Othello - Desdemona quotes Flashcards
“I do perceive here a divided duty” (1.3)
-Says as she realises she is torn between her father & new husband.
-At this time, women expected to show total obedience to male authority in her life - now transitioning her loyalty from her father to her husband.
-Reveals she is very aware and eager to honor social expectations of showing loyalty to her husband.
-Loyalty will later endanger her because she refuses to defend herself or challenge Oth. authority over her.
“Do not doubt, Cassio,
But I will have my lord and you again
As friendly as you were” (3.3)
-Cheerfully reassures Cassio that she will bring about a reconciliation between him & Oth.
-Shows at this point Des. feels confident in her relationship & sure she can persuade her husband to share her perspective.
-Example of dramatic irony - she thinks she is being kind & helpful, has no idea she is about to fall victim to the trap Iago has laid.
“I think the sun where he was born
Drew all such humours from him” (3.4)
-Insists to Emilia that Oth. is not a jealous man.
-Makes a playful reference to his origins suggesting the sun in his native land made him impervious to jealousy & therefore is an exception to the typical Venetian tendency to be suspicious of women’s behaviour.
-Shows Des. naïve & trusting nature, since she does not realise just how jealous her husband is capable of being.
“His unkindness may defeat my life
But never taint my love” (4.2)
-Des. says this to Emilia & Iago as she explains how she will remain faithful & loving to Oth. even if he insists in accusing her of infidelity.
-Des swears she would love him even if his mistreatment was responsible for her death but we don’t know how seriously she takes this possibility.
-Seems most likely that she still clings to the belief of being able to persuade Oth. of her innocence , and does not yet understand how much danger she is in.
“Beshrew me if I would do such a wrong
For the whole world” (4.3)
-Explains to Emilia that she would never consider being unfaithful not matter the circumstances.
-Shows Des. is so virtuous she cannot even understand why a woman would betray her husband.
-Her innocence is part of her undoing because she never stops to think about how her behaviour might appear to someone who is viewing it with suspicion.
-Instead she assumes everyone will see her integrity & purity.
“Kill me tomorrow; let me live tonight” (5.2)
-Pleads for her life moments before Oth. kills her.
-Only comes to understand her husband’s murderous intentions at the last instant because she cannot believe he would actually harm her.
-Even when Des. does speak out, she seems to accept that Oth. has the right to kill her if he wants to.
-She doesn’t ask that her life be spared, but only that her death be delayed.
