OTHELO AND DESDEMONA: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP DYNAMIC BETWEEN TWO OF

SHAKESPEARE’S MOST TRAGIC PROTAGONISTS

Shakespeare in his renowned play Othello presents Othello and Desdemona’s relationship as one
strained by various external and internal factors including Iago’s manipulation, Othello’s
personal issues and insecurities with his race, him being discriminated against for his color, an
air of miscommunication and overall suspicion of Desdemona, Othello’s readiness to misplace
his trust on Iago instead of Desdemona when faced with an unforeseen situation and finally
Desdemona’s own meekness in defending herself against his accusations.

In this particular passage, we notice how Othello’s gradual descent into insanity is already
underway and how it has taken its toll on his manner of speech as well his behavior towards his
wife. Desdemona, passive as ever, enters the scene and Othello treats her quite disrespectfully
using words such as “chuck”, “strumpet” and “whore” to address her. Othello’s thoughts are a
jumble and he’s frantically searching for words as he can’t figure out how to convey his message
to Desdemona. At this point in time, Othello’s is firm on the fact that Desdemona has indeed
been unfaithful to him; it seems as if no amount of pleading will move him in the least. As
Bradley says about Othello “he’s wrought to passion and likely to act with little reflection”, we
see a similar air about Desdemona, less tendency of reflection as she is unable to figure out why
Othello’s behavior has changed so. Comparing her character to that to Cordelia in Shakespeare’s
King Lear, we can be sure that she wouldn’t have been this clueless in lieu of the situation and
Othello would’ve been met with firm resistance over his accusations.

The passage also contains a lot of spiritual imagery related to heaven and hell i.e. devils, keeling
(praying). It serves to signify a lack of faith in Othello in his relationship with Desdemona. The
juxtaposition in Othello’s words “Heaven truly knows thou art false as hell”, highlights the stark
contrast between this dark and bitter thoughts and Desdemona’s pure intentions to put him at
ease. Phrases like “grim as hell” and “double damned” used by Othello further serve the purpose
of stressing how evil Desdemona seems to him now. In his mind her darkness has surpassed that
of the devils as signified by him saying “the devils themselves should fear to seize thee”.

Amidst all the chaos, Othello and Desdemona’s love, no matter how complicated, still manages
to shine out. It is important to note that Othello’s wouldn’t have been this devastated if he didn’t
truly love his wife, and on her part, she was also ready to cut off ties with her own father if he
was the reason Othello was agitated or if he was coming between them in any way. Othello goes
as far as to say that he could withstand the shame or loss of reputation but it is not possible for
him to forego the pain that Desdemona has caused him. It is the very magnitude of his pain that’s
causing him to lash out so wildly and act so cynically. He’s continually referring to her infidelity
but for some reason fails to mention Iago or Cassio, and this in itself evokes a deeper sense of
tragedy regarding their relationship as he’s placing blind faith in what he has been told by Iago
and she is given no opportunity to prove her loyalty.
Part of the rift between Othello and Desdemona is due to Othello’s internal conflict regarding his
color and race, his readiness in accepting the lies about Desdemona’s infidelity stem from a
personal belief that he is not worthy of her. And that it is he who has corrupted her, turning her
virtue and goodness from pure white to black like his own self, when he says “Haply for I am
black…and she is gone”.

It can also be inferred from Othello’s anger is a result of sexual frustration, as it is implied
several times that him and Desdemona have not yet been able to consummate their marriage,
Desdemona too is in a sort of dazed state and both of them fail to take this into account. This too,
leaves the audience wondering whether a physical union would have eventually led to a stronger
emotional and spiritual bond, unfortunately the first time they unite in the spiritual sense is when
they lay side by side on their wedding bed turned death bed.