Just like Cordelia in King Lear, there is a sense that forces in the play conspire against Desdemona, so that her death becomes an inevitable outcome of momentum of the play. Othello speaks ‘the plague [of] great ones’ (3.3.314) which seems to pertain to great Shakespearean protagonists:
’Tis destiny unshunnable, like death.
Even then this forked plague is fated to us
When we do quicken (3.3.316).
Here, Othello seems to perceive the impetus of the play driving forward to its climax and end – one that is ‘unshunnable’. The use of ‘quicken’ here is important, because it relates to a thematic construct of time in Shakespeare which, when ‘out of joint’ (Hamlet 1.5.190), becomes a relentless push towards a tragic conclusion. In comedies, there
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In plotting to fake her death, she is too hasty in trying to condense the timeline of the play, and thus the impatience of the young lovers is perhaps more of a guiding force towards ruin than any ‘star’ (Prologue 6) set against them. In the first half of A Winter’s Tale, Leontes follows this pattern of tragic characters trying to speed up events. For example, he ‘hurrie[s]’ (3.2.102-3) a judgment against Hermione and so she gives birth ‘before her time’ (2.2.24). However, the second half of the play turns to a more pastoral, natural medium of time that is ultimately restorative. Time even appears as a character half way through, declaring that he ‘makes and unfolds error’ (4.1.1-2). The unfolding of error, in this play, takes sixteen years – notably longer than Much Ado About Nothing where Hero and Claudio are reconciled in two days. However, the “error” in A Winter’s Tale is notably more grievous – although Hermione will eventually return, Maximillus and Antigonus are still dead because of Leontes. Additionally, the span of sixteen years tempers Leontes as he learns moderation; during the resurrection scene he declares the statue ‘warm!’ …show more content…
Although unfair, the damage to their reputation means that, because a woman is defined principally by her public value, heroines must either feign death or truly succumb to it – but either way they can no longer continue to be seen in society. In the case of those like Hero and Hermione, a restoration of reputation means that women can be resurrected and – as shown in particular by the end of Much Ado About Nothing – a matrimonial bond often solidifies their reemergence into society. The plot of pretend death buys time for the schemes against women to unravel, but it is notable that neither Hermione nor Hero plan to feign death, this happens as a result of being overwhelmed by emotion in the moment. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet’s plan, to escape from the warring feud that keeps her and Romeo apart, is executed too quickly – symptomatic of the haste and recklessness of young lovers. We might see the impetuous love-at-first-sight of Romeo and Juliet revisited again in the form of Hero and Claudio, in Much Ado About Nothing, with the foil of the older couple Beatrice and Benedict whose love – although not quickly confessed – is unwavering when it finally declared. In Othello, the haste of the eponymous hero is also
In Romeo and Juliet a significantly horrendous ending takes place, but with Shakespeare's use of foreshadowing he is able to keep the reader from being overly traumatized. For example, when Juliet and Romeo are discussing plans Juliet says, "O God, I have an ill-divining soul! / Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, / As one dead in the bottom of the tomb"(lll,v,14-56). Juliet has mixed feelings about the arrangement devised by the Friar so that the two of them can be together. Juliet thinks disaster will come of previous tactics developed to allow Romeo and her to be together. In addition, when Romeo is speaking of his love for Juliet he says, "And but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by there hate / Then death prorogued, wanting of thy love"(ll,ii,75-77). Romeo's immense love for Juliet will eventually lead to the fall of himself. Death lingers throughout the play between Romeo and his love, Juliet. In conclusion, when Juliet is thinking about Romeo she says, "Give me Romeo; and when he shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars, / And he will make the face of heaven so fine / That all the world will be in love with night," (lll,ii,21-25). This suggests that in the play Romeo will end up dying and Juliet will be there to see it. Juliet prophesizes over many topics in the play and in the end they become true. Foreshadowing is used in this play to help the audience trounce the dreadful outcome.
The play shows that hasty and rash decisions can have fatal and tragic consequences for some characters in ‘Romeo and Juliet”
Picture this- William Harold Shakespeare, the most coveted playwriter in the history of the world, sitting at his desk, perspicaciously pondering over what shall become his most prominant and delicated tragedy of yet. Of course, given what little is known about Shakespeere displays, such deepseated imagery cannot simply be accomplished without first the propriety of haste and vinction.And yet, his very own rhetorical vibe displays allows such a vague pictoration to be concieved. Throughout the whole of Othello, the great Shakespeare remarks through an astounding displays show of pronouns, allitteration, and cacophonous diction his own resentment of both the King of Italy and the poor conditions of the said novelist.
William Shakespeare is known as a master playwright, creating characters such as Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet and Ophelia, but Shakespeare’s Desdemona is usually viewed as one-dimensional. Shakespeare’s Othello is riddled with complex characters, of which Desdemona most definitely falls in the category. Desdemona is viewed as virginal and naive, but in truth is manipulative. It is also unknown if she truly loves Othello, as her love stems from pity. The most convincing reason Desdemona is a complex character is her growth through the play. Desdemona is a complex character, contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare demonstrates her complexity through her character growth, her search for power ,and the ambiguity of her love for Othello.
When we first begin Othello, we see the start of what we believe to be a beautiful marriage between Othello and Desdemona. However, at the end, we are faced with the tragic murder of Desdemona by her dear Othello, bringing this marriage to a gruesome end. We’re left with a sense of horror, sorrow, and bewilderment. How could this have happened? Why did Othello, how did Othello, go from a doting husband to a furious killer? The obvious answer is that Iago deceived him into thinking that Desdemona had been unfaithful to him. However, multiple factors contributed to this tragedy. One could say that Emelia is the pivotal point in the tragedy of Othello. It was due, in part, to her actions and motivations, as well as the jealousy that she caused in Iago, that Desdemona died.
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.
Given these statements, Othello, Iago and Roderigo are the people who are responsible for Desdemona's death. Iago for planning the whole thing. He uses any chance, he gets to arouse Othello's anger and jealousy to make Desdemona and Cassio seem guilty. Planting the handkerchief...which is the symbol of faithfulness.
In Shakespeare’s play “Othello” the main characters Othello and Desdemona suffer a tragic fate due to their actions and unforeseen circumstances. A majority of Desdemona’s suffering is down to Iago’s manipulation. However, it could also be argued that Iago is not completely to blame for the misfortune of Desdemona. We as the readers can see evidence of this at certain points in the play where Iago has planted the seeds of despair and Desdemona and Othello have fallen for his plans. In this essay, I will look at key moments in the play where Desdemona is presented as a tragic victim by the writer and justify why she is a tragic victim using quotes from the play.
The Christian Bible tells us that “pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Prov. 16:18 KJV). For Desdemona in William Shakespeare’s Othello, this is certainly true. Although Desdemona is innocent of the sins of which she is accused, she still bears responsibility for her own downfall. If not for Desdemona’s pride, she could have lived a long and happy life with Othello. From a psychological standpoint, Desdemona is ultimately responsible for her own demise because of her prideful nature.
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’.
Her confession then confirms that Desdemona was faithful and did not deserve to die and as a result she shows one that love can be foolish and naïve. Her love and loyalty to Iago causes her to deceive her friend and this ends with both women being killed because the love they possessed for too foolish men. Othello is responsible for murdering Desdemona; Iago is
Even on her death bed, Desdemona’s character of an inanimate object belonging to Othello is carried on. It is lead on by Emilia’s question of “who hath done this deed” (5.2.137) referring to Desdemona’s death and her reply, “Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord. Oh, farewell!”(5.2.138-139), overall putting the responsibility of her death upon herself. Leaving the readers impression of Desdemona as one filled with sympathy and rage against her unwillingness to fight her independence as well as against the men of this time period for not realizing the importance of such a woman.
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...
Shakespeare's Othello is a play with unique characters. One such character is the one for which Shakespeare names his play. In the play, Othello disintegrates from a confident leader to a homicidal murderer. Linguistic changes throughout the play attest to this theory.
William Shakespeare gave us a most moving drama in Othello. In this play we witness the demise of a “paragon” of a wife and a “valiant Moor”, Othello. Let us consider the Moor in detail, with professional critical input, in this essay.