Othello and Desdemona

Close Reading: Othello

Othello is a man of romantic nature. He has fell in love with the beautiful Desdemona. He was accused of stealing her away from her father. Othello was of a different race and did not fit in with her family. Othello makes a plea for Desdemona and tells his story which wooed her to begin with. Othello tells of the love that her father showed him since his boyish days. This was like a match made in heaven that overcame many obstacles which got in their way. Othello could not understand why he was good enough to work and fight alongside of her father, but was not good enough for his daughter.

Othello proved that he was once in Desdemona’s father’s favor. There is no better way to prove this than when Othello said in lines 127-131 in 1.3:

Her father loved me, oft invited me,

Still questioned me the story of my life

From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes

That I have passed.

I ran it through even from my boyish days

Othello was showing that the connections were there for years. He and Desdemona have known each other since childhood. Othello tried to explain that there was no poison, only a story of events in his life and that she had pity for him. Desdemona showed bravery and mannish demeanor, which Othello fell in love with. Even with all the invites, battles, sieges, and fortunes they shared he still would not consent to his daughter marriage to Othello. Racism was very much alive even as far back as Shakespeare.

However, in lines 133 – 135 in 1.3 Othello says,

To th’ very moment that he bade me tell it,

Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,

Of moving accidents by flood and field,

Of hair-breadth scapes I’th’ imminent deadly breach,

This is where Othello is descr...

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...allen in love with is the dangers in which he has gone through. Like many women, Desdemona fell in love with dangers and thrill of the chase. It seems like most of us women love the adventures of seeking what we know is wrong.

This passage is a soliloquy or speech from Othello to Desdemona’s father. He is telling how she has become his wife. Othello plea’s with Desdemona’s father for his blessing and to be a family. Othello states that her father has treated him well for many years and should honor his daughter for loving such a man. Othello and Desdemona is a love made in heaven. They are willing to fight alongside each other in battles and love one another in happy times.

Work Cited

Cohen, Walter, J.E. Howard, K. Eisaman Maus. The Norton Shakespeare. Vol. 2 Stephen Greenblatt, General Editor. New York, London. 2008. ISBN 978-0-393-92991-1