Desdemona in Shakespeare's Play "Othello"

Of all the characters presented in Shakespeare's "Othello" I want to discuss his portrayal of Desdemona who is the most beautiful figure in the play. I find Desdemona's character contradictive in some ways. She seems a very independent person in the beginning of the play but at the same time we see that she is described like somebody's property. From her first speech I can say that she is a very good daughter and highly respects her father: "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." (1, 3, 208) Also, she loves her family because she says that she would be happy to have such family as well: "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."

Othello Relating His Adventures - Steel engraving,...

From the Library of Congress: TITLE: Thos. W. Keen...

Illustration of Othello and Iago

(1, 3, 215) The dipper discussion of Desdemona's character we can give by looking at how the other characters in the play describe her.

Brabantio knows his daughter is very smart and well educated, and he doesn't believe that she can fall in love with "what she feared to look on." (1, 3, 116) That's why he thinks that Othello "wrought upon her some mixtures powerful o'er the blood or with some dram conjured to this effect."(1, 3, 123) Brabantio describes his daughter as tender, young, fair and happy. Othello's lieutenant Cassio also admires Othello's wife. He says that the general's marriage is very fortunate: "He hath achieved a maid that paragons description and wild fame, one that excels the quirks of blazoning pens, and in th' essential vesture of creation does tire the...