Emilia resembles a typical Renaissance women till the 3rd act of the play. However, her characteristics shift significantly in the last two acts. She has a different opinion toward men than Desdemona. To her opinion men does not need a valid cause to be jealous as she say: "It is a monster/ Begot upon itself, born on itself" (3.4.162-163). Her understanding of men seems to be different compared to traditional women in that era. She believes in equal rights between men and women . She believes that if men allow themselves to cheat on their wives then they should expect their wives to be hostile towards them and seek revenge (4.3.93-103).
The transformation in Emilia's character is even more pronounced when she clearly sees jealousy in Othello's attitude. She shows her loyalty to her mistress by speaking up in front of Othello when he was accusing Desdemona to adultery with Cassio. she finds herself guilty in being obedient to Iago when she realized Iago's wicked plan on using the handkerchief to show Desdemona a chaste. Emilia plays a crucial role in the last act because she is the only person who can prove Desdemona as innocent. Emilia sacrifices her life to defy Iago who arranged Desdemona's death as she embraces death by breaking her silence in telling Othello the truth about the handkerchief. she states that killing her would not do any good to Iago when he was trying to silence her by threatening her to death(5.2.195-196). Her role as being the outspoken character shapes the last few scenes of the play. Her opposition to silence and chastity challenges the social norms during the Renaissance. Her assertive tone in the last two acts of the play, certainly presents her as a strong-minded individual which reveals truth in defiance of social norms.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Such an action was a reflection of the perseverance and determination to cease power, not plainly for herself, but for her son, which was not a common action displayed by many Roman women at the time. This further emphasises how important, influential…
- 342 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
Regardless of Emilia being the voice of reason in Othello, even she succumbs to Iago’s deceptions. In Act 3: Scene 3 Emilia finds Desdemona’s handkerchief, “I am glad I have found this napkin/This was her first remembrance from the Moor” yet despite knowing its importance, she gives it to her husband (Iago). Emilia doesn’t know what Iago will do with Desdemona’s precious handkerchief nonetheless she yields, “I nothing but to please his fantasy”. Upon receiving it from his wife he dismisses her and her questions with, “Be not acknown on’t; I have use for it. Go, leave me,” he uses high…
- 831 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In Othello, the two main women, Desdemona and her friend Emilia, are foils of one another. Desdemona is Othello’s wife and acts exactly as a woman was believed to in their era, a devoted and subservient wife who would die if that is what her husband requested, whereas Emilia was loyal to her husband only until it contradicted her moral code. Emilia stood up for her friend when she was threatened, “Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak: / Tis proper I obey him, but not now. / -Perchance, Iago, I will ne’er go home”(Othello V.ii.195-197). Throughout the play, Emilia makes references to her independent nature, but it is not until this scene at the end of the play that she openly defies her husband in order to protect her closest friend. It is a total girl power moment for her and led to many discussions about her as a character, “[she] achieved psychological freedom and freed herself from societal domination and self-imposed restraints by speaking and acting as she thinks and feels”(Iyasere). Emilia also has a powerful monologue comparing women to men in this play. Her outcry to the men is a strikingly radical speech in a play that had repeatedly displayed patriarchal dominance. Her tone is powerful and progressive throughout the final scene, contributing to the impact the…
- 1755 Words
- 8 Pages
Powerful Essays -
She assists Cassio (who does not exist in Cinthio’s story) in receiving and audience with Desdemona after his fight with Montano (another character who only exists in Othello), in hopes that she could convince Othello to reinstate Cassio as his lieutenant. While Emilia did care about Iago and was loyal to him to an extent, she was ignorant of his plans until the very end. Emilia had more loyalty to Desdemona than the Ensign’s Wife did for Disdemona. When Emilia went to inform Othello of Roderigo’s death and Cassio’s injury, upon hearing Desdemona’s cries, she stopped everything and rushed to her aid, not waiting for Othello. After Desdemona’s death and Othello confessed to murdering her, Emilia did not hesitate to tell him what a horrible person he was. “Oh, the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!” (Shakespeare. Act 5, scene 2, lines 145-146). She defended Desdemona when Othello insulted her by saying that she was a whore. “Thou dost belie her, and thou art a devil.” (Shakespeare. Act 5, scene 2, line 148). Once all of the pieces fall into place, Iago’s suspicious behavior and Othello’s belief that Desdemona had an affair with Cassio, she ensures that the truth in made known. Iago orders her to go home after she tells him, Gratiano, and Montano what had happened, but she refuses to follow her husband’s orders. She continues to speak of what Iago had caused. Her actions get her killed by Iago. These actions show that Emilia was a much more outspoken and confident woman than her counterpart in Un Capitano Moro judging by what information is given in both texts. The Ensign’s Wife feared her husband. She hardly did anything to help Disdemona because of her fear. Emilia did not show any fear of her husband. What fear she may have had was overruled by her loyalty and care for…
- 892 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
Just after Othello killed Desdemona, Iago’s wife Emilia came in to explain about the attack on Casio that involves Roderigo as well as Iago. While Emilia explains she sees Desdemona. She questions Othello about what has happened. Othello tells Amelia that her husband helped him to recognize what a good liar Desdemona was and exposed her cheating. Amelia exposes that her husband Iago had Desdemona’s handkerchief and that her husband lied to him (Othello) about the handkerchief and that Desdemona was a good wife to him and did not cheat on him. The plot twists and turns demonstrated the drama. At the climax of the drama when Othello has smothered Desdemona with a pillow and she awakens for a moment to declare that she killed herself. Her death is quite dramatic and fits yet another characteristic of tragic…
- 3133 Words
- 13 Pages
Better Essays -
Desdemona is one of the many characters whose attitude evolves throughout the play. She begins the play by speaking out against her father, which was generally unacceptable, and ends they play exhibiting blind obedience to her husband's wishes, which results in her death. Desdemona is the wife of a noble warrior and daughter of a senator, Brabantio, who calls her "...a maid so tender, fair, and happy.../ [one of] the wealthy curled darlings of our nation..." (1.2.85-87) There is much expected of her "wealthy", elevated class of nobility. Women of the highest class were expected to be beautiful ("fair"), and "never proud". They had to "have tongue at will", but never speak too much, and when they were angry, they were not allowed to take revenge on their enemies. They were expected to be able to think for themselves, but "ne'er disclose her mind", and not pay attention to any courtship besides that of their husbands (2.1.163-172). This is all, however, according to Iago, Emilia's husband, so it is what men expected from their women, and they expect many things, including loyalty.…
- 2956 Words
- 9 Pages
Good Essays -
In "Othello", the expectations for women are one the most important theme that runs throughout the play. Even though, "Othello" is a play that revolves majorly around men, the way female characters in the play like Desdemona and Emilia behave, perceived…
- 930 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Finally, near the end of the play, Emilia realizes “we must think men are not gods” (3.4.144). Although she knows her correct role in society in order to be accepted, she has come to see the lack of equality between men and women. She understands that in order to be presented to society, they must put on an act for their husbands. They do not need to think of them as gods, but must treat them as they are. She now believes that a woman being referred to as “whore” (4.3.74) is not tolerable. When something goes wrong, the men should not have the power to put the blame on the women. Emilia comes to this realization when she speaks her mind to Desdemona and says “But I do think it is their husbands’ faults / If wives do fall” (4.3.87-88). This is foreshadowing the fate of both woman’s lives in the play. They both die by “faults” of their husbands. “The ultimate irony in the play’s representation of male-female relations is the fact that two women accused by their husbands of “falling” morally, actually fall not morally but physically, before [their] eyes” (Vanita 352). In a…
- 567 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Desdemona is Othello’s wife and the daughter of Brabantio. Desdemona secretly married Othello, against her father’s wishes. Throughout the play, Desdemona’s power is not clearly conveyed to the audience, but her presence has an effect. Roderigo is in love with her and her presence has an effect on him- he wants Othello out of the way, so to speak, so he can once again attempt to win Desdemona’s love. As the play unfolds, different aspects of Desdemona’s character are revealed, and blend into a unique personality. Throughout the play, Desdemona is loyal to her husband, but once again, her presence (with Cassio) leads Othello to believe that she is disloyal to him. Her handkerchief plays a pivotal role in the play- by Desdemona dropping it, Emilia gives it to Iago, who then stealthily gives it to Cassio. Othello sees Cassio with the handkerchief and believes Desdemona gave it to…
- 888 Words
- 4 Pages
Better Essays -
In Othello, the setting is in 16th century Cyprus during a war with the Turkish Empire. The language used in respectful and nice compared to “O”. Brabantio calls Othello to the summit and questions him what sorcery he has used to take his daughter Desdemona away from him. Desdemona denies the fact that Othello used any sorcery and says that there love is true and that she left her father for her husband and he left his family for her mother. In this play Desdemona is married to Othello. Iago’s reasons of jealousy are that Othello promoted Cassio to Lieutenant instead of him and that there’s a well-known rumor that Othello has slept with his where the truth hasn’t been brought to light. Nobody is aware of neither Iago’s nor Rodrigo’s intentions. Othello has epilepsy and Iago doesn’t help until Cassio walks in. Desdemona is slapped by Othello and no one can believe that the well-known respected general would do such a thing. Othello makes Iago his blood brother and Iago tells him to kill Desdemona and he will kill Cassio for him. But Iago Sends Rodrigo instead of doing it himself to kill Cassio but fails wring and Rodrigo gets injured and runs away than Iago comes and stabs Cassio in the leg then goes and kills Rodrigo. When Othello kills Desdemona, Emilia comes in and see’s that Desdemona is dead and Othello confessed to his crime so Emilia cries out murder where everyone came in including Iago where he starts to argue with Emilia and tells her to be quite but she doesn’t listen and then he…
- 1126 Words
- 5 Pages
Good Essays -
In Act IV, scene III of Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia explains reasons for unfaithfulness. Emilia conveys her ideology about infidelity to Desdemona, a character that has not yet been exposed to the idea, through the use of rhetorical strategies such as appeals, imagery and diction to further reinforce her point that infidelity is caused by the husband. There is a plethora of appeals in Emilia’s monologue, many of which involve Emilia’s personal encounters with the idea of unfaithfulness. In Act VI, scene III, Emilia states, “Yes, a dozen, and as many to th' vantage as would store the world they played for. But I do think it is their husbands' faults if wives do fall.”.…
- 456 Words
- 2 Pages
Good Essays -
In the play, Othello, by William Shakespeare, a character named Iago, manipulates people to get what he wants. One character that is manipulated the most by Iago is Othello. The reason why is because Othello made Cassio his lieutenant and there were rumors that Othello has been sleeping around with his wife, Emilia. Iago involves Desdemona, Othello’s wife, in his plan by making it seem that Desdemona and Cassio are having a relationship. Iago convinces Othello about this relationship when Othello gets the ocular proof that he wanted. This evidence was that Cassio had the handkerchief that he had given to Desdemona as a first gift. Othello and Iago made a promise to each other that Othello will kill Desdemona and Iago will kill Cassio. Up to this point in the story Othello thought that Cassio is dead; now he will have to kill Desdemona. In Othello’s opening speech in Act 5 Scene 2, Othello feels the need to kill Desdemona but still feels doubt on whether he should do it as it is presented in his speech by literary meanings and devices.…
- 1199 Words
- 5 Pages
Powerful Essays -
She exhibits this loyalty particularly to her husband and to Desdemona. Although Emilia receives disrespect from her husband, she perpetually shows Iago loyalty throughout most of the play. When Emilia picks up the handkerchief that Desdemona drops, she hesitates to give it to Iago. However, she does give it to Iago because there is some loyalty that exists in her towards her husband. As Iago demands the handkerchief from Emilia, she questioningly states, “What will you do with ‘t, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it?” (III.iii.360-362). Emilia knows her husband is up to something and it is up to her to stop it. Although for most of the story Emilia is loyal to Iago, she also has loyalty to Desdemona. Emilia discovers that Iago uses the handkerchief to frame Cassio and destroy the relationship between Othello and Desdemona. When Emilia walks into the murder of Desdemona, she knows she has missed her opportunity to catch her husband in the act framing Desdemona. Her minimal amount of remaining respect for her husband is eliminated at this moment, and she tells everyone that it is Iago that has stolen the handkerchief in order to blame Desdemona. Emilia’s secret strength is evident. Emilia states, “O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief tho speak’st of I found by fortune, and did give my husband—For often, with a solemn earnestness (More than indeed belonged to such a trifle), He begged of me to steal’t”…
- 1585 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
Alternatively Desdemona is revealed to be the ideal woman, Cassio even admits“She is indeed perfection.” Othello often makes remarks on her beauty and her wit. Even when he thinks she has betrayed him, he cannot help himself from looking upon her fondly even stating that she is “so delicate with her needle: an admirable musician: O! she will sing the savageness out of a bear: of so high and plenteous wit and invention:—“ despite Desdemona’s perfection Othello lets himself be manipulated into thinking she is unfaithful to him, and he kills her. Emilia, while not as perfect as Desdemona appears to be an obedient wife to Iago. She even gives him Desdemona’s handkerchief without knowing the reason he wants it, when stealing the handkerchief she says “what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy.” In the end of the play however, she chooses to honour Desdemona and she exposes her husband's treachery as opposed to supporting it. Iago kills her due to this one moment of disobedience. Through the killing of Emilia and Desdemona at the hands of their husbands and the fact that Bianca lives, Shakespeare reveals what he thinks of the relationships husbands have with their wives. He is exhibiting how women are never good enough for their husbands. Desdemona and Emilia are honest women, but in Desdemona’s case Othello believes she is having an affair and to him this is inexcusable. Emilia is killed because Iago sees it as a fit punishment for her disobedience and her lack of support of his dishonesty. Bianca on the other hand has no husband and thus she appears to follow no rules but her own and suffers no dire consequences because she has no one ruling over her. Shakespeare is showcasing the oppression that husbands had over their wives. On top of that Shakespeare is suggesting…
- 1710 Words
- 7 Pages
Better Essays -
This opera shows woman expressing ingenuity, free will, and regular triumph as a possible goal. This opera likely motivated many woman and as well made the lower class feel more empowered through viewing this rebellious opera and its rebellion again the aristocracy.…
- 638 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays