Emilia - Othello

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Personality

Role

  • Devoted to Iago - she wants her husband's love and even goes as far as to betray Desdemona "I am glad I have found this napkin: This was her first remembrance from the Moor: My wayward husband hath a hundred times Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, For he conjured her she should ever keep it, That she reserves it evermore about her To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out, And give't Iago: what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy."
  • Strong moral compass - when she finds Des dead she reveals Iago for who he is - his downfall is his own wife and his inability to see her as his equal 'Twill out, 'twill out: I peace! No, I will speak as liberal as the north: Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak.'
  • Could be described as a proto-feminist - she questions the behaviour of men towards women in the period 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man.They are all but stomachs, and we all but food.To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us'
  • Acts as a mentor to Des - she understands the way the world works and how women are treated - she isn't as naive as Des is and knows that sacrifices must be made to let those you love achieve greatness 'Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but for the whole world,—why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for't.'
  • Emilia serves to act as an older, more knowledgeable woman on stage
  • A second respected wife - one of only three female characters (Des, Emilia, Bianca)
  • She does also represent some attitudes of the time - calls Bianca a whore and refers to Oth as 'the blacker devil'
  • Shows that even a progressive character can fall in to the discriminating attitudes of the time
  • Loyal to Des throughout - shows a strong friendship and care for 'the innocent'
  • Also shows someone who despite Iago's ways does love and care for him and would do anything to see him succeed
  • Proto-feminist - criticises men's need for women if they'll only grow tired and bored 'belch'
  • Ultimately does the right thing and dies for it
  • Dies beside Des' corpse - makes them intrinsically linked

Development (Growth & change)

Other information              

  • She goes from biting her tongue at the start of the play and keeping quiet to being outspoken and confident - shows that she sees everything going wrong and does not agree
  • When Des is murdered she is not afraid to ask why and when her husband is blamed, she helps point the finger
  • The handkerchief draws a link between her and Des - it acts as a symbol of marital love between Des and Oth and Emilia and Iago but also the platonic love between Des and Emilia because when the handkerchief is mentioned Emilia admits all her wrongdoing
  • Shows strong opinions that would've been uncharacteristic of women at time - at least not said out loud or in theatre. Women couldn't vote, couldn't be doctors or lawyers, couldn't join the army and couldn't be on stage. Emilia subverts societal norms by being outspoken and opinionated - probably not well liked by the audience
  • 'She dies in service of the truth' - Simpson
  • '[The handkerchief] draws an implicit parallel between the despised kept woman Bianca and the respectable wives Desdemona and Emilia' - Kiernan Ryan
  • 'She nowhere shows any sign of having a bad heart' - Bradley
  • 'Her stupidity in this matter is gross, but it is stupidity and nothing worse' - Bradley
  • 'Emilia underscores Desdemona's lack of knowledge in the world' - Simpson
  • 'We have to acknowledge the fact that wives are required to be obedient to understand Emilia's handing over of the handkerchief' - Simpson
  • What did thy song bode, lady? Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan. And die in music. - Emilia, who then sings the Willow Song, drawing a link between her and Des as she dies - she sings it in denouement, Des sang it in rising action

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