character analysis of Lan Xichen and Desdemona (spoilers for Othello and The Untamed)
I think we need to cut the both of them more slack. They were anything but stupid. Sydney Open Journal even calls Desdemona a "pathetic victim of circumstance" and a lot of folks in forums think Lan Xichen is naive and ignorant. These are two bottom-feeding, surface-level analyses of two characters who demand to be read on a deeper level.
Empathy: Both characters are put against a difficult backdrop of genius-level, world-class characters (Lan Wangji and Othello) and are given the gift of empathy. Contrasting to their counterparts, it seems like nothing. However, they are incredibly emotionally intelligent and have no difficulty reading people.
Their roles as mediator between irrational parties: Desdemona plays peacemaker between Othello and...everyone in the story. Nobody likes him due to his racial background and it causes irrational conflict within the story, usually with Desdemona having to play mediator because nobody trusts Othello. Similarly, Lan Xichen is the negotiator between Nie Mingjue and Jin Guangyao, two hot-headed characters who know exactly how to push the other's buttons. Both characters love and trust both parties that they're mediating between, and both are committed to sticking up for the underdog. Both also face curiously similar situations in sticking up for demoted officials. Their kindness allows them to play a necessary but overlooked role of unbiased judge.
Their physical beauty as an obstacle: Both characters are extremely beautiful and highly sought after by potential partners, many of whom do not have good intentions, like Jin Guangyao and Iago. Iago did not love Desdemona in a romantic sense; it was more of an unhealthy obsession with her as an object through which he could exploit Othello. Personally, I feel that Jin Guangyao had a similar obsession with Lan Xichen - romantic or not, he was obsessed. I thought that while it felt more genuine than Iago's, it still ended up in the same place: Tricking the gentle and empathetic character into being an accessory to the death of the real target.
Unwavering Loyalty: Both characters are unwaveringly loyal to their closest companions; Desdemona to her husband and Lan Xichen to his sworn brothers. They withstand a multitude of tests of loyalty and don't budge even once, and this is well-known to all. Which is why this is exactly the thing that the villains exploit. Iago and Jin Guangyao undermine the loyalty of Desdemona and Lan Xichen, because who can really remain truly loyal to Othello or Nie Mingjue? Nie Mingjue was losing his mind and Othello was a Black man in times where that alone was unacceptable. Nobody in the stories around them would have faulted these characters for beginning to cut ties or be disloyal, because their relationships weren't perfect. It almost wasn't logical for Desdemona and Lan Xichen to remain faithful because of the turmoil within their respective relationships, which is why it was easy for the villains to undermine them.
A very specific type of accessory character: I find the similarities between Nie Mingjue and Othello striking, but not as obvious as Desdemona and Lan Xichen. However, this is a point because Nie Mingjue came from a clan that wasn't always held in the highest regard due to their background, and he himself struggled with his mental health. Othello shares a similar story. It opens both of these characters up to unnecessary criticism and targeting, and they are defended by Desdemona and Lan Xichen to the point that it injures the reputation of Desdemona and Lan Xichen in the eyes of readers/consumers.
TL;DR justice for desdemona and lan xichen
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