Othello Speech - Desdemona

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English speech – Desdemona In the play Othello, Desdemona plays a very important role from start to finish, in the beginning of the play Desdemona elopes with Othello, who is seen as less of a person for his African heritage. This is a very rebellious thing for her to do especially for someone of Desdemona’s class. When Brabantio her father is roused from his sleep and made aware of this he calls for them both, and accuses Othello of bewitching Desdemona telling the room ‘ She is abused, stol’n from me, and corrupted By spells and medicines brought of mountebanks..’ when Desdemona enters the scene she is asked to explain what has happened. Brabantio demands her to choose between him and Othello and explain where her loyalties lie ‘ Come here gentle mistress; Do you perceive in all this noble company Where most you owe obedience.’ From this Desdemona can only truly please one man her father or her Husband. When Desdemona defends herself you see her strength and strong will. ‘ My noble father, I do perceive here a divided duty; To you I am bound to life and education, My life and education both do learn me, How to respect you. You are lord of all my duty; I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband; And so much duty as my mother showed, To you, preferring you before your father So I must challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.’ From this you see Desdemona’s loyalty to her father and her husband she shows respect and gratitude towards her father by saying that she owes her life and education to him and she appreciates that but she states that his wife chose him over her father, she in turn gives her obedience to Othello. Desdemona’s words show how brave and independent she is to stand up to her father and publicly reject him for the man she loves, she also portrays her thoughtfulness as she talks affectionately towards her father trying
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