Othello is vulnerable due to his insecurity in his relationship with Desdemona and his ever-present violent and misogynistic nature, he turns to Iago for help. Iago then manipulates Othello into believing his wife Desdemona had been unfaithful to him which results in disastrous tragedy – death. .
Othello is set in a highly patriarchal world, women must do what men say and are unable to have an influence against it. Desdemona breaks these societal expectations during the start of the play. She is able to use her voice to confront the patriarchy to get what she wants: " A moth of peace, and he goes to the war, The rites for which I love him are bereft me And I a heavy interim shall support By his dear absence. Let me go with him" Desdemona does not want to remain behind while her new husband ventures off to Cyprus to fight against the Turks. Desdemona's desire to be with her husband pressures her to stand against the patriarchy and speak for what she wants instead of being told what to do by the male authority.
Before the final climactic tragedy occurs, there is a short interlude, a calm moment where Emilia and Desdemona discuss the situation at that moment in time. Desdemona has a premonition of death and sings the "Willow Song" remembering her old maid Barbary whose lover went mad and abandoned her, she died singing this song. In Oliver Parkers film adaptation this "Willow Song" is played throughout the film during Desdemona's death and at the end of the film when the tragedy has subsided. Desdemona sings the "Willow Song" in an indirect way, she faces the eventual possibility that Othello is going mad and may desert or even kill her. Oliver Parker uses cinematic techniques to represent this scene; lighting changes amongst the interspersed cut-scenes between the two women in Desdemona's bedroom and Othello alone by the ocean, these lighting changes create a different and unique atmosphere between the two locations.