Desdemona Character Analysis

“…Excellent wretch, perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee, and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. (Othello 3.3 91-93) In Othello by William Shakespeare, Othello and Desdemona run away to get married and attempt to build a life together, despite their differences in age, race, and experience. Their marriage is ruined by the jealous Iago, who convinces Othello that Desdemona is cheating on him with Cassio. Shakespeare builds his characters with …

…helpless because her nature is infinitely sweet and her love absolute. Desdemona captures the weakness of men, their jealousy and need for control. As soon as a man feels he is out of control he falters. The more he falters, the more anxious he becomes and the deeper into his insecurity he falls. “…I kiss’d thee ere I kill’d thee; no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss…” (Othello 5.2 358-359)