Does Othello Love Desdemona

Othello, artfully composed by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy with clearly defined motives and relationships in comparison to his other well-renowned works such as Hamlet. Iago the main antagonist is dead set on ruining Othello’s life while remaining at large. On the other hand, Hamlet shifts from motive to motive and his most tragic characteristic is in return his indecisiveness. The relationship between Othello and Desdemona is one of the most debated of the play. However, the dramatist leaves us clear evidence to determine the overall authenticity of their love.

At the beginning of the play, Othello appears to be impeccable. When the two afflicting parties meet Othello’s he says coolly, “Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them” (Oth.1.2.59). This in turn stops the ensuing conflict from occurring. This brings to attention the great abilities the Moor possesses when it comes to military matters. The war with the Turks ends sooner than expected after he arrives further indicating his effectiveness as a military general, however, later on in the play

his inability to prosper in a civilized society becomes paramount and not even his training can save him.
When Othello is brought before the Senate as a General of the state and an eloper with Brabantio’s daughter he comes to find out that he is not accepted equally in all aspects with the Venetians. Brabantio his old friend and greatest admirer in the senate, now testifies that Othello has stolen his daughter with the use of witchcraft. Brabantio says, “She is abus’d, stolen from me, and corrupted / By spells, and medicines, bought of mountebanks; / For nature, so preposterously to err, Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense, / Sans witchcraft could not” (Oth.1.2.59-64). Brabantio simply cannot see how Othello could reasonably woo his daughter into marriage without some type of knavery such as narcotics or sorcery because of the pigment of his skin. In his defense Othello replies, “She loved me for the dangers I had pass’d, / And I loved her that she did pity them” (Oth.1.3.166-67). Othello loves Desdemona for her sympathy towards him. To him the world seems against him due to his racial background he is truly a black sheep to the society in which he lives or in Iago’s words, “an old black ram” (Oth.1.1.88). Desdemona states to the Duke, “… my heart’s subdued / Even to the very quality of my lord: / I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honor and his valiant parts / Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate” (Oth.1.3.251-54). Desdemona chooses to give her vows to a man of a lesser social standing than her own. She could have easily married another noble Venetian without encountering any problems. Yet she gave her heart to a man who is ridiculed by her own father for something he can’t even control, his race. Desdemona wore her heart upon her shoulder and kept her head up high even though society frowned upon her actions. She truly saw the beauty behind the beast.
So far two actions have brought Othello into conflict with the other characters of the play. He has promoted Cassio above his loyal officer Iago because of Cassio’s help in sending letters to Desdemona and he has stolen Desdemona away from her father Brabantio creating yet another enemy of an old friend. Up to this point Othello has been flawless in his position as a General of his adopted state. His loving relationship with Desdemona has been his only weakness.
Othello kills Desdemona in the name of justice and honor.

Before he smothers Desdemona he says, “Ah balmy breath, that dost almost persuade / Justice to break her sword! One more, one more. / Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee, / And love thee after…” (Oth.5.2.16-19). He does love her because he hangs in the balance as to whether he should kill her he says “One more, one more” (Oth.5.2.17) He hesitates to kill her even though the odds appear to be in Iago’s favor. Othello has to escape the claws of jealousy and is surprisingly calm yet intense in his words and actions. He truly believes that Desdemona has betrayed him and the only way he can respond is with death he can no longer bare the emotional pain of seeing her this way. His military experience contributes to the conviction he has committing such an act. He shuts off his feelings similar to how he would have to cope in

battle.
In conclusion, Shakespeare takes a different direction on love in Othello than in his other plays such as Romeo and Juliet. He shows that love is not always strong enough to withstand the pressure of external forces. Love can leave many people vulnerable and susceptible to nefarious villains such as Iago. The moral of the play set forth by the dramatist is that people must be aware of evil in the world and in order to protect their better interests they must be able to identify others motives. The downfall of Othello is his inability to see that Iago is trying to ensnare him into destroying his life and more importantly his soul. Othello and Desdemona truly do love each other but their love was simply not strong enough to withstand the sinister plans of Iago