Desdemona lived a complicated and short life. Some have said that, “Desdemona was not a wimp. She was a soldier’s wife and fit to be so. She had a good sense, stubbornness, and courage. She could stand up to Othello for the sake of what she thought was right, even when he was in a dangerous mood and few people would have cared to face him.” Unfortunately, I would have to say that these characteristics are false of who Desdemona was. I do not believe that she had a lot of courage. When I knew Desdemona she was going through complications with her husband. She never confronted Othello and told him bluntly that she was not cheating on him with Cassio. If she would have possessed the trait of courage, I believe that she would have confronted her husband. In addition to lacking courage, Desdemona also did not have a very good sense.
Desdemona was never really fully aware of what was going on around her. Specifically, she was unaware of how Iago was playing everyone, especially with the rumor that Cassio and she were having an affair. If she had a good sense, I believe that Desdemona would have been able to catch on to Iago’s games. Also, she would have realized that Othello had more on his mind than just the stress of his position. When Desdemona finally reached the end of her life she still did not stand up for herself.
While Desdemona was dying Emilia asked her who had killed her and she responded, “Nobody. I myself. Farewell (245).” If Desdemona was the strong and stubborn person that some people claimed she was during her lifetime, she would not have blamed her death on herself. Rather, she would have said that Othello smothered her and killed her. Desdemona was many things during her lifetime, but she did not have a good sense, stubbornness, or courage. She was naive and faithful. Desdemona has now passed before us and said her prayers so that she may have a prepared spirit. We can only hope that heaven will have mercy on her. We shall all learn from the life of Desdemona as we lay her body to rest. May Desdemona rest in peace and find the peace that she was unable to have during her short lifetime.
"She never confronted Othello and told him bluntly that she was not cheating on him with Cassio" <--- But she didn't know that was why he was acting out! Give the girl a break, Holly! Oh, we are so harsh on our own sex!
ReplyDeleteBut I like the rest of your argument; when she tells Emilia that she had killed herself - grrr, that made me mad.