Desdemona and Othello free essay sample

In the play, The Tragedy of Othello, Shakespeare really tests our conception as to what love is, and where it can or cant exist. Judging from the relationship between Desdemona and Othello, through Nicholson’s Othello And The Geography Of Persuasion. the play seems to say that marriage based on an innocent romantic love or profane love is bound to fail. Shakespeare is pessimistic about the existence and survival of a true type of love. There is a common thread of betrayal and deceit among his female characters, especially. Othello and Desdemona, as portrayed in the play, are the two greatest innocents there ever were. The two appear to love one another romantically at first, but this romantic love becomes more of a profane love, or more likely was truly a profane love all along. This comes to pass because there is no foundation for a relationship here. There is no trust, no communication, and no understanding. Othello has spent most of his life in battle, which makes him good at some things namely, battle. Othello says Rude am I in my speech,/ More than pertains to feats of broils and battle ( ). Desdemona is little more that a girl, inexperienced in the ways of the world. She is taken in by Othellos war stories. Desdemona takes one look at Othello and she is swept off her feet. But is this a true love? She speaks so fondly of him, yet hardly knows him. As she defends her newly born love for Othello, Desdemona says (among other things), My downright violence, and storm of fortunes,/ May trumpet to the world. My hearts subdud/ Even to the very quality of my lord. I saw Othellos visage in his mind,/ And to his honors and his valiant parts/ Did I my soul and fortune consecrate. Nicholson states that â€Å"The first part of the relationship, some things are said that maybe affected by Loves blindness. Put these two together, and you have the equivalent of a couple of kids playing doctor. The two big clumsy babies fumbling towards ecstasy might have actually made it if they were free from outside forces. †(58) This romantic love is very much meant to be a separate little planet, with accommodations for two. The problem comes when some exterior force (like reality) makes its way into the lover’s relationship and starts destroying their perfect balance of love and trust. In this case, the force is Iago, whom Nicholson have come to view as symbolic of everything evil. It is said in the play that Iago means two-faced. Iago, full of jealousy and spite for the moor sets out to sabotage his love from page one. Nicholson states â€Å"Of course, as the reader, we know all the behind-the-scenes information that makes anyone who believes and trusts in Iago look ignorant. (62). Iago seems sincere enough, and he makes a concerted effort to ensure that he remains aces in everyones book. So when Iago begins to plant the seeds of doubt into Othellos mind, has Othello any cause to doubt him? Desdemona is his wife, the woman that he loves with all his heart. Yet, see how quickly he is dissuaded, and how he disparages her. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damnd tonight, for she shall not live. No, me heart is turnd to stone; I strike it, and it hurts my hand†¦I will chop her into messes. Cuckold me! But Othello never thinks to disbelieve Iago. Why should he? Iago is an honest man. Iago is wise. Iago is only trying to help. â€Å"Othello, in all his stupidity, doesnt even stop to think that maybe he should talk this over with the little wife before he launches himself into a tizzy. †(64). If he truly loved her, would he think this way? Othello is not hurt because of a failing love, but because of how it affects him. How it hurts his pride. He is a vain and jealous man. This is when things get ugly. Othello puts more trust in Iago than in his own wife. This is due, in part, to Iagos manipulatory skills, but mostly to Othellos lack of experience in dealing with women. It is also due to the fact that he and his wife do not even truly know one another outside of their profane love. Desdemona lets the condition escalate, and her self-blaming attitude only allows Othellos doubts in her to grow. â€Å"After Othello strikes her in front of the whole dinner party, and orders her around like some sort of dog, the best Desdemona can do for herself in the way of defense is this: Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep? Am I the motive of these tears, my lord? †¦I hope my noble lord esteems me honest†¦Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed? (1172)Othellos mounting injury and fury isnt due to the idea that the romance has slipped out of his marriage. †Nicolson (65). It is due to Othellos huge ego and pride. All Othello wants is vengeance, and he even says as much himself: O that the slave had forty thousand lives! One is too poor, too weak for my revenge. Now do I see tis true. Look here, I ago All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven Tis gone. Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, For tis of aspics tongues! ( ) If the two had just talked, none of this would ever have happened. Even in her last moments, Desdemona can only show how truly she loves him. She exonerates Othello of any blame. I suppose thats what makes it a tragedy. It may have been that the pair really did believe they loved one another, but not with a love that would stand the test of time. Perhaps in the embrace of death, they found solace with one another. I believe that the only love between a couple (in marriage or not) that will last encompasses the properties of all four types. There must be Agape, the brotherly love, to ensure that the two will be truthful and comfortable with one another. Your partner should be your best friend. There must be Sacred love, because there should be just a bit of worship for your mate. If you find them holy, you would never dishonor them. There needs to be, of course, Romantic love. Lastly, profane love must be present. The point is not to have more of one than another, or that one lasts or another does not.