Courage: A Trait that Makes One Special

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Shakespeare said, “Who could refrain that had a heart to love and in that heart courage to make love known?” What better way to express Desdemona’s deep affection for Othello than this quote. Courage is a trait that is exhibited through many characters in the play, Othello, by Shakespeare. It is the capability to stand up for what one believes in even in the face of great adversity. Courage is a characteristic that sets a person apart from the rest.

In Othello, by Shakespeare, two characters, Desdemona and Emilia, share a common trait: courage. An act of courage is already seen early in the play. In Act 1, Scene 3, Desdemona goes against her father’s will. Her father despises the fact that his daughter is married to a Moor and would not accept their marriage. However, she follows her heart rather than listening to her father. “I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband. 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” (Act 1, Scene 3, Lines 214-8). She shows a great deal of courage because back in the days, in Shakespeare’s time, women really did not have a voice in society. They would have to obey to their father’s commands. Therefore, Desdemona’s action truly shows the courage that she possesses within her, which makes her different from the other characters.

Another character that possesses this outstanding trait is none other than Emilia. After seeing Desdemona's lifeless body after Othello killed her, Emilia demonstrates her courage. "I will not charm my tongue, I am bound to speak" (Act 5, Scene 2, Line 220). Though threatened with her own husband's dagger, she maintains her virtue and "will speak as liberal as the north.....

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..., Emilia, Logan, and the nurses in New Zealand, set them apart from others. The persistent and courageous actions of the United States sets them apart from other countries around the world.

Works Cited

Ernst, Amy. "Notes from a Young American in Congo: The Stigma of Rape - NYTimes.com." Globalization and Human Rights - Nicholas D. Kristof Blog - NYTimes.com. Web. 31 Dec. 2011.

"PERSISTENCE AND COURAGE." St. Petersburg Times [St. Petersburg, FL] 3 May 2011: 12A. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 31 Dec. 2011.

Shakespeare, William. Othello. New York: Pocket Books, 1993. Print.

"Stories of courage and leadership." Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand 17.3 (2011): 17. Health Reference Center Academic. Web. 31 Dec. 2011.

"William Shakespeare Quotes." Find the Famous Quotes You Need, ThinkExist.com

Quotations. Web. 21 Dec. 2011.

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