespeare wrote different types of plays such as comedies, tragedies, and historical plays. The play Othello is one of his tragedies. It is about a character named Othello who is a Moor, in the service of Venice. Throughout the play Iago, Othello's lieutenant, manipulates Othello to believe that Desdemona, Othello's wife, is cheating on him. Various characters in the play Othello appear to be virtuous, upstanding individuals, but their actions reveal that they are not as they appear to be.
Othello and Desdemona are both very loyal and noble people, but their vulnerability makes it easy for predators fall prey on them. Othello is a combination of greatness and weakness, in his own words "an honorable murderer. He is a general in the Venetian defense forces, and, although a foreigner from Africa, he has won this post by excellence in the field of war. He has courage, intelligence, the skill of command, and the respect of his troops. Under pressure, he makes an inspiring speech. Othello is very vulnerable in many cases, such as he naive when it comes to Venetian women, doesn't question the information he has been given, he is socially insecure, he is an outsider and he is black but his biggest vulnerability is jealousy and his unableness to think.