Othello Act I Scene III
Desdemona -
My Noble Father,/
I do perceive here a divided duty./ To you I am bound for life and education;/ my life and education both do learn me/ how to respect you. You are the lord of my duty;/ I am hitherto your daughter. But he is my husband,/ and so much duty; as my mother showed/ to you, preferring you before her father,/ so much I challenge that I may profess/ due to the Moor my lord. (Shakespeare pg. 929)
I thought this was an interesting point in the play. After Brabantio speaks so strongly to the Moor I thought that he would never join the two together. Surprisingly, after Desdemona speaks the father joins the two of them together and says "I here do give thee that with all my heart." This was surprising to me and shows that Brabantio did not want to lose the relationship he had with his daughter. I also thought that Desdemona eloquently chose her words and won her father over.
I thought this scene was a testament to the strength of Desdemona. She had to stand before Nobles and her father to profess her love for a man that she should never have been with. This must have been very difficult to do. I also think this scene helped plant the irony in the outcome of the play. Desdemona was murder for being unfaithful.
Hi, Kevin. This is a great discussion, particularly the point about the irony. I'm never sure in this play why Othello believes Iago when he knows Desdemona's character. Perhaps it is Othello's own insecurity about his position as a Moor in this culture that causes him to doubt her. He is really doubting himself. Nancy
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