"That song tonight / Will not go from my mind. I have much to do, / But to go hang my head all at one side / And sing it like poor Barbary." (Desdemona.4.3.32-35)
Before this quote Desdemona talks about her mothers maid Barbary who died at the hands of her husband while singing this song. Desdemona obviously feels that she is going to end up like Barbary and might die at the hands of Othello tonight. She knows there's nothing she can do about his actions so she sings and prays that she will be left unharmed.
This quote can be connected to the larger themes of fury and jealousy. Desdemona knows Othello is jealous for whatever reason and this jealousy has caused him to be extremely furious with her. He's so furious that he has thoughts about killing her and Desdemona doesn't doubt that he'll actually go through with it just because of the type of person he is. He's killed people in the past so he'll most likely have no problem murdering someone now even if he's truly in love and cares for that person.
to go hang my head ~ I can barely restrain myself from hanging
what do you think will happen to Desdemona?
How do you think Emilia will feel if her friend does end up dying?
L.J.B.
