Othello Analysis

In Act V Scene II of William Shakespeare's Othello; the once dependent relationship between the characters Emilia and Iago (displayed thought Emilia's yielding to all of Iago's requests, and Iago's consistency of making requests of Emilia) is ruined when the malice of Iago's intentions is discovered. During this scene, Emilia, for the first time, not only stands up to her husband, but also acknowledges and reveals his negative motives to all those present in Desdemona's living quarters. It can be observed that this scene plans and extremely important role in Othello marks; the unveiling of Iago's cruelty, Othello's realization that he put his trust in a man who manipulated him, and the conclusion of brutalities through words and displays their consequences.

Emilia's dependence on other characters through out the play is displayed through her acquiescing to all of her husband, Iago's, requests. Similarly, her infatuation with Desdemona whom she thoroughly trusts heightens the notion that Emilia remains dependent on others. Prior to Emilia's death at the conclusion of this play, Emilia is forced to choose who she truly trusts between the two characters that she has complete faith in. After much introspection Emilia realizes that her husband has been manipulating everyone. At first Emilia tries to prove Iago's innocence and begs for an explanation. Similarly she hates Othello for "laying murders on [Iago's] neck", but as events transpire Emilia realizes that Othello's claims of Desdemona's alleged infidelity all stemmed from Iago. Thus, Iago indirectly lead to the death of her beloved friend, and she, unknowingly, aided Iago on his conquest. Once Emilia can acknowledge this fact, she can bring herself above Iago and stand up to him to prove her loyalty to Desdemona. This loyalty is exaggerated in her death through her singing the song "Willow Willow" that Desdemona was familiar with. Instead of begging for an explanation from her husband, she praises Desdemona even during her own death and this can be viewed as an ultimate declaration of loyalty. Emilia is not only infuriated with her husband, but also possibly feeling a form of guilt herself as she feels that she too inadvertently helped to kill Desdemona by providing Iago with information and belongings of Desdemona that he requested. The unfolding of these events as such leads to heightened emotions that the characters display through their actions and words.

This scene is one filled with extreme tension (because Iago acknowledges that his wife's explanation will lead towards consequences for his actions) and anger.