Relationship essay

• 1. "i love the gentle desdemona" (A1S1L25)

  • here othello doesn't mention any form of lust, he simply loves her
  • innocent love shared between them
  • the first sincere reference to love in the play
  • creates the idea of wholesome love at the beginning of the play
• 1.2 "she loved me for the dangers i had passed, i loved her that she did pity them" (A1S3L167)

  • highlights how desdemona isn't drawn to his wealth, instead its his storytelling
  • and he not to her looks, instead her sympathy towards him
  • however, it also conveys that desdemona finds Othello's military prowess deeply attractive, which is one of the reasons he loves her so much, it makes him feel heroic
  • already shakespeare foreshadows possible problems within their relationship as we question their genuine love for each other, wondering if perhaps they fell in love with the idea of each other
• 2. "an old black ram is tupping your white ewe" (A1S1L87)

  • this metaphor is used to insult othello and his relationship with desdemona by making derogatory and dehumanising comments on wild sexual natures
  • the word choice of 'white' to describe desdemona has connotations of innocence and purity, while 'black' conveys evil and aggression
  • highlights how iago, roderigo and brabantio disapprove of their relationship due to the fact he's black
  • giving the impression they think othello is unworthy of desdemona
• 2.2 "she has eyes and chose me" (A3S3L192)

  • here we see othello's insecurity and self-doubt within himself at why desdemona chose him
  • almost as if he's convincing himself of her devotion to him
  • highlight's here that othello is beginning to become jealous despite trying hard not to be, if he wasn't, he wouldn't have to remind himself of her love
• 3. "that i did love the moor to live with him" (A1S3L248)

  • here desdemona proves her loyalty to othello and announces her love for him despite the criticism their relationship faces
  • she defends him from brabantio, conveying the extent of her devotion
• 4. "i think my wife be honest, and think she is not" (A3S3L386)

  • here it shows how conflicted othello is feeling and emphasises the deep sense of doubt he feels
  • the word choice of 'think' conveys the idea that he isn't certain anymore, he doesn't know that to think
  • shows that he no longer fully trusts desdemona like he once did, portraying the beginning of the turning point of their relationship
  • shakespeare uses his uncertainty to shows that iago's plan is working and their relationship that was once very close, no longer is
• 4.1 "all my fond love thus do i blow towards heaven - tis gone, arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell" (A3S3L448)

  • here, othello states that all the love he once had for desdemona is now gone
  • the word choice of 'heaven' is a general reference to the sky, giving the image that his love has disappeared into the atmosphere
  • his new drive for vengeance reflects the anger and bitterness he feels and how consumed he is for of revenge by linking himself to hell and darkness
  • the turning point of the play and the moment their once loving relationship has been destroyed
• 5. "i took you for that cunning whore of venice" (A4S2L91)

  • highlights the change in their relationship in the way he speaks to her compared to what he once did
  • his insulting language accuses her of adultery and being disloyal to him
  • shakespeare uses othello's mockery of her, to once again portray his insecurity and how it has changed him as a person, and caused to be manipulated into questioning her, subsequently leading to the destruction of their love and relationship
• 5.1 "she must die else she'll betray more men" (A5S1L6)

  • here, othello is almost trying to justify the murder of desdemona
  • refers to the hurt she has caused him, despite her innocence, he's trying to prevent her from hurting anyone else
  • word choice of 'betray' highlights how othello is convinced she was disloyal to him, despite having no real evidence
  • contrasts the start of the play, to the love they shared and highlights the drastic change between the two, portraying the change in relationship
• 6. "his unkindness may defeat my life, but never taint my love" (A4S2L162)

  • desdemona explains to emilia and iago that she will continue to love othello, even if he accuses her of infidelity
  • the word choice of 'defeat my life' conveys that desdemona would love him even if mistreatment was responsible for her death
  • here, shakespeare foreshadows the tragedy of the play, however as an audience we're unsure how seriously desdemona is taking this possibility and doesn't realise the danger she's in
  • desdemona clings to the possibility that she will be able to convince othello of her innocence
• 7. "nobody i myself" (A5S2L126)

  • her lying and saying she killed herself highlights the difference between the two characters and their dedication to each other and their relationship, desdemona's loyalty to him never changed
  • shakespeare uses this to convey the downfall of their relationship was at the fault of othello and how easily manipulated he was into thinking his wife was unfaithful due to his own insecurities
  • even when she is dying at the hands of her own husband, she tries to highlight othello's innocence due to her unconditional love for him despite his sins
• 7.2 "i kissed thee ere i killed thee; no way but this: killing myself to die upon a kiss" (A5S2L358)

  • he kissed her before he took her life, and he kisses her once more before he takes his own
  • he understands that jealousy fuelled by his own insecurity, drove their relationship apart and eventually killed her
  • recognising that if he never kissed her or was never in love with her she never would have died
  • he feels compelled by guilt at the fact he murdered his beloved wife and face the truth that his suspicions of her adultery were false
  • he kills himself to try to make up for his sins