Within Shakespeare's tragedy of Othello, there is a palpable difference between the attitudes and behaviours of women than that of the men in the play. Desdemona is presented by Shakespeare as a woman clearly raised in line with the typical gender norms and values of the time of the Venetian/Ottoman Empire conflict, however it is also typical of the arbitrary contextual time the play was being written in- the Elizabethan era, in which women were still very much seen as desirable objects and possessions, much the same as during the late 16th century.
Desdemona holds a deep love, perhaps almost an obsession for Othello throughout the play, despite this attitude not being mutual towards the end of the play. This could be demonstrated through the quote 'My lord'. The use of the powerful noun and title of 'lord' portrays the typical ideologies of femininity and the expected behaviours that are expected of women due to the patriarchal society that creates these expectations. It serves the idea that Desdemona feels as though she is inferior to her husband as this is what she has been taught to think marriage should be and also shows her naivety to the society that surrounds her, as she so blindly follows the male created projection for female behaviour. Her naivety in terms of men can also be seen in this phrase as it infers the idea that she herself believes herself to be his possession and under his control without questioning it or rebelling against it as she believes this is her role. Additionally, her use of this phrase spans throughout the entire play, which casts light on her naivety about men due to her undying love and respect for Othello remaining untainted quite literally until death. This concept could also allude to religious context and the phrase used during the process of marriage, 'until death do us part'. Desdemona's loyalty to this phrase and vow, shows her attitudes to men and marriage, giving the audience an insight to her ideas of female roles and how they circulate around marriage and being a singular man's possession for life.

Furthermore, in Act 3, Scene 3, Desdemona affectionately calls Othello 'Good love'. This phrase alludes to her eternally positive and untainted view of her husband, no matter what he may do or accuse her of. This once again represents the contextually prominent values in reference to gender, with women lacking independence and being required to stand by their husbands at all times as they were simply extensions of them, socially. It may also reflects her naivety about her expectations of love and relationships, as she may just be calling Othello 'Good love', however this could also be seen as her viewing the toxic and unhealthy love they share as a 'Good love', which is clearly untrue and reveals how innocent Desdemona truly is. A feminist reading of this would heavily criticise these attitudes, deeming them to be very strongly playing into the stereotypes of women, in which they are expected to be an image of virtue and innocence and blindly obedient, passive wives.

Desdemona tells the Duke in Act 1, Scene 3, "My heart's subdued even to the quality of my lord.". This connotes that Desdemona's love for Othello is all-consuming, it shows her complete devotion to Othello and her willingness to connect her own desires and identity to his. This once again depicts her naivety, as she refuses to recognise that Othello's character flaws could harm her and additionally her relationship. Shakespeare crafting Desdemona's forever positive attitude, highlights the contrast between her innocence and the corruption of the world around her, particularly within the patriarchal context. This is further solidified by the use of the phrase' my lord' yet again, as it reiterates the attachment she holds to her husband, and the inferiority she is forced to feel and believe is required of her. Desdemona is constructed as such a naive character to ensure that the Elizabethan audience of the time note this criticism of the patriarchy and its expectations and constructs, whilst still abiding to the realistic presentations of women of the time.

In conclusion, Desdemona is demonstrated as a very naive character, with this perhaps being her hamartia and eventually causing her tragic demise. Her naivety does not stop at simply her attitude to men and marriage, but also the rest of society and its corrupt and broken unspoken rules, norms and values in order to highlight these issues to the audience, both modern and Elizabethan.