Comparing Emelia And Desdemona In Shakespeare's Othello

There are many similarities and differences between Emelia and Desdemona. The status of the men they have married and their faithful and duteous love to their spouses throughout the story. Contrasting their views on marriage and the men that are in their lives. The major similarity is how well the one man that seemed to have snakelike mind and silver tongue played them both. Emelia and Desdemona are similar and indifferent in their blind love for their husbands, the type of man they have married, and in the end, a defiance to do what they felt was right even while being manipulated by Iago through the story. Both Desdemona and Emilia are very faithful wives of men that are in the Venetian military. These men are both held in high esteem by the Venetian society. Othello is a general of the

Desdemona has a soft and refined use of her speech. Even at the foot of death her speech is still eloquent, "No, by my life and soul!" (1229). Emilia is a rougher around the edges, due to a middle class upbringing. Her speech is rough yet somewhat refined. Her speech is very direct and challenges the foreboding of death, “I care not for thy sword;” (1233). When Emilia is upset, her words turn harsh and very direct, "He called her a whore;” (1219). There is no humiliation for Emilia while speaking the word “whore”. When the word “whore” is spoken in front of her, Desdemona’s refined and proper upbringing makes her shutter.

Desdemona continues to love and cherish her husband throughout the play, while Emilia slowly loses her supportiveness after finding out Iago’s plot. Even while in the arms of death Desdemona continues to take the full brunt of Othello’s jealousy driven attack, “Nobody; I myself; Farewell” (1232). Desdemona maintains her true love for Othello even after the slaying, epitomizing sentimental affection between the