Examine how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Othello and Desdemona here and elsewhere in the play.

Essay by xxstefffxxB, January 2006

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This section of the play is where Othello has just arrived in Cyprus and they have found out there was a storm in which the Venetian ships survived but the Turkish ships were destroyed. Othello and Desdemona have a strong relationship, which is full of love and devotion. However, this changes throughout the play as, in Act 1 Scene 3, we hear of Iago's plan to ruin their marriage because he suspects that Othello has slept with his wife:

"He's done my office. I know not if't be true

But I, for mere suspicion in that kind,

Will do as if for surety."

This is Iago's reasoning for hurting Othello, even though he does not know if it is true, but he wants to get revenge anyway. We then see Desdemona and Othello in love but we can also see the Iago is plotting in the background to get his revenge, during Act II and then throughout Act III he is putting his plan into action by playing around with Othello's mind, telling him that there is something going on between Desdemona and Cassio and putting ideas into his head that Desdemona is having an affair behind his back.


Throughout the novel, Shakespeare uses a wide range of literary and linguistic devices to present the relationship between Desdemona and Othello. This is shown in the given section from Act II Scene 1 and elsewhere in the play.

In this section, from Act II Scene 1, we can see that both Othello and Desdemona are deeply in love with each other. This is shown through the way they great one another after their journey, apart, to Cyprus:

OTHELLO: O my...