Desdemona

Question 1

She is…

Answer 1

Selfless vessel of virtue

Question 2

Virtue

Answer 2

So perfect that she doesn’t seem relatable which makes it hard for the audience to like her

Argument that Shakespeare doesn’t portray Desdemona as this embodiment of virtue but embodies the ideal of a virtuous woman… but dramatises the failure of any woman ever becoming perfectly virtuous

Question 3

Heaven

Answer 3

Desdemona’s frequent illusion to heaven - associates herself with all that’s elevated - impossible woman trope

Cassio: “the divine Desdemona” 2.1

Presented as super human and unrealistic

Question 4

Negatives

Answer 4

Stubbornness, immaturity and occasionally unempathetic behaviour. - very human traits

Question 5

Immature

Answer 5

• Desdemona’s in Othello’s forgiveness of Cassio - doing the wrong thing at the wrong time despite genuinely good intentions

Question 6

“I am a child to chiding”

Answer 6

4.2
After Othello strikes her and calls her a whore

Reminder of Childlike behaviour

Lack of maturity and empathy

She didn’t register he needed time to reflect on a decision or some things are just best discussed alone.

Reveals Desdemona’s humanity - she’s not just a victim

Question 7

Impossible standards

Answer 7

Desdemona is expected to live up to impossible standards

Shakespeare encourages us to reflect on what could happen when we hold ourselves to these standards which no one could ever fulfil.