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Emilia

            Emilia plays a pivotal role of loyal wife and servant in the tragedy Othello. This role that she plays of wife to Iago and servant to Desdemona cause her to make conflicting decisions. She must be faithful to her husband but at the same time faithful to her friend Desdemona who she serves. Both her positions in the play are comprised by the villainous plot her husband has composed. This plot two destroy Othello's marriage causes Emilia at the very end of the play to question her husbands motives and show her true loyally to Desdemona. She unwillingly plays a key role in Iago's plan without any knowledge of what her husband scheme is.
             Emilia's two roles make her a key supporting player. She is married too the man who wishes to ruin Othello's life by causing him to question the faithfulness of his wife Desdemona. She has no Knowledge of her husband's underhandedness and therefore believes her husband is a good man. Emilia behaviors has a good and faithful wife doing what her husband asks. For example she says "I am glad I have found this napkin. This was her first remembrance from the Moor. My wayward husband hath a hundred times Wooed me to steal it" (II.II.306-309). This shows her loyalty to Iago and how she does what is asked of her without questioning.
             By stealing The handkerchief and handing it over to Iago she has played an important role because Iago will only use this item to his advantage in breaking up the happy couple. She has blindly helped her husband further his plans without evening knowing why her husband wished to posses it. Emilia states "And give"t Iago. What he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy" (II.II.313-315). She says herself that she only took the handkerchief to please her husband. She is fulfilling her role of a loyal wife. Emilia does not find out until the end of the play the reason her husband so desperately desired the handkerchief but when she does she realizes the significant role she has played.


Essays Related to Emilia

1. Character Analysis - Emilia in Othello

... praise, warmth, affection, or interest," (Overcoming Low Self-Esteem) which correlates directly to the harsh, unloving words often spoken by Iago towards Emilia. Another key point made from the article is that "being on the receiving end of other people's stress or distress," (Overcoming Low ... Self-Esteem) can play as a significant factor in further lowering self-esteem. This happens often to Emilia, as Iago is constantly putting her in the position to prove her loyalty and worth as a wife by involving her in his selfish ... Although low self-esteem may not appear to be a significant ...

  • Word Count: 1300
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

2. Emilia: The Feminist of Othello

... patriarchal rule justified the subordination of women to be natural order because women were thought and trained to be inferior to men. But in Act IV, Emilia's speech displays rebellion of the submissive woman culture. The tragedy "Othello" is a play about an African-American man who marries a Caucasian ... quot;I nothing but to please his fantasy," she says while taking it (3.3). Though some people view her as desperate, it is arguable that Emilia is the true tragic female figure in this story. She is a complex woman, who dies by her own inner conflicts of loyalty and the yearning ... ...

  • Word Count: 1243
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Emilia in William Shakespeare's Othello

... conflict and the plot of the play. Digging deeper into the play, the major conflict is starting by Desdemona's handkerchief. Initially is because of Emilia is not satisfying with her relationship with Iago, and in order to get more attention from her husband she decides to help Iago to fight with ... Othello. Without knowing the purpose and status of the circumstance, Emilia filches Desdemona's handkerchief due to the aftermath of catalyzing Iago's actions against Othello based on her naive judgment. To be sure, that Othello is ... wifely virtue or the conception of women's social norm;...

  • Word Count: 1207
  • Approx Pages: 5
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

4. Emilia Cost Lago

... as an unknowing accomplice to her husband. She later betrays Desdemona again, when she lies of the whereabouts of the handkerchief. As mentioned before Emilia serves more as a pawn in Iago's scheme, but she begins to become an elusive character as the play continues. Her Jekyll and Hyde ... Desdemona and herself. Her loyalty towards her husband is bizarre considering he has asked her to steal Othello's handkerchief as many as a hundred times. Emilia later tries to convince Othello that Desdemona is leading a faithful life, but he believes it to be a lie. She immediately recognizes the jea...

  • Word Count: 912
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Summary of othello

... The audience realizes that she is acting unwittingly as Iago's instrument. The importance of this short scene is that it establishes that Desdemona, Emilia, and Othello are desirous of rehabilitating Cassio at the first opportunity. Iago must act quickly. In addition, the scene puts Cassio and ... will also lose her husband's love; Desdemona is almost ready to believe it. Desdemona cannot fathom the cause of Othello's odd behavior. Emilia thinks that Othello's trouble is jealousy, but Desdemona is sure that is impossible. Iago and Cassio now arrive. Iago, who withholds the ... brutal, j...

  • Word Count: 6585
  • Approx Pages: 26
  • Grade Level: High School

6. Chain Reaction

... information with responses that will only benefit themselves. The conflicts caused by these responses can be avoided with more intellectual thought, feeling, and emotion. Emilia is one of those insecure people reacting to life in a one track mind. She rarely thinks of how her reaction to one character will ... affect another or even come back to her. Emilia's deep attachments to her mistress, Desdemona, are the driving forces in her cynical manipulation. The audience can conclude that the two women are close ... it is a great price For a small vice. DES. In troth, I think thou wouldst n...

  • Word Count: 1495
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Othello Act III To Act V Summary

... . Desdemona tells Cassio that his timing is unfortunate, as Othello is in a bad humor, and Iago promises to go soothe his master. Emilia speculates that Othello is jealous, but Desdemona maintains her conviction that Othello is upset by some political matter. She tells Cassio to wait while ... what has happened. Iago suggests that Roderigo is to blame. Cassio says that he does not know Roderigo. Attendants carry off Cassio and Roderigo's corpse. Emilia enters, and Iago tells her what has happened, adding the explanation, "This is the fruits of whoring" (V.i.118). He and Emi! lia chastise...

  • Word Count: 2963
  • Approx Pages: 12
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Roles of Women in Othello

... and talent as a playwright. Shakespeare's Othello has been studied exhaustively, yet most character analyses focus on the two male figures, Othello and Iago. The two main female characters, Desdemona and Emilia, are often overlooked and viewed as secondary actors to the jealous Moor and conniving villain. During the time of Shakespeare, females were often treated and regarded in society as inferior ... than men's salaries, and sexual harassment, physical abuse of women, and rape are still prevalent in American society. Shakespeare may have been precognizant in shaping the characters of...

  • Word Count: 4504
  • Approx Pages: 18

9. Othello - Marxist/Post-Colonialist & Feminist Interpretation

... all those who see her humiliated and beaten in public, and failed to intervene."" Upon being struck by Othello in open public in front of noble kinsman Lodovico and confidant Emilia, Desdemona protests with dignity "I have not deserved this."" [4.1.234] and "I will not stay to offend you- [4.1.240] Desdemona's ready submission to Othello, her defencelessness and innocence strongly emphasizes Othello's cruelty ... life if he wants - Desdemona is merely an object to him, despite the love he has for her and vice versa. Even on her dying breath Desdemona defends Othello. When Emilia demands...

  • Word Count: 3595
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Grade Level: High School

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