In William Shakespeare's Othello, we are introduced to several characters .
            
throughout the course of the play, three of which are female.  These characters are .
            
Desdemona, wife to Othello, Emilia, wife to Iago and Bianca, lover of Cassio.  .
            
Shakespeare has chosen to present the reader with only three female characters for .
            
strategic reasons.  The significance of Emilia and Bianca is to heighten our awareness of .
            
Desdemona's innocence and loyalty to her husband.  Emilia and Bianca are primarily .
            
created to present to the reader a striking contrast to Desdemona.
            
	Desdemona is the young, sweet, and unsuspecting daughter of Venice nobleman .
            
Brabantio.  She is often referred to throughout the play as virtuous, innocent, and pure by .
            
several different characters.  In this conversation,.
            
		Cassio.  She's a most exquisite lady.
            
		Iago.  And, I'll warrant her, full of game.
            
		Cassio.  Indeed, she's a most fresh and delicate creature.
            
		Iago.  What an eye she has! Methinks it sounds a parley to provocation.
            
		Cassio.  An inviting eye: and yet methinks right modest.
            
		Iago.  And when she speaks, is it not an alurum to love?.
            
		Cassio.  She is indeed perfection. (Act 2, scene 3, lines 18-25).
            
the reader gains a great understanding of Desdemona's many endearing qualities, and the .
            
respect, and adoration she receives from the other characters in the play.  Her marriage to .
            
Othello is somewhat contradictory to her innocent, and virtuous characteristics, because .
            
she has gone against her father's wishes with this marriage.  Even so the reader still views .
            
her as innocent and pure.  She has fallen in love with Othello primarily because of his .
            
great military deeds and his courage.  These are reasons for which many of us would .
            
consider the wrong reasons, but nevertheless Desdemona is constant in that love.
            
	Throughout the play Desdemona is innocent and unsuspecting, and cannot .
            
understand what is the cause of Othello's jealousy.  She always remains faithful to .