Depicting Desdemona

Desdemona is difficult character to fully understand. She takes on a feministic view in some cases but in other scenes she seems like she is obedient and takes on the female character role society holds for her. She tests power and shows her agency in the beginning of the play by secretly going against her father and getting married. Not only did she get married under secrecy but she when against cultural norms and married an African American. Her independence and free will exemplifies her strong powerful nature in her character. There are many instances where Desdemona struggles through the hierarchical status of power generated by men and she seems to not mind. This is confusing to me because she seems like she is testing societal norms by showing her agency and independence by secretly marrying an African American. For example when her father asks who she is obedient to she says she is now under Othello’s power and compares herself to her mother since she once was under her fathers rule until she married him. This shows her as being rebellious towards her father but at the same time conforming to societies expectations by saying she is now loyal and obedient to her husband Othello. Desdemona’s feministic aspect of her character decreases in Act II when Iago starts to degrade women. Surprisingly it does not seem like Desdemona takes on great defense. Iago makes a comment saying women are useless and lazy and the only thing they bring to the table is sex. Iago basically says it does not matter if a woman is beautiful and intelligent overall they are equally despicable and only good for sex. Desdemona does not seem to take defense and actually plays along with Iago’s deceitful comments. Why does this rebellious character confirm Iago’s statement? She basically is agreeing with Iago, which belittles and degrades not only herself but women as a whole. Overall is Desdemona categorized as a feminist testing societal expectations of women or is she viewed as a dependent, passive, obedient character?