Rosalind and Desdemona as Moral Centers Essay Sample

📌Category: Othello, Plays, William Shakespeare, Writers
📌Words: 978
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 19 June 2022

In Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Othello, the female leads, Rosalind and Desdemona respectively, both fulfill the role of moral centers. They do so by demonstrating humanity, altruism, and integrity.

Rosalind and Desdemona are believably human due to their flaws and therefore better moral centers. Their flaws help them in their roles as moral guides because it is easier for the reader to relate and trust a character that seems real rather than fictional. Rosalind in As You Like It, presents multiple flaws. For example, she deceives other characters such as Orlando, Phoebe, and duke Senior by disguising herself as Ganymede, she speaks disloyally about women in order to test Orlando’s love (4.1.1990-1927), and she loses her temper when speaking to Phoebe and embarrasses her (3.5.1688-1717). Despite these shortcomings, she is, in contrast to the entirely good Orlando, a much more likeable character. In the same train of thought, Desdemona in Othello, also presents a number of flaws. For instance, she defies her father’s wishes to be with Othello (1.3.180-189) and she lies to Othello about not losing the handkerchief he had given her (3.4.78). Again, although she falls short of being a perfectly virtuous person, she is more sympathetic this way. Ultimately, Rosalind and Desdemona’s imperfections make them more believably human and do so without chipping away at their credibility as moral centers.

Both female leads present integrity. First, Rosalind displays this quality by remaining true to herself throughout the play despite her deceptive disguise as Ganymede. At the beginning of the play, she is already established as such by LeBeau when he says “the people praise her for her virtues” (1.2.387). She later demonstrates this virtue by defending herself and her father after being charged with treason and condemned to exile (1.3.463-469). Afterwards, Rosalind leaves the court for exile in the Forest of Arden to find her father, further reinforcing herself as a morally righteous character. Even when she is disguised as Ganymede, sincerity can be discerned in her words and actions. In spite of her efforts to mask herself as a man, she is unable to suppress her true nature. Rosalind retains her defining characteristics such as her wit and her compassion. A notable example of this is when she chides Phoebe for rejecting Silvius’ earnest and pitiable plead (3.5.1688-1717). Although Rosalind scolds Silvius as well, she does so in a comforting and sympathetic manner: “You are a thousand times a properer man/Than she a woman” (3.5.1705-1706). Her outburst illustrates well the fullness of her personality. Second, Desdemona displays integrity by remaining faithful to her husband, Othello. From her very first words in the play to her very last, Desdemona shows unwavering loyalty. During her first appearance, she pledges obedience to Othello over her father (1.3.180-189). She cleverly managed to go against a male authority figure all while remaining an exemplar Elizabethan noblewoman, showing her to be intelligent and dependable. Similarly, during her last appearance, she protects Othello and conceals the fact that he was the one that killed her (5.2.123-124). Despite being wrongfully treated by her husband, Desdemona chooses him over herself.

Rosalind and Desdemona both show how they possess altruistic qualities by helping those around them. First, Rosalind does so by helping the characters in the story settle their romantic relationships. She acts as a mindful leader by being aware of the feelings of the other characters and by being able to take the right course of action to help each one of them with their desires. She takes matters into her own hands to help tie the loose ends of the story, thus assisting the other characters in their complicated love situations. Although this does not entail a happy ending for all the couples, it is a fair one since all the characters came to an agreement beforehand. Towards the end of the play, Orlando, Silvius, and Phoebe all find themselves in the pitiful situation of not being able to be with the one they love. As they wallow in their sorrow, Rosalind plans to fix the problem by leaving the three of them commands and promising them that they will be married to their significant other the following day if the set bargain is met (5.2.2344-2356). In the ending of the story, Rosalind is able to keep her end of the promise to make all matters even by revealing herself to be Ganymede. This act of helping others  solidifies her role as a moral center since it demonstrates exemplary qualities such as empathy and leadership. Second, Desdemona proves herself to be an utterly selfless and sympathetic person. Her relationships with Othello and Cassio are examples of this. Desdemona’s decision to help and support Othello as well as to help Cassio regain his position as lieutenant portray her desire to help others. For Othello, she defies her father’s wishes (1.3.180-189) and leaves behind her home country (1.3.249-259). Not only is this an instance of her conviction and her bravery, it is an exemplary act of altruism. She voluntarily puts herself in a dangerous and arduous situation to faithfully fulfill her duty as a wife, travelling perilous waters to live in a place full of strangers. In fact, Iago is well aware of this trait, and makes full use of it in his plan. He says the following about Desdemona when giving Cassio advice following his blunder: “Confess yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in your place again. She is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed a disposition she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do more than she is requested” (2.3.292-295). This solidifies her virtuous nature since Iago’s strategy is to use the best qualities he can find in a person as the central instrument of their downfall. 

In conclusion, Rosalind from Shakespeare’s As You Like It and Desdemona from Shakespeare’s Othello both act as moral centers. On one hand, Rosalind demonstrates integrity by remaining true to herself throughout the play despite her deceptive disguise as Ganymede and helpfulness by aiding characters in the story settle their romantic relationships. On the other hand, Desdemona displays integrity by remaining faithful to her husband and helpfulness by supporting Othello as well as aiding Cassio regain his position as lieutenant. Both also demonstrate humanity by presenting slight flaws, making them more believably human without overriding their role as moral centers.

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