OTHELLO: Comparison of Desdemona’s “Love”
The term “love” is used very frequently throughout Shakespeare’s Othello within Desdemona’s relationships with her father, Brabantio, her friend, Cassio, and her husband, Othello. The comparison of the “love” of Desdemona shows many different types and how her “love” of Othello, ultimately leads to her death.
The first “love” relationship Desdemona has is with her father, Brabantio. In Act 1, when Brabantio confronts Othello and Desdemona about their relationship, Desdemona shows no hesitation in defending Othello to her father even though she may face consequences. Desdemona is brought in by her father in front of the Duke to be questioned on her actions and states, “My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty. To you I am bound for life and education; My life and education both do learn me / How to respect you. You are the lord of duty; I am hitherto 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” (Iiii183-91) Desdemona shows she is grateful to her father for what he has given her, but will take the side of her husband, Othello, as did her mother to her father. But Brabantio says to Othello, “Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.” (Iiii293-4) Desdemona’s father is warning Othello to be careful with Desdemona because even though she says she loves you, she deceived me and could possibly do the same to you if the future.
The second “love” relationship is found to be with Desdemona’s friend, Cassio, the Moor’s honorable lieutenant. In Desdemona’s defense of Cassio to Lodovico and Othello, she states, “A most unhappy one. I would do much T’atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.” (Act IVi211-12) Desdemona is stating that she wants to do whatever she can to help Cassio’s plight because of the friendship (“love”) that...