Self over Love

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Recommended: Explore the ways Shakespeare presents the idea of romantic love in the play

The true test of strength in a person is marriage. Throughout the play Othello, Desdemona is regarded as a strong, independent woman with a sharp tongue and the ability to stand up for herself. She defies the stereotypical mold of a wife during the 17th century, and is not merely an obedient servant of Othello, but a strong life partner with her own ideas and personality. Her passionate, yet rushed relationship to the Moor, Othello, gives readers the opportunity to discover whether or not Desdemona’s strength allows her to achieve her superobjective in the entire play: to maintain a happy, loving relationship with her husband, or if her strength becomes a hindrance.

In the first scene in which Shakespeare introduces the character of Desdemona, a tense, intimidating tone has already been set. The scene opens on Othello’s trial; a trial which readers know has the potential to decide the fate of the two lovers. The scene is also the first which is crucial to the achievement of Desdemona’s superobjective, because it represents the tough switch of allegiance from Desdemona’s father, to her husband, Othello. Because readers have not yet been introduced to Desdemona at the very start of the scene, they have no idea what to expect, yet her first long speech in front of the court immediately defines her personality:

My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty.

To you I am bound for life and education.

My life and education both do learn me

How to respect you: you are the lord of duty;

I am hitherto your daughter. But here's my husband;

And so much duty as my mother showed

to you, preferring you before her father,

So much I challenge that I may profess

Due to the Moor my lord (I.iii.18...

... middle of paper ...

... to be mad, the song of The Willow. The Willow song mirrors Desdemona’s situation with her husband, as Othello’s anger (which was provoked by Desdemona’s resilience) is eventually what ends the relationship. Desdemona does everything in her power to maintain a strong relationship with Othello; however, her innately persistent personality obstructs the happiness in the relationship. Even in the few short moments before her death, her strength is not abandoned, and she admits that she, “[has] not deserved this” (IV.i.336). Even though Desdemona is not able to achieve her superobjective, Shakespeare does not allow her to abandon her personality. None of the characters in the play are written so that they change themselves, no matter the circumstance, which shows that Shakespeare believes that no one should sacrifice who they are for the sake of love.

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