Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Desdemona's Death
In class we discreetly discussed the reasons why Desdemona didn't seem to fight back at Othello when he told her he was going to murder her. Do you think she just accepted the fact that he would have killed her anyway? Why do you think she would ask to live for another night or day but still die in the end, and what would she have done in that night or day if she was given it? Present your reasons why you think she didn't use self defence and what you would do if you were in Desdemona's position at that time.
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To be honest, I think Desdemona was just frightened at the fact that Othello was trying to kill her, her lack of resistance was due to her respect for her husband. When she asked to live for another night, I don't think she literally meant another night, instead, I believe she was just asking to be let alone, free to continue living (these were just the words Shakespeare used).
We don't, however, know if Shakespeare meant for Desdemona to be resistant towards her impending death, as there are no stage notes written in the dialogue - it is only through the director of "Othello" that we see the unresistant Desdemona. Who knows, she may have put up one heck of a fight in Shakespeare's mind!
I'd have to agree with Adam here. I feel as if Desdemona did not forcefully defend her self but rather ask for mercy due to the respect she showed towards Othello.
Throughout the play you can see that Desdemona was quite loyal and trusting to Othello. Also one has to think that Othello is a strong army general, Desdemona would not be able to put up much more of a fight than ask for mercy and then soon enough accept her fate.
I agree halfway with Adam and Jacquie. Desdemona was sort of asking for mercy, and at the same time she half gave in out of respect for her husband.
I think that this scene truly shows how much Desdemona loved her husband. Her struggle almost reminds me of the musicians on the Titanic; she doesn't want to die, but she knows that she doesn't have a choice. She doesn't give up on what she loves, and she goes down with her heart still set on pleasing her husband.
It's really hard to say what I would do if I was Desdemona. I probably wouldn't put up a fight, since Othello is definitely very physically powerful, but I'd at least ask to be stabbed rather than suffocated (if I got the chance).
I think that Desdemona was only partially asking for mercy and partially trying to explain her actions to her husband. When it became apparent that he was not going to listen to reason, she resigned herself tho the fact that she was going to die and embraced it willingly. This may have been out of respect for her husbend, or out of the fact that although Othello did not believe her, she knew that she had done nothing wrong.
I agree with the general agreement that she was afraid and was in respect to Othello. If loving Othello was life to her and he wanted to kill her then I guess she would have accepted it willingly.
In her position I would have fought for my life, I wouldn't lay there and let someone kill me loving them or not. In Desdemona's case Othello would have overpowered her easily even if she did fight.
P.S hey Stephanie! just wondering why you would rather be stabbed than suffocated?
I think that Desdemona did not take action beyond her words because she would not be able to fight back, Othello has the physical advantage. He is a general, she is a sheltered rich girl.
She probably asked for another day out of wish to be alive that much longer and hoping that she would be able to convince Othello to her cause.
Personally I would have called for help while trying to avoid him and get out the door, it might not last long but it's kinda nice to die with a bit of hope.
I think Desdemona didn't actually think that othello was going to kill her. She was confused by his words towards her, but i don't think she thought he was going to follow through. When she said "let me live for another night", I think she meant, give me another chance to show that i am faithful and that i love you. She was asking for Othello to have mercy on her as her husband and to remember that he is in love with her.
To ihasturdle, I would rather be stabbed than suffocated because not being able to breathe is a pretty huge fear of mine. I guess I'd also be afraid of being stabbed, but having a pillow over your face just seems worse than having a knife in your chest because you'd slowly die struggling. Being stabbed you'd die faster (unless you were stabbed in the stomach or something, in which case you'd still be able to communicate for a small amount of time).
I agree with "adam" and "jacquelinenicole" that it was out of respect to Othello. I think that Desdemona did not fight back because she was scared too and Othello could easily over power her. She pleaded to live for another day because she was probably thinking she could escape or she could try to plead her case when Othello wasn't so full of anger. In my eyes she never stood a chance when he made up his mind to kill her.
Generally people will beg for their lives if it is being threatened. It's just natural. I think that is all she was doing.
She probably would have taken that day, if offered, with great gratitude, and probably would have tried to convince him not to kill her, or she would have at least gotten help from somebody else.
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