Foils In Othello

In many pieces of writing throughout time, authors use literary foils to help expose the underlying traits of important characters. A literary foil is a character who serves to highlight the character traits of one or more other characters by presenting a contrast. In the play Othello, the author, William Shakespeare, presents Emilia, the antagonist Iago’s wife, as a literary foil to Desdemona, the protagonist Othello’s wife. In Act 4 Scene 3 of Othello, Emilia and Desdemona discuss the morality (or immorality) of infidelity. While Emilia says she would sleep with other men if she, in return, receives power, Desdemona feels that such actions are completely unacceptable. Instead of mirroring the actions of the wrongdoers around her, Desdemona
When Desdemona talks to Emilia about her alleged infidelity, Desdemona rhetorically asks, “Dost thou in conscience think… women to abuse their husbands in such gross kinds?” (4.3.66-68). By saying this, Shakespeare conveys Desdemona’s strong disgust for adultery by calling the deed a “gross abuse.” At this point, Desdemona is less talking about herself than frowning upon the women who commit such acts. Emilia replies by saying, “There be some such, no question” (4.3.70). Shakespeare phrases this response so that Emilia appears to be more nonchalant on the subject matter. From these opening remarks through the rest of the dialogue, Desdemona takes a more passionate stance while Emilia is more relaxed. The tone of the dialogue, along with the words spoken, serves as a major factor that provides contrast to expose Desdemona’s deeper qualities. For example, when asked whether she would ever commit an act of adultery, Emilia says she would not “by this heavenly light, I might do it in the dark” (4.3.75). Emilia later goes on to state that she would do it for the world because “the world is a great price for a small vice.” To Emilia, if an act such as adultery can be outweighed by a larger reward, than she would commit it. With those words, Shakespeare is able to provide an even greater contrast between Emilia and Desdemona as, by exposing Emilia’s greedy personality, he is able to later emphasise Desdemona’s purity with her closing line, “God me such uses send, not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!” (4.3.110-111). By saying this, Desdemona begs God will let her learn from women who commit such acts of infidelity so she doesn’t follow their bad example, but avoids