Desdemona In William Shakespeare's Othello

Oftentimes people find themselves looking back on a situation wishing they had said something else or acted differently. If Desdemona and Emilia, characters in Othello by William Shakespeare, were still alive, they would be no exception, since their actions led to their deaths. Although Desdemona and Emilia are best friends, they are a polar opposites in how they respond to the men in their lives, men who eventually kill them. Had Desdemona and Emilia each traded their contrasting actions and tendencies for the other’s, they both would have survived the night.

If Desdemona had been bold to defy Othello’s orders and Emilia had obeyed what Igo commanded her, they both may not have died. Desdemona obeys her husband’s, Othello, every request,

After Desdemona is smothered by Othello, she miraculously wakes up to say one last line. At this time, she very easily could have exposed Othello for his crime. However, she says, “nobody. I myself,” when asked who did this to her(5.2.152). This once again exhibits Desdemona's loyal and demure personality. If she had acted more bold, like Emilia, and exposed Othello, justice would have been served without the death of a dear friend. On the contrary, Emilia is quick to reveal Iago's true intentions. When Othello says that his evidence for being justified in killing Desdemona is the strawberry embroidered handkerchief, Emilia immediately responds, “He begged of me to steal ’t,” exposing the truth: that Iago had begged her to steal the handkerchief for him(5.2.272). Without hesitation, Iago stabs Emilia for exposing the truth. It would have benefited her to act more like Desdemona in this instance. If Emilia had not been so bold, perhaps she would have exposed Iago when he was not present, and prevented her