9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
I believe that it shows that Desdemona has an adventurous personality, because she wished she were a man like Othello. Othello had wooed Desdemona by telling her stories of his adventures and travels as a general. Othello has proclaimed himself "a military man" and because of that he enjoys the adventurous personality that Desdemona has. Desdemona is unlike other Venetian women in the fact that she was willing to run away from her father and marry a man of color. Because they both have these bold traits it can be suggested that they have an egalitarian relationship because they hold mutual respect for each other, as much as they could in a patriarchal society in early Venice. Despite Othello being a "gruff" military man he seems to be really sweet and nice to Desdemona, and her to him, despite their bold personalities. I imagine their relationship is intimate and respectful to one another. I do not think it's based off of lust like Iago makes it out to be.
It is an interesting thought that Desdemona may wish that she were a man. Perhaps because she wants to live her life with more excitement that Othello lives. However, I am not quite sure that she does want to live this kind of life herself, but rather imagine that she could. Desdemona may be unlike other Venetian women in some ways, however, it is said that her mother had to shift primary respect from her father to her husband, just as Desdemona had.
I like how you made the connection between Othello's military man personality and Desdemona's adventurous side because I agree that those characteristics couple together greatly in more than just a lustful way. I personally think their bold traits you described can also make it easier for them to butt heads and fail to understand each other despite the mutual respect. Perhaps their relationship was not purely driven on lust, it does however at times seem to be a bit impulsive. These bold, intimate, and impulsive characteristics make it seem more plausible why things unfolded the way they did.
Desdemona fell for Othello because she pitied him because of the stories he told her of his odious childhood. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168). So, their relationship is based solely on her sympathy for Othello’s background. There was even a hint of wonder that she felt for him because he could tell her things she had never heard or thought of before which was maybe a bit exciting to her while being heartbreaking at the same time. This is not how a real relationship should be started. Because of this, I believe their relationship to be superficial in a way. It seems as if there is not some deep attraction or connection between the two of them. I think that in the eyes of Desdemona, their relationship is more of an adventure for her to conquer than a love for her to feel. However, I believe Othello may be infatuated with her because he is surprised and delighted by the fact that Desdemona seems to love him despite his horrifying past.
I like your ideas with their relationship being superficial, but I think similar evidence could be interpreted to say that it's real. "The rites for why I love him are bereft me, And I a heavy interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with him," (258-260.) Desdemona says this when speaking to her father on why she loves Othello, and I think it shows that their loves is true. She loves him for the type of person he is, not his looks. I think the same goes for Othello. He appreciates that Desdemona doesn't judge him for his looks, and rather focuses on how she treats him and appreciates his courage.
I disagree, I don't think that it's purely superficial. I think that if Desdemona was superficial she would have chosen someone who was white rather than someone of color. Then she would have a lot more people to choose from and still save the "scandal" of her marrying someone of color. I think because Desdemona as able to see past Othello's skin color she is not very superficial and actually cares for Othello. Othello though may like Desdemona only because she liked him for who he was which was something that not a lot of people have been able to do. I think Othello is superficial, but not Desdemona.
I think that Desdemona fell for Othello because he could offer some sort of longing that Desdemona had never had filled. Desdemona was brought up in a life of privilege, and lacked true real-world experience. Othello, on the other hand, has lived a very hard life. From this life he can produce stories of adventure and horror that Desdemona would never have known. She fell for Othello because she began to crave the life of adventure that he led. However, this sort of infatuation can not last. When her sense of wonder runs dry, so too will her love.
9. In Act I scene three Desdemona's father, Brabantio, is convinced that Othello used "witchcraft" to woo his daughter. Othello attempted to persuade everyone of his innocence by describing how he and Desdemona fell in love. Othello and Desdemona's relationship began when Othello would visit her father and tell him about his "story(131)" of "disastrous chances(136)," "moving accidents(137)," and "hairbreadth escapes(138)." Her father "loved" Othello and "questioned(130)" him about his life. Her father loved to hear about Othello's life and probably thought of him as a hero. Othello sounds like a hero, because of his victory over all the obstacles and wars he has faced. Desdemona heard him tell her father these stories, and she would "devour(152)" everything he said. Othello's wording suggests that Desdemona was desperate to hear tales about his life. She was hungry for more knowledge about him. Some of his stories would move her to "tears(158)." Desdemona was crying, because of his pain. Desdemona had developed feeling for Othello by this point in Othello's recounting of their love. She was desperate to know more about him, and was deeply sorrowed by the pain he had been through. Desdemona told Othello that if he had a friend that loved her and could tell Othello's "story(167)" then she would fall in love with him. She basically told him that she could fall in love with a hero that loved her. Desdemona fell in love with Othello because of his heroics and his love for her. That is why Othello said, "she loved me for the dangers I had passed(167)." Desdemona fell in love with Othello because he was a strong hero. Othello fell in love with her, because she did not pity the bad things that happened in his life. He said, "I loved her that she did not pity them(168)." He loved her because she did not feel sorry for all the bad things that he faced. Some of the "dangers" he faced brought her to "tears," but she did not "pity" him. She loved his strength and his heroism. He loved her, because of her love of his heroism. After reading this passage I wonder if Desdemona would have loved Othello if he was not a hero, because it seems like that is the only reason she loves him. I also wonder if Othello just loved the attention she gave him as she "devoured" his stories.
9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
Desdemona wants a hero. She is amazed by what Othello has done and all the dangerous situations that he has survived to become this amazing hero. Their relationship is based on Othello's heroism and the strong emotions that Desdemona feels towards him, as he explains. Othello wants a women that doesn't care about what he looks like, but for the things that he has accomplished in his life. Desdemona's father is very very against her being with Othello. He presumes that because Othello is black, he is using witchcraft to obtain Desdemona's love. There is almost a use of satire here. Barbantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to get Desdemona to love him. Othello responds to this by saying "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them. This was the only witchcraft I have used." (1.3.167-168). This is not witchcraft. Othello says this to prove a point that Desdemona's love for him is all through her own emotions towards him and his emotions towards her. There is no such witchcraft occurring here, just true love. Their relationship is a little sketchy, though. "Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, she’d come again, and with a greedy ear devour up my discourse, which I, observing,took once a pliant hour and found good means to draw from her a prayer of earnest heart"(1.3.150-154). This quote suggests that their love isn't really love, but lust. Desdemona "devours" up all of Othello's love he gives to her, but eventually she will get bored of him because there will be no new attention given to her. There is some mixed messages in their relationship since Othello thinks that Desdemona loves him for his heroism, even though it seems she just wants him for lust, not love.
I agree with this and also believe that Othello himself doesn't believe that Desdemona truly loves him if it is so easy to convince him that she is having an affair.
9. “She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used,” (169-171.) Brabantio, Desdemona’s father believes Othello only gained Desdemona’s love through witchcraft, but with this line Othello is saying that he “won” her with all the adventures he explains. Desdemona loves Othello for his heroism whether it was being caught by the enemy or being sold through bravery. From Othello’s monologue, Desdemona seems to love him for being different. Othello loved her because she did not pity him for those dangers and adventures. Although in this day and age it might not be the social norm for someone to just love another for doing something prominent, it seems like during this time, it was totally normal for two people to fall in love for that reason. I think their relationship is strong, and it isn’t lust based like Iago describes it to be. “I am hithero 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,” (187-191.) When Brabantio asks his daughter if what Othello says is true, she affirms it in that even though she respects him as her father, she will choose Othello over him just like her mother chose her Brabantio over her own father. I envision Othello and Desdemona’s relationship to be pure and true. “These things to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline... She’d come again with a greedy ear” (148 & 151.) Desdemona loved listening to Othello’s stories which reinforces the idea that she loves him for being a hero. The stories scare her as she “wished she had not heard it” (164) but she also wishes she could be a man so that she could enjoy those adventures. From the actions Othello describes, their relationship seems to be the type where Desdemona will take pride in everything Othello does and Othello seems like he almost loves her for giving him that attention. It doesn’t seem like he loves her for how she looks but rather for how she treats him. If race was a concern in this time, he was probably lucky to have a beautiful white woman falling in love with him. I think that even though the way they fall for each other is through his adventures, Desdemona and Othello love each other unconditionally because “I saw Othello’s visage in his mind And to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate,” (253-255.) Desdemona says this in her pledge to loyalty towards Othello. She gives her whole life to him for his bravery.
"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
Based upon these lines, it becomes clear that lust and pride are featured in Othello and Desdemona's relationship. While they do not want to admit it, the way Othello claims to have "won" her affection certainly seems like she is a trophy, or a prize. Additionally, Desdemona seems fascinated with Othello and his stories from a distant land. She probably does love him, but more for curiosity and lust's sake, not necessarily genuine feelings. There interactions seems to be very passionate, they do not withhold their feelings for each other, and obsess over each other constantly. In this passage, the themes I highlighted are evident. They act like they are meant to be together, and are triggered by Desdemona's father's unwillingness to accept their marriage, with him claiming it is nothing but the result of successful "witchcraft and poisons".
I agree that Desdemona and Othello's relationship was focused more on lust than actual love. It seems the way she loves him is similar to the way someone might love an action movie hero, not necessarily love but extreme admiration.
9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them"
These lines tell me that their relationship was never true love to .begin with. Their love is born of pity. Desdemona loved Othello because she pitied him for all he has been through, and Othello loves Desdemona because she pities him. It was Othello's stories that Desdemona fell in love with, and not the man himself. I envision most of their interactions as a couple being Othello telling stories and Desdemona weeping from the tragedy of them. This is not the foundation of a true relationship. Desdemona is simply fascinated with Othello. At some point all fascinations wane. When Desdemona's fascination with Othello wanes so too will their love. Based on some lines in the reading it also appears as if theirs is a love that rose quickly and has not been around long. Their relationship has never had to stand the test of time, and therefore, is very likely to fall apart on its own. In conclusion, Desdemona is just an innocent girl with no experience in the real world, and she has fallen in love with Othello because his experiences in the world both fascinate and evoke a sense of pity from her.
I agree with your thoughts. Their love isn't really true love. I think that at the beginning it was true love. She loved him for his heroism. She wanted a hero in her life and she got one, however, when she gets bored of him it doesn't even matter if he is a hero anymore, she shows no interest in him any longer. He hasn't had much relationship with women in the past as he is a military man so I think Desdemona gives him a look into a different side of the world having someone that loves him.
I do agree that Desdemona fell in love with him, because of her fascination with his stories. She listened to his stories with a "greedy ear(1.3.152)," and she would "devour(1.3.153)" his stories. This illustrates her fascination of his stories. Since their love is based on her fascination and his love of her pity, it seems like their love is very shallow. Othello didn't say something a normal loving husband would say. People don't usually say they fell in love with their spouse because of pity. He also does not give any other reason for their love, so it seems to me that their love is shallow. It also sounds like Othello did not get to know Desdemona. I think that this was part of their downfall.
I agree their love was based mostly upon Desdemona's fascination of Othello. After all, he came from a foreign country and had the title and appearance of "the Moor". While this may not be a compliment, it is still completely different than anything Desdemona was used to. Just as we were fascinated with new toys and gifts when we were little, Desdemona meeting a man like Othello is essentially the same thing. Another reason their relationship exists is because Othello felt like Desdemona appreciated him for who he was, and truly cared about him. Othello had never really met another person who truly cared for him, and he did not want to let her slip away. So their love is basically built upon Desdemona's desire to have the mystery of Othello, nothing more.
That's a great insight that you have into the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. I agree with a lot of what you say, however, I do think that this can also be seen in a different way. The stories are what caught Desdemona's eye to Othello, and through that she learned more about him. He had those experiences, and those experiences made him into the person he had become. She could have then fell in love with that person knowing what he had been through. Just because their relationship had not had the chance to stand against time, does not mean that they would not have been able to do so. Othello was at a weak point in his life, and he believed anything he heard.
We have quite a variety of opinions on Desdemona and Othello's love, relationship, and individual character. Now that we have read some more, challenge each others initial response. How can you "argue" for a different interpretation? What new evidence can you present to support? How have others perhaps viewed Othello's dangers? If she was the one that pitied them, how did others respond? Why would it move Othello that she pitied them?
After being accused by Brabantio of using magic or trickery to "capture" Desdemona, Othello tries to defend himself by telling him Brabantio and the duke that he used to tell Desdemona stories about his life. She was fascinated by them and he said "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3167-168). By this he means that she admired him for the obstacles he had overcome and he loved her because she accepted him even though he had a rough past. They do seem to love each other, though I think their relationship is based more off of lust than love. It appears that Desdemona fell in love with Othello out of sympathy and sees him as a war hero rather than just a man. Othello, I believe, returned the love because as an African American, sympathy is not something he is used to.
I like your insight. I too believe that the relationship is based more off of lust rather than love between the two, and lust would fade out after not too long. I think that Othello was partially aware of this, and so once the idea of Desdemona cheating on him was planted into his mind, he believed it because the same thing that happened between him and Desdemona could have been happening between her and someone else. I think another reason he returned the love so quickly and so easily is that being a colored man, he probably knew that the likeliness of getting another woman to decidedly be with him was not very likely. So he took the first opportunity he got, and he took it fast. Another reason he could have returned the love would be because he's a guy, and she's a very attractive woman. She had no flaws about her, why wouldn't any man immediately say yes to her?
The fact that such a small object could have such a large impact on Othello shows that Othello had a lot of other problems going on within his mind. He must either have had insecurities with himself or specific issues with women that make it so easy for him to turn on Desdemona. I think that he definitely has some type of problem with women because the only people Othello seems to trust are men. Men at this time did not think highly of women, or at least the ones close to Othello didn’t. Iago, for example, called his wife Emilia terrible names all of the time, and expected her to do things for him. And these men, like Iago, are the ones feeding this bed opinion of women to and deceiving Othello. Othello could also easily be turned because he is different from everybody race-wise, and I think that even if Othello doesn’t admit to it, a part of him is worried that either Desdemona is going to leave him for a white man, or the other white men would turn on him at any moment for being of a different race. In a normal situation, it doesn’t seem reasonable that only the loss of a handkerchief could cause someone to murder another person. Especially somebody they supposedly love very dearly. However, I think that if a situation is intense enough, and if the person has a lot to lose, something as small as a handkerchief could definitely cause somebody to turn completely from an intense moment of insanity. Desdemona and Othello’s relationship was also a newly begun one, where they had not quite become comfortable with each other to know that they can trust the other and fully understand each other. The topic of losing Desdemona is probably a very sore one for Othello because of those underlying insecurities of being black, and when Iago, a man Othello is very close to and known for being honest, plants even the slightest idea of Desdemona leaving him for another one of his good men, Othello easily goes crazy. The importance of the handkerchief is definitely believable. Many people let their emotions get the best of them, and that is what happened in this situation. If you include the story about the handkerchief basically having special powers, that once it is lost, there is no longer love between the two, then it’s even more understandable why Othello freaked out so badly. I’m sure that even if he didn’t believe the story of the handkerchief at first, he definitely ended up believing it, and it added to his already craziness toward the loss of it. In a way, I feel bad for Othello. People don’t end up like that if they are content and happy with the things in their life. There was clearly something that was truly bothering him, and he never had the chance to make peace with it before it was too late.
9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168). This is how Othello describes how he and Desdemona fell for each other. What does this tell you about their relationship? Check out the lines 1.3.128-170 carefully. How do you envision their interactions? What kind of relationship is portrayed in this passage?
Desdemona "loved" Othello for his dangerous adventures he's survived by being a military man, making it seem as if she doesn't love him for any other qualities he may have but rather idolizing the things he's already done. This relationship feels sudden, rushed, and frankly impulsive. Desdemona displays her impulsive behaviors by first falling for a man due to his stories and then leaving her father behind to marrying said man. This leads me to believe that it wasn't true love. Her impulsiveness is so drastic it leads her father to believe that Othello has used witchcraft to lure his daughter to fall in love with him (which seems like a pretty big red flag to me.) In response to being accused of stealing Desdemona away from Brabantio with witchcraft, Othello declares "I won his daughter." In this relationship Desdemona inappropriately admires Othello for his past dangers and Othello views Desdemona as something to be won.
9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
ReplyDeleteI believe that it shows that Desdemona has an adventurous personality, because she wished she were a man like Othello. Othello had wooed Desdemona by telling her stories of his adventures and travels as a general. Othello has proclaimed himself "a military man" and because of that he enjoys the adventurous personality that Desdemona has. Desdemona is unlike other Venetian women in the fact that she was willing to run away from her father and marry a man of color. Because they both have these bold traits it can be suggested that they have an egalitarian relationship because they hold mutual respect for each other, as much as they could in a patriarchal society in early Venice. Despite Othello being a "gruff" military man he seems to be really sweet and nice to Desdemona, and her to him, despite their bold personalities. I imagine their relationship is intimate and respectful to one another. I do not think it's based off of lust like Iago makes it out to be.
It is an interesting thought that Desdemona may wish that she were a man. Perhaps because she wants to live her life with more excitement that Othello lives. However, I am not quite sure that she does want to live this kind of life herself, but rather imagine that she could. Desdemona may be unlike other Venetian women in some ways, however, it is said that her mother had to shift primary respect from her father to her husband, just as Desdemona had.
DeleteI like how you made the connection between Othello's military man personality and Desdemona's adventurous side because I agree that those characteristics couple together greatly in more than just a lustful way. I personally think their bold traits you described can also make it easier for them to butt heads and fail to understand each other despite the mutual respect. Perhaps their relationship was not purely driven on lust, it does however at times seem to be a bit impulsive. These bold, intimate, and impulsive characteristics make it seem more plausible why things unfolded the way they did.
DeleteDesdemona fell for Othello because she pitied him because of the stories he told her of his odious childhood. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168). So, their relationship is based solely on her sympathy for Othello’s background. There was even a hint of wonder that she felt for him because he could tell her things she had never heard or thought of before which was maybe a bit exciting to her while being heartbreaking at the same time. This is not how a real relationship should be started. Because of this, I believe their relationship to be superficial in a way. It seems as if there is not some deep attraction or connection between the two of them. I think that in the eyes of Desdemona, their relationship is more of an adventure for her to conquer than a love for her to feel. However, I believe Othello may be infatuated with her because he is surprised and delighted by the fact that Desdemona seems to love him despite his horrifying past.
ReplyDeleteI like your ideas with their relationship being superficial, but I think similar evidence could be interpreted to say that it's real. "The rites for why I love him are bereft me, And I a heavy interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with him," (258-260.) Desdemona says this when speaking to her father on why she loves Othello, and I think it shows that their loves is true. She loves him for the type of person he is, not his looks. I think the same goes for Othello. He appreciates that Desdemona doesn't judge him for his looks, and rather focuses on how she treats him and appreciates his courage.
DeleteI disagree, I don't think that it's purely superficial. I think that if Desdemona was superficial she would have chosen someone who was white rather than someone of color. Then she would have a lot more people to choose from and still save the "scandal" of her marrying someone of color. I think because Desdemona as able to see past Othello's skin color she is not very superficial and actually cares for Othello. Othello though may like Desdemona only because she liked him for who he was which was something that not a lot of people have been able to do. I think Othello is superficial, but not Desdemona.
DeleteI think that Desdemona fell for Othello because he could offer some sort of longing that Desdemona had never had filled. Desdemona was brought up in a life of privilege, and lacked true real-world experience. Othello, on the other hand, has lived a very hard life. From this life he can produce stories of adventure and horror that Desdemona would never have known. She fell for Othello because she began to crave the life of adventure that he led. However, this sort of infatuation can not last. When her sense of wonder runs dry, so too will her love.
Delete9.
ReplyDeleteIn Act I scene three Desdemona's father, Brabantio, is convinced that Othello used "witchcraft" to woo his daughter. Othello attempted to persuade everyone of his innocence by describing how he and Desdemona fell in love. Othello and Desdemona's relationship began when Othello would visit her father and tell him about his "story(131)" of "disastrous chances(136)," "moving accidents(137)," and "hairbreadth escapes(138)." Her father "loved" Othello and "questioned(130)" him about his life. Her father loved to hear about Othello's life and probably thought of him as a hero. Othello sounds like a hero, because of his victory over all the obstacles and wars he has faced. Desdemona heard him tell her father these stories, and she would "devour(152)" everything he said. Othello's wording suggests that Desdemona was desperate to hear tales about his life. She was hungry for more knowledge about him. Some of his stories would move her to "tears(158)." Desdemona was crying, because of his pain. Desdemona had developed feeling for Othello by this point in Othello's recounting of their love. She was desperate to know more about him, and was deeply sorrowed by the pain he had been through. Desdemona told Othello that if he had a friend that loved her and could tell Othello's "story(167)" then she would fall in love with him. She basically told him that she could fall in love with a hero that loved her. Desdemona fell in love with Othello because of his heroics and his love for her. That is why Othello said, "she loved me for the dangers I had passed(167)." Desdemona fell in love with Othello because he was a strong hero. Othello fell in love with her, because she did not pity the bad things that happened in his life. He said, "I loved her that she did not pity them(168)." He loved her because she did not feel sorry for all the bad things that he faced. Some of the "dangers" he faced brought her to "tears," but she did not "pity" him. She loved his strength and his heroism. He loved her, because of her love of his heroism. After reading this passage I wonder if Desdemona would have loved Othello if he was not a hero, because it seems like that is the only reason she loves him. I also wonder if Othello just loved the attention she gave him as she "devoured" his stories.
9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
ReplyDeleteDesdemona wants a hero. She is amazed by what Othello has done and all the dangerous situations that he has survived to become this amazing hero. Their relationship is based on Othello's heroism and the strong emotions that Desdemona feels towards him, as he explains. Othello wants a women that doesn't care about what he looks like, but for the things that he has accomplished in his life. Desdemona's father is very very against her being with Othello. He presumes that because Othello is black, he is using witchcraft to obtain Desdemona's love. There is almost a use of satire here. Barbantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to get Desdemona to love him. Othello responds to this by saying "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them. This was the only witchcraft I have used." (1.3.167-168). This is not witchcraft. Othello says this to prove a point that Desdemona's love for him is all through her own emotions towards him and his emotions towards her. There is no such witchcraft occurring here, just true love. Their relationship is a little sketchy, though. "Which ever as she could with haste dispatch, she’d come again, and with a greedy ear devour up my discourse, which I, observing,took once a pliant hour and found good means to draw from her a prayer of earnest heart"(1.3.150-154). This quote suggests that their love isn't really love, but lust. Desdemona "devours" up all of Othello's love he gives to her, but eventually she will get bored of him because there will be no new attention given to her. There is some mixed messages in their relationship since Othello thinks that Desdemona loves him for his heroism, even though it seems she just wants him for lust, not love.
I agree with this and also believe that Othello himself doesn't believe that Desdemona truly loves him if it is so easy to convince him that she is having an affair.
Delete9.
ReplyDelete“She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them. This only is the witchcraft I have used,” (169-171.) Brabantio, Desdemona’s father believes Othello only gained Desdemona’s love through witchcraft, but with this line Othello is saying that he “won” her with all the adventures he explains. Desdemona loves Othello for his heroism whether it was being caught by the enemy or being sold through bravery. From Othello’s monologue, Desdemona seems to love him for being different. Othello loved her because she did not pity him for those dangers and adventures. Although in this day and age it might not be the social norm for someone to just love another for doing something prominent, it seems like during this time, it was totally normal for two people to fall in love for that reason. I think their relationship is strong, and it isn’t lust based like Iago describes it to be. “I am hithero 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,” (187-191.) When Brabantio asks his daughter if what Othello says is true, she affirms it in that even though she respects him as her father, she will choose Othello over him just like her mother chose her Brabantio over her own father. I envision Othello and Desdemona’s relationship to be pure and true. “These things to hear Would Desdemona seriously incline... She’d come again with a greedy ear” (148 & 151.) Desdemona loved listening to Othello’s stories which reinforces the idea that she loves him for being a hero. The stories scare her as she “wished she had not heard it” (164) but she also wishes she could be a man so that she could enjoy those adventures. From the actions Othello describes, their relationship seems to be the type where Desdemona will take pride in everything Othello does and Othello seems like he almost loves her for giving him that attention. It doesn’t seem like he loves her for how she looks but rather for how she treats him. If race was a concern in this time, he was probably lucky to have a beautiful white woman falling in love with him. I think that even though the way they fall for each other is through his adventures, Desdemona and Othello love each other unconditionally because “I saw Othello’s visage in his mind And to his honors and his valiant parts Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate,” (253-255.) Desdemona says this in her pledge to loyalty towards Othello. She gives her whole life to him for his bravery.
"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168).
ReplyDeleteBased upon these lines, it becomes clear that lust and pride are featured in Othello and Desdemona's relationship. While they do not want to admit it, the way Othello claims to have "won" her affection certainly seems like she is a trophy, or a prize. Additionally, Desdemona seems fascinated with Othello and his stories from a distant land. She probably does love him, but more for curiosity and lust's sake, not necessarily genuine feelings. There interactions seems to be very passionate, they do not withhold their feelings for each other, and obsess over each other constantly. In this passage, the themes I highlighted are evident. They act like they are meant to be together, and are triggered by Desdemona's father's unwillingness to accept their marriage, with him claiming it is nothing but the result of successful "witchcraft and poisons".
I agree that Desdemona and Othello's relationship was focused more on lust than actual love. It seems the way she loves him is similar to the way someone might love an action movie hero, not necessarily love but extreme admiration.
Delete9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them"
ReplyDeleteThese lines tell me that their relationship was never true love to .begin with. Their love is born of pity. Desdemona loved Othello because she pitied him for all he has been through, and Othello loves Desdemona because she pities him. It was Othello's stories that Desdemona fell in love with, and not the man himself. I envision most of their interactions as a couple being Othello telling stories and Desdemona weeping from the tragedy of them. This is not the foundation of a true relationship. Desdemona is simply fascinated with Othello. At some point all fascinations wane. When Desdemona's fascination with Othello wanes so too will their love. Based on some lines in the reading it also appears as if theirs is a love that rose quickly and has not been around long. Their relationship has never had to stand the test of time, and therefore, is very likely to fall apart on its own. In conclusion, Desdemona is just an innocent girl with no experience in the real world, and she has fallen in love with Othello because his experiences in the world both fascinate and evoke a sense of pity from her.
I agree with your thoughts. Their love isn't really true love. I think that at the beginning it was true love. She loved him for his heroism. She wanted a hero in her life and she got one, however, when she gets bored of him it doesn't even matter if he is a hero anymore, she shows no interest in him any longer. He hasn't had much relationship with women in the past as he is a military man so I think Desdemona gives him a look into a different side of the world having someone that loves him.
DeleteI do agree that Desdemona fell in love with him, because of her fascination with his stories. She listened to his stories with a "greedy ear(1.3.152)," and she would "devour(1.3.153)" his stories. This illustrates her fascination of his stories.
DeleteSince their love is based on her fascination and his love of her pity, it seems like their love is very shallow. Othello didn't say something a normal loving husband would say. People don't usually say they fell in love with their spouse because of pity. He also does not give any other reason for their love, so it seems to me that their love is shallow. It also sounds like Othello did not get to know Desdemona. I think that this was part of their downfall.
I agree their love was based mostly upon Desdemona's fascination of Othello. After all, he came from a foreign country and had the title and appearance of "the Moor". While this may not be a compliment, it is still completely different than anything Desdemona was used to. Just as we were fascinated with new toys and gifts when we were little, Desdemona meeting a man like Othello is essentially the same thing. Another reason their relationship exists is because Othello felt like Desdemona appreciated him for who he was, and truly cared about him. Othello had never really met another person who truly cared for him, and he did not want to let her slip away. So their love is basically built upon Desdemona's desire to have the mystery of Othello, nothing more.
DeleteThat's a great insight that you have into the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. I agree with a lot of what you say, however, I do think that this can also be seen in a different way. The stories are what caught Desdemona's eye to Othello, and through that she learned more about him. He had those experiences, and those experiences made him into the person he had become. She could have then fell in love with that person knowing what he had been through. Just because their relationship had not had the chance to stand against time, does not mean that they would not have been able to do so. Othello was at a weak point in his life, and he believed anything he heard.
DeleteWe have quite a variety of opinions on Desdemona and Othello's love, relationship, and individual character. Now that we have read some more, challenge each others initial response. How can you "argue" for a different interpretation? What new evidence can you present to support? How have others perhaps viewed Othello's dangers? If she was the one that pitied them, how did others respond? Why would it move Othello that she pitied them?
ReplyDeleteAfter being accused by Brabantio of using magic or trickery to "capture" Desdemona, Othello tries to defend himself by telling him Brabantio and the duke that he used to tell Desdemona stories about his life. She was fascinated by them and he said "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3167-168). By this he means that she admired him for the obstacles he had overcome and he loved her because she accepted him even though he had a rough past. They do seem to love each other, though I think their relationship is based more off of lust than love. It appears that Desdemona fell in love with Othello out of sympathy and sees him as a war hero rather than just a man. Othello, I believe, returned the love because as an African American, sympathy is not something he is used to.
ReplyDeleteI like your insight. I too believe that the relationship is based more off of lust rather than love between the two, and lust would fade out after not too long. I think that Othello was partially aware of this, and so once the idea of Desdemona cheating on him was planted into his mind, he believed it because the same thing that happened between him and Desdemona could have been happening between her and someone else. I think another reason he returned the love so quickly and so easily is that being a colored man, he probably knew that the likeliness of getting another woman to decidedly be with him was not very likely. So he took the first opportunity he got, and he took it fast. Another reason he could have returned the love would be because he's a guy, and she's a very attractive woman. She had no flaws about her, why wouldn't any man immediately say yes to her?
DeleteThe fact that such a small object could have such a large impact on Othello shows that Othello had a lot of other problems going on within his mind. He must either have had insecurities with himself or specific issues with women that make it so easy for him to turn on Desdemona. I think that he definitely has some type of problem with women because the only people Othello seems to trust are men. Men at this time did not think highly of women, or at least the ones close to Othello didn’t. Iago, for example, called his wife Emilia terrible names all of the time, and expected her to do things for him. And these men, like Iago, are the ones feeding this bed opinion of women to and deceiving Othello. Othello could also easily be turned because he is different from everybody race-wise, and I think that even if Othello doesn’t admit to it, a part of him is worried that either Desdemona is going to leave him for a white man, or the other white men would turn on him at any moment for being of a different race. In a normal situation, it doesn’t seem reasonable that only the loss of a handkerchief could cause someone to murder another person. Especially somebody they supposedly love very dearly. However, I think that if a situation is intense enough, and if the person has a lot to lose, something as small as a handkerchief could definitely cause somebody to turn completely from an intense moment of insanity. Desdemona and Othello’s relationship was also a newly begun one, where they had not quite become comfortable with each other to know that they can trust the other and fully understand each other. The topic of losing Desdemona is probably a very sore one for Othello because of those underlying insecurities of being black, and when Iago, a man Othello is very close to and known for being honest, plants even the slightest idea of Desdemona leaving him for another one of his good men, Othello easily goes crazy. The importance of the handkerchief is definitely believable. Many people let their emotions get the best of them, and that is what happened in this situation. If you include the story about the handkerchief basically having special powers, that once it is lost, there is no longer love between the two, then it’s even more understandable why Othello freaked out so badly. I’m sure that even if he didn’t believe the story of the handkerchief at first, he definitely ended up believing it, and it added to his already craziness toward the loss of it. In a way, I feel bad for Othello. People don’t end up like that if they are content and happy with the things in their life. There was clearly something that was truly bothering him, and he never had the chance to make peace with it before it was too late.
ReplyDelete9. "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, / And I loved her that she did pity them" (1.3.167-168). This is how Othello describes how he and Desdemona fell for each other. What does this tell you about their relationship? Check out the lines 1.3.128-170 carefully. How do you envision their interactions? What kind of relationship is portrayed in this passage?
ReplyDeleteDesdemona "loved" Othello for his dangerous adventures he's survived by being a military man, making it seem as if she doesn't love him for any other qualities he may have but rather idolizing the things he's already done. This relationship feels sudden, rushed, and frankly impulsive. Desdemona displays her impulsive behaviors by first falling for a man due to his stories and then leaving her father behind to marrying said man. This leads me to believe that it wasn't true love. Her impulsiveness is so drastic it leads her father to believe that Othello has used witchcraft to lure his daughter to fall in love with him (which seems like a pretty big red flag to me.) In response to being accused of stealing Desdemona away from Brabantio with witchcraft, Othello declares "I won his daughter." In this relationship Desdemona inappropriately admires Othello for his past dangers and Othello views Desdemona as something to be won.