What caused Desdemona’s death?
Being manipulated by the villain Iago, drives him to kill his own wife. Othello is responsible for Desdemona's death because he allowed Iago to manipulate him, he didn't trust Desdemona and strangled her while she slept.
Who murdered Desdemona?
She defies Othello's sword to right the injustice of this murder, vowing to "make thee known / Though I lost twenty lives" (165-166) and crying out for help, proclaiming that Othello has murdered Desdemona.
Why does Othello kills Desdemona?
She denies giving Cassio the handkerchief but Othello assumes she is lying. She pleads for her life but Othello is so convinced by the stories Iago has told him that he won't listen to her and kills her.
What happened to Desdemona?
Iago is furious about being overlooked for promotion and plots to take revenge against his General; Othello, the Moor of Venice. Iago manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona is unfaithful, stirring Othello's jealousy. Othello allows jealousy to consume him, murders Desdemona, and then kills himself.
Why Iago is responsible for Desdemona’s death?
However, one character, Iago, manipulated all of them. Othello was driven to his decision to murder his wife at no fault of his own. Instead it is Iago's ability to persuade the other characters and manipulate them by using their weaknesses that makes him responsible for Desdemona's death.
Who killed Desdemona and why?
Othello triumphantly admits to Emilia that he killed Desdemona, and when she asks him why, Othello tells her that Iago opened his eyes to Desdemona's falsehood. Unfazed by Othello's threat that she “were best” to remain silent, Emilia calls out for help, bringing Montano, Graziano, and Iago to the scene (V. ii. 168 ).
Was Desdemona stabbed?
As he is about to be led away, Othello asks for a chance to say "a word or two." He speaks of how he wants to be remembered, then stabs himself, kisses Desdemona, and dies.
Who does Desdemona blame for her death?
herself Desdemona blames herself for her death telling Emilia, "Nobody. I myself. Farewell. Committed me to my kind lord.
Was Desdemona black?
Later, Iago promises to turn Desdemona's reputation as black as “pitch.” Complexion in Shakespeare's time was a measurement of both beauty and virtue. According to Villanova Shakespeare scholar John-Paul Spiro, to be “fair” was to be both pale and virtuous, not synonymously, but simultaneously.
Is Emilia to blame for Desdemona’s death?
Emilia who is Desdemona's loyal friend fails to convince Othello that Desdemona is faithful. She is unwittingly responsible for her friend's death because, she never mentions the handkerchief until Desdemona has been killed.
Who holds most responsibility for Desdemona’s death?
Emilia is unwittingly responsible for Desdemona's death because she is naïve about her husband's actions; she is silent about the handkerchief and lacks courage to prove to Othello that Desdemona's is innocent. Desdemona's death is caused because Emilia is naive and has poor judgment of Iago.
What is Desdemona’s tragic flaw?
Desdemona's tragic and eventually fatal flaw, was that when faced with adversity, she crumbled. When Othello became angry towards her she did not know what to do or how to handle it.
What are Desdemona’s last words?
In response to Emilia's question, “O, who hath done this deed?” Desdemona's final words are, “Nobody, I myself. Farewell. / Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell” (V.
How is Desdemona killed by Othello?
After Desdemona wakes, the scene progresses in a series of wavelike rushes that leave the audience as stunned and disoriented as the characters onstage. For starters, Desdemona seems to die twice—Othello smothers her once, then smothers her again after mistaking Emilia's screams from outside for his wife's.
What do Desdemona’s last words mean?
Study focus: Desdemona's final words Ultimately Desdemona refuses to blame Othello for her unhappiness: she declares it is her 'wretched fortune' (IV. 2.129). Marriage teaches Desdemona that 'men are not gods' (III. 4.149) and this is a disappointment to her.
What skin color is Othello?
He meant instead someone with darker skin than an Englishman at a time when Englishmen were very, very pale. Although Othello is a Moor, and although we often assume he is from Africa, he never names his birthplace in the play.
Was there a real Othello?
That Othello and Desdemona, whose real name was Palma, really existed, is clearly proved. Even the mad jealousy of Othello is historical. It is true that he did not murder his wife, but he often beat her cruelly.
Who was the actual villain behind Desdemona’s death?
Iago is the main cause of the death and destruction of Desdemona. He airs the flame in the heart of Othello against Desdemona. The handkerchief is the symbol of love from Othello for Desdemona. Othello gives it on his marriage to her.
Does Emilia love Iago?
Emilia's relationship with Iago is a chilling example of marital disharmony. Whatever love is left is felt by Emilia, who tries to please Iago by giving him the handkerchief. Iago's attitude towards his wife is proprietorial and controlling.
How did Iago cause Desdemona’s death?
Othello, Desdemona And Iago 322). Iago's poison's ways trick Othello into believing that his wife Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio.
What does Desdemona symbolize?
Desdemona shows bravery, loyalty, and independence in her first speaking scene, when she is before the city council. She defends her romance with Othello against her racist father and racist judges, who have accused Othello of bewitching her.
Who is the most tragic character in Othello?
Othello is a tragic hero because he is noble, he suffers from a fatal tragic flaw and he goes through a tragic downfall. All these traits that Othello exhibits lead him to be known as one of the most well-known tragic heroes in all of literature.
How old was Desdemona?
Desdemona is probably about 18-22, old enough to get married on her own and have had some suitors. But another thing that's interesting about this age gap is the literary tradition that Shakespeare is drawing on.
What is Iago’s poison?
In Act I Scene 1 the ensign says that he wants to 'poison his (Brabantio's) delight' (I. 1.67) so that he can make trouble for Othello. Iago's jealousy of the Moor is so strong that it 'Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards' (II. 1.295).
Is Othello a true story?
That Othello and Desdemona, whose real name was Palma, really existed, is clearly proved. Even the mad jealousy of Othello is historical. It is true that he did not murder his wife, but he often beat her cruelly.
Why is Othello black?
Othello himself would have been played by an actor who had darkened his skin with soot or coal, a common technique used to indicate a character's Moorish or Turkish roots. But audiences would also have understood that Othello's dark skin was emblematic of his dark or evil nature.
Is Othello black or white?
There is no final consensus over Othello's ethnicity; whether of Maghrebi origin as in the generally accepted definition of "Moor", or of Sub-Saharan African. E. A. J. Honigmann, the editor of the Arden Shakespeare edition concluded that Othello's ethnic background is ambiguous.
What does Othello say before he kills Desdemona?
I would not kill thy unprepared spirit; No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.
Why does Emilia repeat my husband?
She is trying to protect him from punishment. Why does Emilia repeat the phrase "My husband!" three times? At this point, why does Othello dray his sword on Emilia? When she says that her husband lied about Desdemona being unfaithful and then she insults him by saying that he didn't deserve Desdemona.
Is Emilia in Othello black?
A black Emilia, married to a white Iago, is, critically speaking, a completely new Emilia, and a completely new – and even more richly meaningful – Othello.