--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's…" description: "\"Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain.\" — William Shakespeare" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78d/william-shakespeare-4_desdemona_poor-desdemona-i-am-glad-thy-father-s-de_1401197.jpg" --- # Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. Thy match was… ![“Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain.” quote by William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78d/william-shakespeare-4_desdemona_poor-desdemona-i-am-glad-thy-father-s-de_1401197.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78d/william-shakespeare-4_desdemona_poor-desdemona-i-am-glad-thy-father-s-de_1401197.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/78d/william-shakespeare-4_desdemona_poor-desdemona-i-am-glad-thy-father-s-de_1401197.jpg) > “Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief Shore his old thread in twain.” [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Iago expresses twisted joy at Desdemona’s death, seeing it as a fitting retribution for her marriage to Othello, whom he despises. **In simple terms:** Iago is happy Desdemona died because he sees it as revenge. Key Takeaway Recognize how personal vendettas can warp moral judgment. Themes betrayal revenge tragedy Mood cynical dark foreboding Type dramatic tragic literary When to use this quote - political intrigue - marital conflict - courtly gossip - personal rivalry Key Concepts manipulation poisoned love justice pride Questions to Reflect On - What does Iago’s pleasure reveal about his character? - How does this line foreshadow the play’s outcome? A Different Perspective Iago’s perspective ignores the humanity of the victims and the broader tragedy. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Desdemona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desdemona/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Grief](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grief/) [Maxims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/maxims/) [Mortals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mortals/) ## Related quotes > [And will he not come again? And will he not come again? No, no, he is dead. Go to thy deathbed. He never will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/and-will-he-not-come-again-and-will-he-not-come-again-no-no-he-is/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“O, she was foul!— I scarce did know you, uncle; there lies your niece, Whose breath, indeed, these hands have newly stopp'd: I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-she-was-foul-i-scarce-did-know-you-uncle-there-lies-your-niece/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“In the human mind, doubt has a faster rate of growth than even hope, and we know what that meant for poor Desdemona.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-s-murthy/in-the-human-mind-doubt-has-a-faster-rate-of-growth-than-even-hope/) [B.S. Murthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-s-murthy/) > [If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/speak-of-me-as-i-am-nothing-extenuate-nor-set-down-aught-in-malice/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“God me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/god-me-such-uses-send-not-to-pick-bad-from-bad-but-by-bad-mend/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Othello' was my first Shakespearean discovery. I was obsessed with drama at school, and I studied the play for my English GCSE. Desdemona is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/othello-was-my-first-shakespearean-discovery-i-was-obsessed-with/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) > [Juliet singles out Romeo. Desdemona claims Othello. They have no doubts, the young, no fear, no pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/juliet-singles-out-romeo-desdemona-claims-othello-they-have-no-doubts/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Adam leaned down and placed his lips next to her ear. He blew gently on it before he spoke. Mona leaned even closer into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/adam-leaned-down-and-placed-his-lips-next-to-her-ear-he-blew-gently/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [“willow trees, willow trees they remind me of Desdemona I'm so damned literary and at the same time the waters rushing past remind me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-hara/willow-trees-willow-trees-they-remind-me-of-desdemona-i-m-so-damned/) [Frank O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-hara/) > [There are no preconditions for jealousy. You don't have to be right, you don't have to be reasonable. Take Othello. He was neither right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/there-are-no-preconditions-for-jealousy-you-don-t-have-to-be-right/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [Space-ships and time machines are no escape from the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/space-ships-and-time-machines-are-no-escape-from-the-human-condition/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“He stopped. She heard the intake of his breath. “You are my country, Desdemona.” Yearning, harsh and poignant and she felt herself swaying toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/he-stopped-she-heard-the-intake-of-his-breath-you-are-my-country/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [You are my country, Desdemona. ... My Egypt. My hot, harrowing desert and my cool, verdant Nile, infinitely lovely and unfathomable and sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/you-are-my-country-desdemona-my-egypt-my-hot-harrowing-desert-and-my/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) ## More by William Shakespeare > [Let us kill all lawyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/let-us-kill-all-lawyers/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/a-horse-a-horse-my-kingdom-for-a-horse/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [O tiger's heart wrapped in a woman's hide!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/o-tiger-s-heart-wrapped-in-a-woman-s-hide/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Divers philosophers hold that the lips is parcel of the mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/divers-philosophers-hold-that-the-lips-is-parcel-of-the-mouth/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Short time seems long in sorrow's sharp sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/short-time-seems-long-in-sorrow-s-sharp-sustaining/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs; Being purg'd, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vex'd, a sea nourish'd with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-is-a-smoke-made-with-the-fume-of-sighs-being-purg-d-a-fire/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I, measuring his affections by my own, Which then most sought where most might not be found, Being one too many by my weary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-measuring-his-affections-by-my-own-which-then-most-sought-where/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Thou hast no figures nor no fantasies Which busy care draws in the brains of men; Therefore thou sleep’st so sound. Julius Caesar (2.1.248-251)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/thou-hast-no-figures-nor-no-fantasies-which-busy-care-draws-in-the/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Truth needs no color; beauty, no pencil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/truth-needs-no-color-beauty-no-pencil/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Have you not heard it said full oft, A woman's nay doth stand for naught?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/have-you-not-heard-it-said-full-oft-a-woman-s-nay-doth-stand-for/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Omittance is no quittance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/omittance-is-no-quittance/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“Yes, madam: yet I cannot choose but laugh, To think it should leave crying and say 'Ay.' And yet, I warrant, it had upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/yes-madam-yet-i-cannot-choose-but-laugh-to-think-it-should-leave/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I take thee at thy word: Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I never will be Romeo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/i-take-thee-at-thy-word-call-me-but-love-and-i-ll-be-new-baptized/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) [Explore all 5,604 William Shakespeare quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) ## More Desdemona quotes > [If she be not honest, chaste, and true, there's no man happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/if-she-be-not-honest-chaste-and-true-there-s-no-man-happy/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [“God me such uses send, Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/god-me-such-uses-send-not-to-pick-bad-from-bad-but-by-bad-mend/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [IAGO: She that was ever fair and never proud, Had tongue at will and yet was never loud, Never lack'd gold and yet went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/iago-she-that-was-ever-fair-and-never-proud-had-tongue-at-will-and/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [Space-ships and time machines are no escape from the human condition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-koestler/space-ships-and-time-machines-are-no-escape-from-the-human-condition/) [Arthur Koestler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-koestler/) > [“He stopped. She heard the intake of his breath. “You are my country, Desdemona.” Yearning, harsh and poignant and she felt herself swaying toward…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/he-stopped-she-heard-the-intake-of-his-breath-you-are-my-country/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [Othello' was my first Shakespearean discovery. I was obsessed with drama at school, and I studied the play for my English GCSE. Desdemona is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-dockery/othello-was-my-first-shakespearean-discovery-i-was-obsessed-with/) [Michelle Dockery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-dockery/) > [Speak of me as I am. Nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/speak-of-me-as-i-am-nothing-extenuate-nor-set-down-aught-in-malice/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [You are my country, Desdemona. ... My Egypt. My hot, harrowing desert and my cool, verdant Nile, infinitely lovely and unfathomable and sustaining.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-brockway/you-are-my-country-desdemona-my-egypt-my-hot-harrowing-desert-and-my/) [Connie Brockway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-brockway/) > [There are no preconditions for jealousy. You don't have to be right, you don't have to be reasonable. Take Othello. He was neither right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/franny-billingsley/there-are-no-preconditions-for-jealousy-you-don-t-have-to-be-right/) [Franny Billingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/franny-billingsley/) > [“willow trees, willow trees they remind me of Desdemona I'm so damned literary and at the same time the waters rushing past remind me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-o-hara/willow-trees-willow-trees-they-remind-me-of-desdemona-i-m-so-damned/) [Frank O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-o-hara/) > [“Adam leaned down and placed his lips next to her ear. He blew gently on it before he spoke. Mona leaned even closer into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinn-loftis/adam-leaned-down-and-placed-his-lips-next-to-her-ear-he-blew-gently/) [Quinn Loftis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinn-loftis/) > [Juliet singles out Romeo. Desdemona claims Othello. They have no doubts, the young, no fear, no pride.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/agatha-christie/juliet-singles-out-romeo-desdemona-claims-othello-they-have-no-doubts/) [Agatha Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/agatha-christie/) > [“Everybody must pity Desdemona, but I cannot bring myself to like her. Her determination to marry Othello – it was she who virtually did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden-2/everybody-must-pity-desdemona-but-i-cannot-bring-myself-to-like-her/) [W.H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden-2/) > [“Lefty, who'd been observing all the ways Greece had been handed down to America, arrived now at where the transmission stopped. In other words:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-eugenides/lefty-who-d-been-observing-all-the-ways-greece-had-been-handed-down/) [Jeffrey Eugenides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-eugenides/) > [ “The English letter ‘O’ is similar to zero (0) in appearance. Iago’s \[I am Ego = ‘I’ ‘a’m e‘go’\] name starts with an egoistic… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/md-ziaul-haque/the-english-letter-o-is-similar-to-zero-0-in-appearance-iago-s-i-am/) [Md. Ziaul Haque](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/md-ziaul-haque/) [Browse all 20 Desdemona quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desdemona/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead. 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