Desdemona

Desdemona

1. key qualities

   • the ingenue/ innocent
     • Her chastity is sought after and capitalised on. Utilised by iago, severely concerning iago and casually discussed to cassio by iago
       • prominent quality of hers. Shakespeare highlights her kindness, loyalty etc and often uses religious language alongside her character
     • Ignorant of millitary culture (creates friction between her and othello) Tragiically unaware of toxic masculinity, she maintains that her husband is above any such emotion and her naive outlook is a unfortunate quality to have in such a close proximity to iago. Naive outlook recalibrated by wisdom of elder emilia
   • the mediator
     • - a wordsmith like her husband. Shes often placed in the middle of conflict/ tension eg C, O, B. She is diplomatic and empathetic with her lang, aiming to resolve any difficulties
       • Shakespeare portrays her extreme altruism, sacrificing herself for needs of others. This reaches its crux as desdemona is killed
         • 'He hath left part of his grief with me/to suffer with him, illustrating that others burdens become her own. The conflicts of the play are taken out on her.
     • martyr
       • As play reaches denoument, des becvomes forlons.