Essay from the year 2015 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, University of Cologne, language: English, abstract: This essay deals with one of the main female characters in William Shakespeare's drama "The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice". In it I will analyse the character of Othello's wife, Desdemona, in relation to the men and the society in the play. "Othello" is believed to have been written in 1603 and deals, as it is typical for dramatic and tragic plays, with the downfall of the hero from proud reign to jealous despair. The situation in the play changes dramatically, when the hero Othello changes his mind about Desdemona from a passionate lover to the hateful killer, because of his Ancient Iago's intrigues. Iago is said to be one of the greatest villains Shakespeare ever created, because "[e]vil has nowhere else been portrayed with such mastery as in the character of Iago" (Bradley, 207). Within the plot, the action increases constantly with every new cruel step in his plan to make Othello believe that his wife is cheating on him with his lieutenant Michael Cassio. Iago influences every action that takes place in the plot, because he wants to destroy the people who have betrayed him, by planting false thoughts in their heads, so that they give his speeches faith and draw the wrong conclusions. So he does with Othello, by letting him believe that his wife is unfaithful. In this essay, the focus now should be on Desdemona and discuss how she is a tragic figure. Because on the one hand she is a puppet in Iago's games, but with a developed character, and on the other hand she stands up for herself, for example, if she marries Othello against the wishes of her father, and has her own opinions that she represents in front of others.