Analysis

The character of Desdemona in Shakespeare's Othello represents innocence and purity. She is revered by the other characters of the play. Desdemona is universally seen as the perfect woman, and her love for Othello due to black magic. This is untrue, however, as she truly loves him. Othello becomes jealous due to the purity of Desdemona, and it drives him mad. Desdemona's purity and innocence ironically lead to her death from Othello.


She states in Act 1, Scene 3 that "I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honors and his valiant parts, Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate." This statement represents Desdemona's pure love for Othello. In Blessid Union of Souls' song She Likes Me for Me, the singer expresses the same sentiment of being liked by his girl for no other reason than who he is inside. She states that she fell in love with Othello not due to some black magic, but due to Othello's person. She states that Othello's noble heart won her over. This is expressed in the quote as well as the song

Desdemona is madly in love with Othello, referenced in Act 2, Scene 1 when Desdemona says "our loves and comforts should increase,Even as our days do grow", Desdemona is saying that she wishes to grow old with Othello, and has every reason to believe she will do so. Bon Jovi's song "Next 100 Years" expresses a similar idea. The song represents the idea of being there for someone, and "standing here, for the next 100 years" This pledge shows true commitment to a person, a commitment that there is no turning back from. Desdemona's heart and soul are fully pledged to Othello, and this love does not waver throughout he play, despite Othello's jealous imagined madness.

Her purity is even referenced by other characters in the play. She called "perfection" by Cassio in Act 2, Scene 3. The idea of a perfect woman is spoken of in Zac Brown Band's "Whatever It Is". The band gives off the image that a woman is perfect, and has "it". This "perfection" spoken of in the play is what unfortunately leads to her death, as it inspires jealousy in Othello. Iago's hearing to Cassio's statement turns the wheels in Iago's head to his master plan for them all. Iago's plan is inspired by Desdemona's perfection, knowing that Othello will let thoughts creep in that he does not deserve such a perfect woman.

Even when Othello begins to lose his mind, Desdemona remains faithful to him, saying that "If to preserve this vessel for my lord, From any other foul unlawful touch". Desdemona’s defense of herself echoes the sentiments of a song by Tom Petty called “Don’t Do Me Like That”. In the song, a man begs his woman not to lie to and deceive him. In the same way, Desdemona begs her husband Othello to regain his sanity and realize what he is doing. Unfortunately, this last ditch effort fails for Desdemona. Nevertheless, Desdemona refuses to acquiesce to Othello's ramblings. Instead, she honorably defends herself, while still loving Othello.

In her final moments, Desdemona reiterates her love with her famous saying of That death’s unnatural that kills for loving" The song “Say It Isn’t So” reflects a world turned upside down, which has happened in the play. The noble Othello has completed his transmogrification, “Honest” Iago has been exposed, and the innocents have died. Desdemona knows that Othello loves her, and is willing to die for Othello's over-nobility. Her innocence allows her to die for her husband, which is another example of the topsy-turvy world.

Quotes with Songs Othello (color-coordinated)

That death’s unnatural that kills for loving.
Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?
Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
These are portents, but yet I hope, I hope
They do not point on me.
ACT 5, SCENE 2


Say it isn’t so
Tell me it’s not true
Say it isn’t so
I believe in you
Tell me it’s a lie
Say It Isn't So by Bon Jovi

No, as I am a Christian.
If to preserve this vessel for my lord
From any other foul unlawful touch
Be not to be a strumpet, I am none
ACT 4, SCENE 2

Don’t Do Me Like That
Well I love you, baby
Don’t Do Me Like That x3
Someday I’ll need you baby
Don’t Do Me Like That
Don't Do Me Like That by Tom Petty
The heavens forbid

But that our loves and comforts should increase

Even as our days do grow

ACT 2, SCENE 1


I’ll be standing here
for the next 100 years

If it all should end tonight,

I’ll know it was worth the fight

I’ll be standing here
for the next 100 years
Next 100 Years by Bon Jovi



Even to the very quality of my lord.
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind,
And to his honors and his valiant parts
Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.
ACT 1, SCENE 3

She Likes Me for Me
Not because I look like Tyson Bedford
With the charm of Robert Redford
Oozing out my ears
What she sees are my bumps and inhibitions
She Likes Me for Me by Blessid Union of Souls

An inviting eye, and yet methinks right modest.
And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?
She is indeed perfection.
ACT 2, SCENE 3

She got whatever it is
It blows me away
She’s everything I want to say
to a woman
But couldn’t find the words to say
Whatever It Is by Zac Brown Band 

Othello quotes for Desdemona

Metapoem

Shrouds of darkness cloud the sky
Refusing the light the chance to shine
The embodiment of perpetual thought
is to be found in the deepest mine.

Then finally, a thought breaks through.
The clouds wither away.
The nemesis of writing
Imagination will finally slay

Billboard

http://cheezburger.com/View.aspx?aid=3072387584
(link to billboard)

I would locate my billboard on Sunrise Drive, so I would see it everyday at Verot. The content of the poster would appeal to that particular demographic.

Snippet

I never got to run the ball. Only when our team was up by a huge margin was the play called for me. And when I did step in, I took my place under center as the backup quarterback and ran the same play over and over and over: QB Sneak. To be honest, I loved running the sneak, as I would always gain 3 or 4 yards a carry. I would just follow the big boys up on the line, get a few yards, get tackled, get up, and do it again.
We were playing the Dolphins, our archrival. My team, the Raiders, and the Dolphins were far and away the best two teams in our league. They had beaten us the first time we played, and we wanted revenge. With less than two minutes to go, we led them 27-14. Our star running back Sean Collins had been a beast that day, but now we needed to put them away. With their explosive, quick-strike offense, we knew we needed one more first down to seal the victory. With our backup backfield in the game (we had been up three touchdowns, at which point, a backup backfield needed to be inserted) Three times in a row, we had run the QB Sneak, and we were left with Fourth and Two. We went back to the huddle.
I always gave my coach suggestions on what play to run next. I would be the first one back to the huddle, and would say “Quad Right Sweep” or some other play from our playbook. And a lot of times, he would listen. So, I walked back and said “Sneak” to Coach Les. Coach Les looked at me, turned to the team when they got to the huddle, and called “Quarterback Sweep”. I was dumbfounded. Not that he had called a different play, that didn’t matter. I was surprised because I didn’t think I had the speed to get the outside and pick up the first down and seal the victory. I walked up to the line, heart pounding mile a minute. I gazed over Brandon Rowe and Brandon Dorsey, friends of mine that were defensive backs on the side of the field I was running to.
“Down…, Set…, HUT”, I yelled. As I took the snap, I ran to my left. Running as fast as my legs could carry me, I turned the corner around my tight end. Running forward I saw Rowe and Dorsey beginning to converge on me. I thought I might be able to get the clinching first down anyway, so I ran straight ahead. All of a sudden, I heard a BAM! sound ahead of me. Turning my head slightly to the right, I saw Rowe and Dorsey on the ground, having crashed into one another. To my complete astonishment, I saw plenty of green grass ahead of me on that Wauconda High School field, and I just put my head down and kept running until they brought me down. When I finally had been brought down, the game had been sealed. A 17 yard run for the first down was the longest run of my football career. Popping up from my run, I pumped my fist in celebration, a move emulated from Tiger Woods.
We lined up a few more times to take a knee, and eventually the clock struck all zeros, and we ran onto the field to celebrate our win: Raiders 27, Dolphins 14. I ribbed Rowe and Dorsey after the game about crashing into each other, and they laughed along. The greatest moment of my football career came on a play I didn’t even want to be called.

Burn Our Ships

The ships we've brought we now must burn
There is no way back
There is no place for us to turn

The catalyst for a decided upturn
A ruthless unit ready for attack
The ships we've brought we now must burn

From turbulent past experiences we must learn
Tenacity we cannot lack
There is no place for us to turn

Everything we get we must earn
A vaunted team dressed in black
The ships we've brought we now must burn

Like Cortes preventing an easy return
Against us the deck they may stack
There is no place for us to turn

But all the critics we must spurn
And to Lakeland make our way back
The ships we've brought we now must burn
There is no place for us to turn

(Tried posting on Thursday, but when i checked on it, it hadn't posted)