Shakespeare Othello the Character Emilia

Shakespeare Othello

The character Emilia reveals the feminist subtext that underlies Shakespeare's Othello. The audience first meets Emilia in Act II, scene one of Shakespeare's Othello, when the whole crew reaches Cyprus on the ship. Emilia is immediately presented as a strong and confident woman. Her first line in the play is not to agree submissively when Iago tells her she talks too much. Rather, Emilia says, "You have little cause to say so," (II, i). When Iago continues his misogynistic rant, Emilia's strength of character emerges even more. She is a relatively minor character in Othello, but one with a critical role in furthering the plot and especially the theme of misogyny. Emilia emerges as a progressive, big-hearted, and wise woman who continually speaks out in favor of female empowerment.

At first, Emilia seems like a subservient wife. She sometimes remains totally quiet when Iago insults her. She continually uses the common term "lord" to refer to the male in her life. Then she speaks mainly kind words about and to her husband Iago even though he is verbally abusive towards her. In Act III, scene one Emilia becomes the unwitting accomplice in Iago's sinister plot. She trusts her husband, even if she might not like the way Iago treats or speaks to her. Emilia exhibits tremendous kindness to Cassio, too. She seems genuinely concerned for him when Emilia states, "I am sorry for your displeasure; but all will sure be well," (III, i).

Emila demonstrates remarkable compassion and interest in her husband's affairs. Referring to Cassio's case in Act III, scene three Emilia says to Desdemonda, "I warrant it grieves my husband, as if the case were his." Emilia also trusts Iago throughout most of the play, and does not suspect that her husband might be up to foul play. Emilia's faith in her husband is so unfailing as to be poignantly ironic. Shakespeare uses a healthy dose of dramatic irony when Desdemonda says about Iago, "O, that's an honest fellow," (III, iii). However, Desdemonda chides Emilia for being so passive in her relationship, stating, "Do not learn of him Emilia, though he be thy husband," (Act II, scene i). Desdemonda is essentially telling Emilia not to pay any heed to Iago, who reveals his dangerous distrust of females. Ironically, it is Emilia who must counsel Desdemonda later when Othello's jealousy has gone overboard.

Emilia has a huge heart, evidenced by her continued loyalty to her friend Desdemonda. Emilia more than any other character in the play loves Desdemonda, and trusts her implicitly. Desdemonda equally loves Emilia. She directly refers to their friendship in Act III, scene iii when she reassures Cassion about his good standing with Othello "before Emilia here." Her words indicate, "with Emilia as my witness" you shall be fine.

Her huge heart is also evident in how loyal she is to her friend Desdemonda In Act IV, scene two, Emilia tells Othello that she has never had any reason to suspect that Desdemonda is having an affair. Since hers are only the words of a woman, though, Othello values them less than he does Iago's. Othello even says, "She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd," (IV, i). In spite of this, Emilia reaffirms her conviction in Desdemonda's innocence, claiming "Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other," (IV, i).

Emilia seems willing to die even for her own conniving husband. She remains oblivious to how Iago poisons Othello's heart and turns him against Desdemonda and indeed, against all women. Here, Shakespeare seems to be offering powerful social commentary about the roles of women in Elizabethan England. Both Desdemonda and Emilia are portrayed as subservient to their male "lords." Othello never once considers that his wife might be innocent. Instead, he assumes that all women are whores just as Iago does. In the significant moment in which Emilia finds Desdemonda's handkerchief, she shows how deeply entrenched sexist values had become. She states, "I nothing but to please his fantasy," and she does not speculate that her "wayward husband" might have any malicious intent with one of Desdemonda's most precious items. Emila's unfailing trust in her husband is frustrating in light of Iago's deceit, and makes her seem even more remarkable of a character. Even when Desdemonda asks "Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?" Emilia does not mention how badly Iago wanted his hands on the item. In the closest thing to a lie that Emilia tells, she replies, "I know not, madam," (III, iv).

Ultimately, Othello's jealous rage startles Emilia and helps her grow as a character. In one of her boldest moments in the play, Emilia states, "They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; To eat us hungrily, and when they are full, they belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!" (III, iv). However, she quiets down as soon as the men enter the room. Her wisdom regarding jealousy emerges more in that scene as Emilia counsels Desdemonda. She declares, "They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster begot upon itself, born on itself," (III, iv). This reveals Emilia's enormous wisdom in human affairs.

Emilia is not only wise but also progressive. She begins to develop a keener sense of feminist values as the play progresses. In Act IV, scene two Emilia begins to bemoan the maltreatment of women. She decries Othello's calling Desdemonda a whore. Act IV, scene three is particularly revealing of Emilia's progressive attitudes towards gender relations. She is speaking with Desdemonda about Othello's jealousy and about marital infidelity. The conversation begins when the two are talking about Lodovico. Emilia tells Desdemonda, "I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip," (IV, iii). The comment is risque and shows how Emilia is in touch with her own sexuality. She encourages Desdemonda to do the same, but it turns out Desdemonda is the more traditional, submissive of the two. While Desdemonda denies that women also have trouble with monogamy, Emilia admits, "I might do't as well i' the dark," (IV, iii). She also goes so far as to say, "who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't." (IV, iii). Essentially, Emilia is saying that adultery committed by a man is socially acceptable whereas for a woman it is not. Emilia also states, "I do think it is their husbands' faults