Desdemona's Loss Of Innocence In Othello

Desdemona represents devotion and innocence throughout the book. She plays a major role not only as Othello’s wife but as the accused lover of Cassio. During the time in which Othello was written, “women were treated according to their social position and social experiences”(Rosmarie Thee Morewedge 1). Having been the daughter of a Venetian Senator, Desdemona was treated with respect until accusations of adultery began to surface. Cassio’s manipulation of Othello made him lose sight of Desdemona's innocence and devotion. The first act of devotion Desdemona displayed was when the time had come to leave her father and travel to Cyprus with Othello, to defend the island from Turkish threat. In the midst of the argument taking place between

Emilia tells Desdemona “Nor I neither, by this heavenly light, I might do ‘t as well i’ th’ dark” (IV iii 75-76) Emilia explains she would never cheat in the day but rather in the night and that the world is so vast that it would outweigh the bad she has done. Desdemona responds by saying “I do not think there is any such woman” (IV iii 94) implying she would never cheat on Othello. Before Desdemona goes to sleep she prays “God me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend” (IV iii 116-117) in which she prays to learn chastity rather than

Iago is seeking revenge on Othello by sabotaging his marriage. After the disappearance of the handkerchief given to Desdemona by Othello, Iago begins to work Othello into a paranoid frenzy, when he informs him that Cassio has slept “With her-on her” (IV i 42) referring to his wife, Desdemona. This causes Othello to question Desdemona's innocence which is later restored in the end of the tragedy. Desdemona’s innocence is finally established, after she is strangled by her deranged husband. Emilia informs Othello “that the handkerchief thou speak’st of, I found by fortune, and did give my husband- For often, with a solemn earnestness he begged of me to steal ‘t” (V ii 267-272). Emilia’s dying last words reestablish Desdemona's innocence when she tells Othello “ she was chaste, She loved thee, cruel Moor”(V ii 299). The unsuspecting news to Othello is initially received with denial and guilt, until he comes to the realization that Iago is behind the recent events that had unfolded in