Could one ordinary woman be more intelligent than several highly skilled male warriors? In William Shakespeare’s Othello‚ although Emilia plays a small role‚ she makes a powerful impact. Her omnipotent bravado brings us to the conclusion that she is the reincarnation of Esther from the Bible and that she is a mirror image of today’s risk taking woman. Emilia’s insight brings perspective to not only what is righteous but also to the darkness of bestiality portrayed throughout the play. Although
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manipulation of the protagonist‚ by the antagonist‚ Iago‚ to present a play controlled by men. In such a male dominated society‚ Shakespeare presents the women in the play as tragic victims at the hands of their husbands‚ in particular Desdemona and Emilia. Throughout this essay I will relate to the Aristotelian and Senecan descriptions of tragedy to come to a conclusion of how in ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents women as tragic victims of men. Firstly‚ throughout ‘Othello’ Shakespeare presents men
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play goes on and his plan unravels the evil side appears. Married to Iago‚ Emilia is faced with many challenges with Iago’s evil side. Starting off innocent and quiet Emilia has to find the courage to take a stand in her own life to save herself and others. Throughout Othello‚ Iago influences Emilia’s assertiveness by giving her a reason to voice her opinion. One of the main scenes in the beginning of Othello where Emilia is present is the scene that is best described as the handkerchief
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Shakespeare. In the play‚ the two prominent women‚ Desdemona and Emilia‚ both recognize the expectations of women at the time. However‚ the two women disagree in their views on the topic. Desdemona tries to be the ideal wife whereas Emilia takes a more feminist approach. In Othello‚ Desdemona and Emilia’s views on the role of women explains the traits of each character and are involved in major themes of the story. Both Desdemona and Emilia have different views on the concept of chastity. In Act 4‚
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Roderigo starts a fight which ends up with Montano getting hurt and Cassio being stripped of his position. Iago advises Cassio to seek help from Desdemona. 3.1 Cassio attempts to communicate with Desdemona with the help of Iago and his wife‚ Emilia. 3.2 Othello goes to check on the fortification. 3.3 This is where love turns to destruction. Desdemona agrees to help Cassio and she becomes overconfident and impetous about it despite having no real understanding about the situation. Othello
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just cooked meals‚ cleaned the house‚ and bore children while society just accepted these degrading roles. William Shakespeare extensively reinforces female stereotypes by presenting the deaths of Emilia and Desdemona to be rightly deserved for defying their female gender roles throughout the play. Emilia and Desdemona are polar opposite characters who serve the same function for Shakespeare to reinforce sexist stereotypes in his play. Emilia’s constant challenge of the female stereotype with her cynical
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truth to themselves when needing the truth can make a difference. In the play Othello by William Shakespeare‚ characters like Iago and Emilia seem to know the truth about something‚ but decide not to speak about it with anyone. In Othello‚ Emilia finds the handkerchief that Desdemona dropped on the floor which was given by the protagonist‚ Othello. When Emilia finds the handkerchief she says “I am glad I have found this napkin” This was her first remembrance from the Moor‚” My wayward husband hath
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this night to herself. Othello then exits making quite an unsettling expression of himself. Emilia questions Desdemona worriedly about Othello’s behavior‚ wondering what’s happened to her husband’s mind. She then declares that she has no lord‚ nor does she have tears to cry‚ and no answer is appropriate about what is going on with Othello except an answer that could be told in tears. Desdemona bids Emilia to lay her wedding sheets on the quarreling lovers’ bed tonight‚ and asks to have Iago come
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Where Iago once had power over Emilia‚ Emilia is now able to exert power over her husband due to Iago’s power of strength and the unknown being taken away from him due to the presence of other men in the room and Emilia revealing his plan. After Desdemona’s death Emilia persuades Othello that the “honest” Iago is not so honest but rather deceptive. When Iago comes in and states “I charge you‚ get you home” Emilia retaliates with “I am bound to speak”. She stands her ground
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The Foils of Othello One of William Shakespeare’s many attributes as a playwright of the late 16th century was his character development. Shakespeare’s seamless use of indirect characterization sets his works apart from the other playwrights and authors of his time. In Othello‚ the Shakespearian tragedy about the newlywed Othello and Desdemona‚ Shakespeare uses character foils to emphasize the strengths and weaknesses of the characters. By making inwardly similar characters seem like polar opposites
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