Betrayal between Othello and Desdemonda

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Recommended: Character analysis of the play Othello

In the play, The Tragedy of Othello, judging from the relationship between Desdemona and Othello, seems to say that marriage based on an innocent romantic love is bound to fail. There is a common thread of betrayal and deceit among many characters. Othello and Desdemona being the most vividly portrayed. The two appear to love one another romantically at first, but it soon after transforms into a secular love. This comes to pass because there is no foundation for a relationship. 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. Othello says "Rude am I in my speech,/ and little bless'd with the soft phrase of peace,/ for since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,/ Till now some nine moons wasted, they have us'd/ Their dearest action in the tented field,/ And little of this great world can I speak/ More than pertains to feats of broils and battle" (1113).

Desdemona seems inexperienced in the ways of the world. She is taken in by Othello's war stories. 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 heart's subdu'd/ Even to the very quality of my lord./ I saw Othello's visage in his mind,/ And to his honors and his valiant parts/ Did I my soul and fortune consecrate." (1118). In the beginning stages of relationships, some things are said that maybe affected by Love's blindness. The problem initiates when some outside force makes its way in and starts pouring soap into all of the fountains.

In this case, that force is Iago, whom I have come to view as symbolic of everythin...

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...een betrayed by the one person she had loved trusted and respected the most. Even in her last moments, Desdemona can only insist how truly she loves him. Her sins: "They are the loves I bear to you". She adds, "And have you mercy too! I never did/ offend you in my life, never lov'd Cassio/But with such general warranty of heaven/ As I might love. I never gave him token". And with her dying breath states "O, falsely, falsely murdered?a guiltless death I die"(1185) and exonerates Othello of any blame. Many other betrayals are portrayed, among them is Iago's honest betrayal, which left Othello pondering over Desdemona's faithfulness. Believing the words of his most honest solder Othello gullibly gives in to the insinuations imposed on his wife, as being unfaithful.

Works Cited

Jorgensen, Paul A. William Shakespeare: The Tragedies. Boston: Twayne Publishers, 1985.

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