In Othello, the character's accounts of Desdemona as goddess or whore well balanced creating a confusing portrait of this character, however, Desdemona's spirit and determination stems from her marriage to Othello. Tragically, these very traits will prove to be a deadly fault
The curtains for Act III Scene III part to reveal the lovely garden of the Cyprian castle as Desdemona, Cassio, and Emilia enter mid-conversation. While talking with Cassio, Desdemona mentions how she will help him regain his rank, as lieutenant by persuading Othello to reconsider his decision, all the while beaming with confidence, she feels that she will be successful. Emilia adds her own good wishes for Cassio; she too hopes that Desdemona will be successful. Both characters seem to be enthusiastic admirers of Desdemona, almost as though worshiping her as one would a goddess. Although Cassio's only interest in Desdemona is her help in getting his lieutenant rank back, he seems to admire her bravery to challenge politics and knows that she will help out of her love for Othello. Cassio express his gratitude, however, urges Desdemona not to delay, because if Othello waits too long to appoint a new lieutenant, he may "forget [Cassio's] love and service" (). Again, Desdemona is most reassuring, and convinces Cassio that she "will have [her] lord and [him] again/ As friendly as [they] were" (). Desdemona jokingly says to Cassio that she will "talk [with Othello] out of patience; / His bed shall seem a school […] I'll intermingle everything he does/ With Cassio's suit" ().Ironically and tragically, these lines are predictable, as Cassio's solicitor, Desdemona would "rather die/ Than give [his] cause away" ().
As a woman, Emilia does not perceive Desdemona as a threat because she has great respect for Desdemona. In a military camp, Desdemona and Emilia have no family or friends and being placed in a surrounding where male conceptions of honor define what women. Therefore, the women are aware of their surroundings and relate to each other on a level of understanding. Naturally, Emilia looks up to Desdemona as a goddess because she herself is unable to take the steps toward liberation like Desdemona; therefore, she is living the experience through Desdemona. Emilia then comments that Othello and Iago are approaching. When Othello and Iago enters the stage, Cassio pardons himself suddenly and claims that he is not well enough to speak with the general at this time. Iago uses this moment to undermine Othello's belief in Desdemona's loyalty; this scene called the "seductive" scene or the "temptation scene" as he impersonates an honest, but unwilling witness, and his "Ha! I like not that!" is a deliberate lie, which hides his true nature. However, because Othello sees nothing wrong with Cassio, Iago pretends he does not want to talk of Cassio's abrupt departure, insinuating that Cassio and Desdemona have something to hide. Still, could it be that Desdemona is up to something?
When Desdemona promises to help Cassio, her language strength and sexual power leads the audience to believe that Iago's suspicions of affection to Cassio from Desdemona are indeed true. For instance, Desdemona will "perform" her friendship with Cassio "to the last article" (). In other terms, she will pester her husband at great lengths to insure that Othello will reconsider his decisions of Cassio's rank. In addition, when Desdemona greets her husband, Othello, she introduces Cassio's name into their conversation while referring to him as a "suitor": "How now, my lord! / I have been talking with a suitor here, / A man that languishes in your displeasure" (). When Othello asks whom she is talking about, Desdemona replies, "Why, your lieutenant, Cassio" (). The politics of the situation mean very little to Desdemona, as she believes that Othello should restore her suitor's rank because he is the "one that truly loves [him] (). Desdemona then argues that Cassio's "errs in ignorance and not in cunning"; in other terms, he is not a bad person who just made a stupid mistake. Desdemona then expresses her remorse and states that his mistake is "not almost a fault / To incur a private check" (). Since Cassio is an officer of the peace who got drunk on duty and wounded an innocent civilian, Othello disagrees with Desdemona's decision, but he does not give a definite answer. Therefore, Desdemona exclaims, "What! Michael Cassio. / That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time, / When I have spoke of you dispraisingly, / Hath ta'en your part" (). In this line, the audience find out that Cassio knew Desdemona before she was married to Othello because he was the person that brought the two lovers together, yet, possible that Cassio and Desdemona were secret lovers.
help bring the two
