I read Desdemona when our Shakespeare reading group did Othello. It's a really disturbing and scary part to read, and probably even more so to play (especially since Othello was read by a very good friend of mine who is also a sort-of-ex). I felt really strange and off-balance for hours afterward.
To my mind, Desdemona certainly sees her death coming - that whole scene where she is folding things away and singing and talking to Emilia was heavy with the knowledge that Othello had turned on her and it was only a matter of time (though she still can't quite believe what she knows, I think). But it does take her a long time to get to that point - she is so very innocent that until Othello becomes quite direct in his accusations, it simply never occurs to her that it could be anything other than a joke - adultery is utterly unthinkable to her.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-08-24 11:03 pm (UTC)To my mind, Desdemona certainly sees her death coming - that whole scene where she is folding things away and singing and talking to Emilia was heavy with the knowledge that Othello had turned on her and it was only a matter of time (though she still can't quite believe what she knows, I think). But it does take her a long time to get to that point - she is so very innocent that until Othello becomes quite direct in his accusations, it simply never occurs to her that it could be anything other than a joke - adultery is utterly unthinkable to her.