Ophelia Versus Desdemona

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at how Shakespeare uses the characters of Desdemona from "Othello" and Ophelia from "Hamlet" to introduce two opposing, feminine perspectives that reveal a strong character and weak character respectively. Through these women, it shows how he promotes awareness of the multi-faceted nature of women, suggesting that they can be submissive to a male dominated society by neglecting their own judgment, but can also be rebellious by making their own decisions. It examines how both Desdemona and Ophelia?s opposing roles as women are brought to light as Desdemona?s rebelliousness is revealed through the relationship with her husband and Ophelia?s co-dependant nature is revealed through her relationship with her father.

From the Paper:

"When Desdemona leaves the house of her father, Brabantio, to wed the Moore, Othello, it is the first step in redefining her role as a woman. Desdemona, instead of asking her father's permission, decides on her own to marry Othello. It seems as though Desdemona is breaking away from the strictness imposed by Brabantio. She denies her father any right in choosing or granting Othello allowance to marry her. Instead, she chooses the man who she wanted to marry and feels it unnecessary that her father intervene in their relationship. This act of independence by Desdemona tears away the gender barriers of the Venetian patriarchal society and poses a threat to male authority."

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