In Act IV, Scene ii, Othello interrogates Emilia about Desdemona's behaviour but Emilia claims that she has seen nothing suspicious. He then sends her to fetch Desdemona, still believing that his wife is having an affair with Cassio, and then tells her to guard the door while he and Desdemona speak. Othello confronts Desdemona and accuses her, when she denies having done anything; he calls her the "cunning whore of Venice" and storms out of the room, leaving Emilia to comfort her mistress. At Desdemona's request, Emilia fetches Iago to inquire as to why Othello believes Desdemona is a whore. Emilia proclaims it must be the work of "some eternal villain" but Iago assures them that Othello is just upset over state business and the trumpets sound, calling the women to dinner. Roderigo then enters, angry that even though he has given so many jewels to Iago, Desdemona still does not acknowledge him. Iago calms Roderigo, promising that by the next day he would be with Desdemona and convinces him to kill Cassio.
This scene is critical to the play for a number of reasons. It shows the relationship between Emilia and Desdemona. Initially, we suspect that Emilia is part of Iago's plan to deceive Othello as she obtains the handkerchief for him, but we see, in the dialogue between Emilia, Desdemona and Iago, her loyalty towards her mistress. We also see Othello's unwavering conviction that Desdemona is guilty even though Emilia's testimonial should be strong evidence of her innocence.
I like the dialogue between Iago and Emilia in lines 129-147 when Emilia is saying that Othello thinks wrongly of Desdemona because of some evil villain:.
I will be hang"d if some eternal villain,.
Some busy and insinuating rogue,.
Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,.
Have not devis"d this slander; I"ll be hang"d else. (Lines 129-132).
This passage shows that ironically, no one suspects Iago is manipulating everyone, but rather asks for his advice and comfort, and thinking of him as "honest Iago".
