DESDEMONA : O, that's an honest fellow. Desdemona is the wife of Othello who is a General in the army with men under his command. Her actions showed a sense of justice and morals. Emilia's conflict becomes apparent when the audience sees her loyalty to Desdemona and her outspokenness when she realizes what Iago has used the handkerchief for. Next, the two ladies exhibit a level of ignorance of the plots in play around them. A … Character Analysis of Desdemona in Othello. She follows Iago in wifely duty, but during the play develops a strong loyalty to Desdemona and, at the end, denounces Iago's lies to defend Desdemona's reputation. In Emilia’s first scene in Act 2 Scene 1, she is accompanied by her husband, Desdemona, and Cassio. Iago suggests to Cassio that he importune Desdemona to intercede for him, which she does. Then must you speak She indefinitely believes that many men, as well as women, are frequently guilty of deception and betrayal of their partner. Desdemona's fairness attract many men, including Roderigo. ‘He called her a whore.’ - Emilia defending Desdemona to Iago. Towards end of the play we see D’s character become weaker and Emilia’s becoming stronger. In Othello, Act IV, scene ii and iii, Emilia, Iago’s wife, reveals her opinion about relationships to the reader as she attempts to comfort Desdemona. By this part of the play, Othello’s suspicions of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness have greatly increased, and he begins to accuse her of cheating on him. When Emilia arrives in Cyprus with Desdemona, Cassio welcomes her and then says to Iago, "Let it not gall your patience, good Iago, / That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding / That gives me this bold show of courtesy" (2.1.97-99).Whereupon Cassio kisses Emilia. Othello questions Emilia about Desdomona, but Emilia defends her and suggests some wretch has put the wrongful ideas in his head. Act 4 Scene 2 Iago tells Roderigo he needs to kill Cassio in order to get any chance with Desdemona. Othello, however does not prove himself loyal to Desdemona by being easily fooled and doubts her honesty. Desdemona, of a Venetian origin, is the daughter of Brabantio (a senator) who elopes to marry a Moorish Army General, Othello. The Female Protagonist. 'Othello' Act 3, Scenes 1-3 Summary. Function Emilia is Iago’s wife and assigned to be a lady’s maid to Desdemona after her marriage to Othello. EMILIA : Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband, As if the case were his. She also quickly becomes Desdemona’s confidante and hears about her mistress’s sorrow and heartache at Othello’s unkindness. Desdomona enters with Emilia. Emilia. She protects him by lying to Emilia that she was the one who inflicted harm on herself before she died. In the period setting of the play, to show honor, women are expected to be subservient to their husbands. She does not seem close to her husband and does not know his plans. The Daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio.Having been charmed by Othello 's tales of exotic lands and military exploits, Desdemona elopes with him before the play begins (although they do not consummate their marriage until they have received sanction from the Duke and, reluctantly, her father). One is the wife of the play’s tragic hero-Othello; the other is betrothed to one of the greatest villains of all time-Iago. Othello, on the other hand, mad with guilt and sorrow, pleaded with his true friend, Cassio: … When you shall these unlucky deeds relate, Speak of them as they are. DESDEMONA : Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do : All my abilities in thy behalf. Desdemona might be a more central figure, but Emilia is the play's conscience; she makes Othello finally feel remorse for his act, and undoes some of the damage that Iago's allegations wrought, which not even Desdemona was able to allay. Fraud Section (Crim Div) Alumni Membership-only site for Fraud Section alumni Iago made the plan in such a way that Desdemona did not recognize his planning. First, in order to defend Desdemona's chastity, Emilia challenges the societal norm of silence. When Desdemona and Emilia have left, Roderigo accuses Iago of taking his money without getting him any “results” with Desdemona. Emilia … In this play, Desdemona is an example of perfect womanhood. In act 2, Othello's lieutenant, Cassio is disgraced in a brawl and falls from Othello's favor. As such, she is part of the upper class of Venetian society. Desdemona thinks her father is behind Othello being back to Venice. (It is never clear if she ever actually did.) Emilia’s deceptive nature showed her infidelity towards Desdemona. Othello is one of the most important plays in English Literature. But at times, Desdemona also seems a bit naïve, especially when it comes to marital relationships—at one point, she asks an incredulous Emilia if it's possible that a woman would ever cheat on her husband. Desdemona is the daughter of Brabantio, a man of some reputation in Venice. Do not doubt, Cassio, But I will have my lord and you again : As friendly as you were. Defending A Man's Honor Word Count: 1378 Defending a Mans Honor The main male characters in Shakespeares play Othello kill their wives in order to defend their own honor. Emilia is Iago's wife, and Desdemona's maid, a woman of practical intelligence and emotional resilience. Unknowingly both Desdemona and Emilia play right into Iago’s master plan of … The daughter of Venetian senator Barbanzio, and General Othello's wife. Othello does not defend Desdemona when Iago degrades her reputation like how she defended him in front of the Duke and her father. Desdemona fled with Othello and married him. Emilia has already been accused of cheating on her husband and moved on. Emilia doesn't say anything to Cassio, but if she's shocked, she recovers enough to join in some joking between Desdemona and Iago. She speaks disparagingly of men, but, until the last scene, she supports her husband when needed. Her father describes her as pure, meek and subservient, ‘a maiden never bold’ (Act 1, Scene 3), yet when confronted by him she promptly defends her choices in a public forum, and says she will ‘trumpet them to the world’ (Act 1, Scene 3) and willingly follows Othello to Cyprus. Emilia Desdemona Relationship In the play “Othello”, by William Shakespeare, there are two major feminine figures that attract our attention. What Desdemona's father describes her as versus what she is actually like. She remains in love with him, even while knowing that he is responsible for her death. However, Emilia and Desdemona have an interesting conversation when Desdemona, the absolute innocent, asks if any woman would cheat on … Nothing extenuate, Nor set down in malice. Desdemona is a model wife, if perhaps too trusting of Iago. Faithful Emilia died, still calmly defending Desdemona’s innocence and proclaiming her love for the virtuous woman. Facts we learn about Emilia at the start of the play: Othello thinks she is merely an effective liar and is assisting her in her liasions. As we know that it is a domestic tragedy. Then, despite facing death, Desdemona asks Emilia to commend her to her "kind lord." Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Othello. The citadel. She dies defending Desdemona’s honour and exposing the truth about her husband. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. By defending him in front of the Venetian senate and against her father, it shows that she is intelligent, confident, loyal and respectful This was her first words in the play - from then on, all she says is honest. When came under the threat of her husband, Emilia still chose to uncover the truth instead of taking the side to cover her husband’s crimes. Emilia steals Desdemona’s handkerchief to make Iago happy but she doesn’t know what he will do with it. Iago and Emilia had a great role in Desdemona death. Recall the incident when Othello calls Desdemona a "whore" for cheating. It can be demonstrated that Emilia and Iago both were responsible for her death. The female protagonist in the tragic play “Othello”, Desdemona is truly one rare character who astonishes the readers as much with her outer beauty as with her inner grace. Desdemona is totally drooling over Othello's "valiant parts:" Othello's a hottie with a body. When Emilia overheard Othello and Desdemona’s confrontation she tried her best to support Desdemona in favor of the truth. 4. They are part and parcel of what goes on in the play and eventually how the crisis of the play is resolved. When Othello is sent to Cyprus in the line of duty, Desdemona accompanies him with his ensign's wife, Emilia attending her. In response, Emilia protests loudly against Othello and attempts to disprove his belief that Desdemona … Why is Emilia standing outside the door while Othello and Desdemona speak? However, in the last two acts, Emilia displays the strongest challenge to the definition of Renaissance women as silent, chaste, and obedient, mainly to defend Desdemona. CASSIO : Bounteous madam, ... To talk to Desdemona, get the jewels back, and if she doesn't have the jewels then he's gunna get the money from Iago. Emilia’s husband is Iago who is the ancient of Othello. 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