what happens to othello and desdemona

Othello is a play about a Moorish general in the Venetian army, Othello, who is tricked into thinking that his wife, Desdemona

, has been unfaithful to him with his lieutenant, Cassio. Othello kills Desdemona and then himself. Othello is a complex character who is driven by both his feelings and his rational thoughts.

Full Answer

Do Othello and Desdemona really love each other?

Othello and Desdemona have a genuine and honest love for each other throughout the entire play. Desdemona and Othello show their affection for each other regardless of racial and cultural differences. In the first half of the book, they believe and reassure others that their love is real and no one else's opinion can affect this.

Why did Desdemona decide to marry Othello?

Othello and Desdemona's marriage union, was one that was never approved, because it involved the coming together of two people of different races and colors. Desdemona however was attracted by Othello's bravery and his courage to face any kind of danger and this was the main reason which led Desdemona to marry Othello.

Why is Desdemona worried about Othello?

it now takes place on the island of cyprus Why is Desdemona worried about Othello Becasue Othello is leaving Cyprus to go fight on his ship Do Iago and Rodrigo really think that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers no, it was just a rumor who does Iago suspect of having an affair with his wife Cassio

How does Othello solve his problem with Desdemona?

Othello moves to solve his problems by using linear thinking. When Brabantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to seduce Desdemona, Othello suggests that she be summoned to give evidence of their courtship.

Why did Othello kill Desdemona and himself?

He immediately planned and scandalized Othello's wife Desdemona before Othello and made Othello believe that she had an extramarital affair with Cassio. Iago also proved her to be an unfaithful lady. Othello became very angry and out of suspicion and anger, he killed his wife Desdemona by strangulation.

What happens between Othello and Desdemona?

Othello, rather than abandon his suspicions, believes Desdemona is so cunning that she has managed to deceive even her maid. Othello speaks with Desdemona in private, threatening to banish her and calling her "whore" and "strumpet" — charges that she immediately denies. Emilia comes in, and Othello leaves.

What happens after Othello kills Desdemona?

Othello triumphantly admits to Emilia that he killed Desdemona, and when she asks him why, Othello tells her that Iago opened his eyes to Desdemona's falsehood. Unfazed by Othello's threat that she “were best” to remain silent, Emilia calls out for help, bringing Montano, Graziano, and Iago to the scene (V. ii. 168 ).

Do Othello and Desdemona end up together?

Desdemona, however, confirms that she married Othello of her own free will and that, like her own mother before her, she must shift her primary loyalty from father to husband.

Who killed Othello?

Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello's jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.

What does Othello say before he kills Desdemona?

I would not kill thy unprepared spirit; No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.

What are Desdemona's dying words?

In response to Emilia's question, “O, who hath done this deed?” Desdemona's final words are, “Nobody, I myself. Farewell. / Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell” (V.

Who kills Emilia?

IagoIago says that Desdemona was indeed unfaithful with Cassio, but Emilia knows this is untrue. She tells how she found the handkerchief, which her husband had asked her to steal, and gave it to him. Iago stabs Emilia and runs out.

Does Othello redeem himself in the end?

Othello is at his lowest point right before he dies, and in killing himself he redeems himself, again reiterating the virtues already emphasized in Desdemona's death.

What does the ending of Othello mean?

The ending symbolizes the culmination of the violent forces put in motion by Iago at the start of the play. He aimed at “practicing upon [Othello's] peace and quiet / Even to madness” (2.1.).

Did Othello and Desdemona consummate their marriage?

A Guiltless Death: The Unconsummated Marriage in Othello Although Desdemona and Othello are truly in love when they marry, they are unable to consummate their marriage in William Shakespeare's Othello.

Is Iago in love with Desdemona?

He has actually convinced himself that it's perfectly possible that Desdemona and Cassio might have an affair. Iago admits that Othello is a loving husband to Desdemona, but says that he, too, loves Desdemona. Don't forget, the revenge bit seems to stem from Iago thinking Othello had sex with his wife Emilia.

Why did Othello and Desdemona marry in secret?

(To cut a long story short, he told her stories of his past - and war stories -> he explains) They marry secretly because he abused his hospitality with Brabantio by winning the heat of his daughter and transgressed the unwritten codes of racial separation.

What does Othello and Desdemona's relationship Symbolise?

Othello loves Desdemona for her feminine grace and sympathy; she loves him for his masculine heroism. Essentially, Othello and Desdemona love each other harmoniously because of the differences they perceive in each other.

What do we learn about the relationship between Othello and Desdemona in Act 1 Scene 3?

Act 1 Scene 3 The Duke listens to Othello who explains that she fell in love with him as he told her stories about his life and that 'she loved me for the dangers I had passed'. Desdemona is called for and she tells the Senate she married Othello for love and her duty is now to him rather than her father.

Did Desdemona cheat on Othello?

Just as there is no way for Othello to prove beyond any doubt that Desdemona has been unfaithful, no amount of evidence could now overturn Othello's belief in her guilt. (In the final scene, Othello does abruptly decide that he has been deceived all along by Iago, but not because he is confronted by compelling proof.)

How to describe Desdemona and Othello?

This is probably the most accurate way to describe Desdemona and Othello's relationship in William Shakespeare's Othello. First of all, since the relationship involved two people from different racial backgrounds, the story explores and challenges racial perceptions. The relationship itself also changes throughout the play as Othello transitions ...

What happens at the end of Othello?

At the end of the play, Othello is overwhelmed with his actions and stabs himself to death. By the end of the play, both Othello and his wife are together again in death. In William Shakespeare's Othello the relationship between Othello and Desdemona changes rapidly.

What does Iago tell Othello about his wife's handkerchief?

Later in the play, Iago tells Othello that he saw his wife's handkerchief in another man's home. Othello loses his mind at this news. He is either too enraged with jealousy or simply did not remember that he had knocked the handkerchief to the floor, which meant anyone could have picked it up. Convinced that Desdemona left the handkerchief in another man's room during a sexual encounter, he vows revenge on her saying 'Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!' Othello's mind is completely consumed and convinced of Desdemona's infidelity.

What is Othello tricked into believing?

As the play develops, Othello is tricked into believing that Desdemona is being unfaithful. As Othello descends further into a jealous rage, his relationship with his wife suffers. One of the most telling interactions between the two comes when Othello is preoccupied with his suspicions.

What does Brabantio say about Desdemona?

Brabantio hunts down Othello and demands that he explains why he stole Desdemona. Othello explains that he did not steal her. Othello was often a guest in Brabantio's home, and Brabantio liked to hear Othello tell stories of his battles. Othello explained that Desdemona 'bade me, if I had a friend that loved her, / I should but teach him how to tell my story. / And that would woo her.' Desdemona told Othello that if anyone told her these stories, she would be in love. Othello took the hint, made his move and won Desdemona's heart.

What does Brabantio say when he tells the men about Othello's daughter?

When the men tell Brabantio that Othello has stolen his daughter, Iago says ''Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on / your gown.'. In other words, Brabantio should get dressed and see what has been stolen from him. Brabantio hunts down Othello and demands that he explains why he stole Desdemona.

What does Desdemona say to her father?

Desdemona arrives and explains that everything Othello said is true. She tells her father, 'And so much duty as my mother show'd / To you, preferring you before her father, / So much I challenge that I may profess / Due to the Moor my lord.' In other words, just like her own mother chose her husband over her father, Desdemona must do the same thing and choose Othello over her father. This passage shows that Desdemona is committed to Othello , even at the cost of losing her father's affection.

Name Desdemona and its Meaning

Desdemona is not a new name that William Shakespeare has given to his character. It was introduced by the Greeks but they pronounced it as Disdemona instead of Desdemona. It means ill-fated or unfortunate. Shakespeare has deliberately given name Desdemona to the most innocent character of this play.

Role of Desdemona in Othello

First act is just about setting things up for the play. We are specifically talking about Desdemona and Othello in this article, therefore, the scenes that are discussed are those in which at least one of the two must appear.

Tragic Flaw of Othello

Othello lacks self confidence regarding his outer beauty. It is true that he knows that he is a great war hero but he cannot forget that he is a moor. He cannot ignore that many people of locality referred to him as “Barbary horse” and “lascivious Moor”. When he sees physical beauty of Desdemona, he can’t believe in his fate.

Social Insecurity is also his Tragic Flaw

Besides jealousy, Othello is socially insecure because he is an outsider. Being a great general in battlefield and having tactics can’t make him socially secure. He is the only black person between the white ones.

How do Desdemona and Othello look together?

Two people in love, each completes the other. That is how Desdemona and Othello, together, look at first sight. He has unruly temper, and she is calm; she is compassionate, he needs this; she adores him, and so does he adore her. Both with such passion for each other. But The Moor`s insecurity outgrows everything. His lack of trust and his dubiety crush his common sense and Iago sows the seed of jealousy and suspicion so easily. By telling Othello that it is women`s nature to fornicate and deceive, Iago reminds him about Desdemona`s choice to elope with him, despite her father`s resentment and against his will. She marries The Moor secretly without her father`s knowledge, and instead of seeing her decision as a sign of her loyalty for him, her husband sees Desdemona`s willingness to elope as a prelude to her infidelity.

What does Iago tell Othello about Desdemona?

By telling Othello that it is women`s nature to fornicate and deceive, Iago reminds him about Desdemona`s choice to elope with him, despite her father`s resentment and against his will.

What is Desdemona's character?

The young beauty Desdemona is adored by several men in the play. So calm person she is, but is the one that causes such rage, resentment and jealousy among those men. Ironically, the man with whom she is suspected of adultery does not fell like that for her. Although she appears as the unit of friction and suspicions in the tragedy, she is one of the most moderate characters. No one else has thoughts that pure and intentioned. But that does not appear as something good for her, because even her good intentions to help, enrage Othello more and he gets even more suspicious.

What is the contrast between Desdemona and Moor Othello?

The contrast between The Moor Othello and the gentle Desdemona in Shakespeare`s tragedy Othello is noteworthy. Yet initially it looks like one complements the other: “She loved me for the dangers that I had passed. And I loved her for that she did pity them.

What does Desdemona do before she dies?

Even before her death she does not blame him for what he is about to do. Instead she tries to find where she went wrong. Desdemona stays faithful and true to love till she dies. Her blind faith in the honesty and goodness in people, turns out to be one of the reasons for her disastrous destiny.

Does Othello stop loving Desdemona?

Nevertheless Othello never stops loving Desdemona, nor she stops loving and supporting him, even when he is far more different than a trusting, gentle husband. Yet the destruction of their initial idyll is inevitable. Because Iago only affects Othello`s jealousy, not creating it.

Did Desdemona and Othello ever have a relationship?

It seems like the relationship of Othello and Desdemona was never meant to last, but even for a short term of time it was embraced with searing love, that filled their hearts with sweetness, bliss and fervor. Sad, indeed, but beautiful, how the only thing that could devastate their bond was their burning love and the consequences of it.

What is Desdemona's final words?

In response to Emilia’s question, “O, who hath done this deed?” Desdemona’s final words are, “Nobody, I myself. Farewell. / Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell” (V.ii. 133–134 ). The play, then, depicts Desdemona contradictorily as a self-effacing, faithful wife and as a bold, independent personality. This contradiction may be intentional, meant to portray the way Desdemona herself feels after defending her choice of marriage to her father in Act I, scene iii, and then almost immediately being put in the position of defending her fidelity to her husband. She begins the play as a supremely independent person, but midway through she must struggle against all odds to convince Othello that she is not too independent. The manner in which Desdemona is murdered—smothered by a pillow in a bed covered in her wedding sheets—is symbolic: she is literally suffocated beneath the demands put on her fidelity. Since her first lines, Desdemona has seemed capable of meeting or even rising above those demands. In the end, Othello stifles the speech that made Desdemona so powerful.

Who asks Emilia to put her wedding sheets on the bed?

Tragically, Desdemona is apparently aware of her imminent death. She, not Othello , asks Emilia to put her wedding sheets on the bed, and she asks Emilia to bury her in these sheets should she die first.

Why did Desdemona marry Othello?

By marrying Othello, Desdemona was showing that she was strong enough and educated enough to break the societal confines of passivity for women (Walker 2).

What did Othello believe Desdemona and Cassio were having?

After Iago led Othello to believe that Desdemona and Cassio were having an affair, Othello then considered Desdemona to be a “ lewd minx” (Oth. I. i. 75). Othello did not have enough faith in his wife to disregard the accusations made by Iago.

What is the other aspect of Desdemona's mutiny?

The other aspect of Desdemona’s mutiny was the miscegenation in Desdemona and Othello’s marriage. 1The choice of mate made by Desdemona further deviated from the role in which Venetian society would cast her. The traditions of the Venetian society are discovered when Iago speaks to Brabantio and plants both the ideas of miscegeny and loss ...

How did Desdemona demonstrate her intellect?

Cassio knew that Desdemona was constantly striving for her voice to be heard and she demonstrated her intellect through word and deed. Ironically and tragically, Desdemona’s desire for her voice to be heard fed into Iago’s web of deception (Walker 2). Both Desdemona and Othello were under the impression that Iago was an honest man. Thus, when Othello accused Desdemona of adultery, she went to Iago for help. Naturally Iago, who put the idea of adultery in Othello’s head, told Desdemona that Othello was troubled by business with the state. In this way Iago avoided the revealing of his manipulation.

Why did Desdemona take the initiative in the courtship?

Instead of Brabantio taking the initiative in the marriage, Desdemona took the initiative in the courtship because she envied the power ...

What is Iago's relationship with Desdemona?

To Othello, Iago had the appearance of a loyal servant by informing him of Desdemona’s “affair. ” These manipulative actions by Iago can be related to William Blake’s “A Poison Tree.

Why does Desdemona want to please her husband?

Therefore, their matriarchal instincts were to do anything in their power to alleviate the tension between their husbands. This desire by Desdemona to please her husband can also be attributed to her intelligence and liberation. She does not merely listen to Othello’s accusations, but instead tries to explain her situation.