Emilia breaks the mold of the entire structure of women in a society male dominated in Othello by her wisdom, conscious thought, tolerance, and above all her final actions. She’s not necessarily a feminist or activist she wisely decides her actions and carefully chooses her situation. In fact by extension all the women in Othello stand in contrast to their male counterparts “The women in Othello are not murderous, and they are not foolishly idealistic or foolishly cynical as the men are.” (Neely. 139) Yet Emilia goes even further than the others and establishes a clear definition as a conscious character throughout the play. She steps out of the circle and continues to excel and gradually changes over time to make her final decision that clearly …show more content…
(Iyasere.70) As objects, they were just something to look at a beautiful thing that was meant for the man’s pleasure rather than their own. “The men see the women as whores and then refuse to tolerate their own projections. The woman recognize the foolishness of the men’s fanciest at all too tolerant of them.” (Neely. 140) This is a picture of irony Shakespeare paints. This picture, however, is shrouded because the ladies of the play are clearly the wiser of the group. They show respect to their husband but as Emilia clearly demonstrates they are able to stand up to them. No set of scenes states this so clearly as the situation of the deaths of the leading ladies in the play. Demonstrated through Emilia and Desdemona the article by Ruth Vanita explains that even in death it 's “much more strongly suggestive of how great lady and ordinary gentlewoman are equally defenseless as wives, yet retain their dignity with their death,”. (Proper’ Men and ‘Fallen Women.350) Though Emilia’s death is a tragedy she, unlike the men, maintains a moral end worthy of …show more content…
Emilia is not necessarily naïve nor is she stretching her reach often. She shows respect to her husband Iago despite disagreeing with him “Emilia steals the handkerchief for the sake of Iago’s “fantasy” (III.iii.303) and assures the success of his plot.” (140). She is loyal and kind to her lady Desdemona and gracefully takes on situations. Still Emilia is prudent “She rejects identification with Bianca yet sympathizes with female promiscuity. She corrects Desdemona’s occasional naivety but defends her chastity.” (Neely.140) Bianca so there is clear understanding why Emilia does not associate with her. Still Emilia shows empathy to the lady’s situation she does not turn a blind eye and snub her. With Desdemona, she is quick to offer advice and encourage right actions. She shows toleration and kindness to both ladies, even with the men she has a measured reaction for most of the play. Emilia isn’t blind to the situations facing both the girls still “Although she comprehends male jealousy and espouses sexual equality, she seems remarkably free of jealousy herself.” (Neely.
Many may say Emilia was not aware of how she is supposed to treat by her husband conversely, a comment made by her states otherwise. “Tis proper I obey him, but not now’ (Shakespeare V.ii.195). Towards the end of the story she explains to Othello how her husband asked her to steal the handkerchief from Desdemona She clearly states she know it is the right to obey her husband, but she was not going to support him in his wrong. She is one of the few in this time period to disobey their husband. Emilia is not the type of wife to support him in his wrong-doing. She stands up to her husband.
Emilia displays to Desdemona a helping hand and says to leave Othello if she is so hurt by his “understandings”. “…Having the world for your labor, ‘tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right” She is basically explaining to Desdemona to leave Othello for his ludicrous antics.
She is the only one who is involved but not counted in Iago's scheme. Desdemona shall die, Cassio shall die, but Iago does not plan anything to prevent Emilia from speaking, because he does not anticipate Emilia will abandon her husband for Desdemona. Yet Emilia speaks, and speaks an extremely defenseless thus courageous speech. When Othello tries to stab Iago, he is disarmed twice, once even after everybody has realized what a villain Iago is (Othello 5.2 242&292). But nobody disarms Iago either when he threatens Emilia with his sword or when he stabs Emilia (Othello 4.2 228&242). She is armless but not powerless. The truth she speaks brings justice in, wins the audience's respect, and shows the potential power of a female
Emilia is not just in the play to be a simply friend. She is there to tell everyone the horrible acts that have happened. Once, Emilia realizes her mistress has died she starts asking questions which helps her put two and two together. Emilia finds out that Othello thinks Desdemona cheated on her something that Desdemona would never do. Emilia then asks Othello, why? The main reason is the handkerchief. Othello gave Desdemona handkerchief that represents their love and its precious. Because Othello finds out Cassio had it he thinks an affair was going on. Then is when, Emilia reveals that she gave the handkerchief to Iago because she found it. Quickly after that it’s revealed that Iago (her husband) is doing evil acts. Emilia “...That handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune and did give my husband. For often, with a solemn earnestness—More than indeed belonged to such a trifle—He begged of me to steal it.” With that said, Emilia was much more than a
In Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice, there are several strong, predominate female characters. Emilia, Desdemona, and Bianca have to defend themselves from the vicious men in the play. However, despite being victimized by the domineering men, their individual strengths set them apart from their abusers.
Emilia, while lying next to her best friend on her deathbed, began to suppress her passive nature and attempts persecute the murderer. Nonetheless, the only woman who stood up for herself got killed in the end by her own husband. Othello and Iago’s wives were thought to be disloyal to their husband, while only one of them was correct in this accusation, Desdemona and Emilia were both murdered by the people they pledged their allegiance to. But, Emilia was the only woman who denounced the authority men had over women and compares the qualities of both men and women. She is fully aware of the gender
At this point in our civilization the play’s fascination and its horror may be greater than ever before because we have been made so very sensitive to the issues of race, class, and gender that are woven into the texture of Othello. [. . .] The issue of gender is especially noticeable in the final scenes of the play – with the attacks on Bianca, Emilia, and Desdemona – which are vivid reminders of how terrible the power traditionally exerted by men over women can be. (xiii-xiv)
They both risked their lives in an attempt to save one another. They both have been through Rasheed’s torment, and this relatable experience allows both of them to have a deeper understanding of one another. This passage demonstrates how a female collective can overcome a patriarchal society. They worked together in putting Rasheed down. Similarly in Othello, Emilia was Desdemona’s companion. She comforts Desdemona when Othello had an act of aggression of her, “striking her” (Shakespeare 4.1.188), for accusing her of cheating on him with Cassio. “How goes it now? He looks gentler, than he did...I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed… Come, come! You Talk!... Shall I go fetch your nightgown?” (Shakespeare 4.3.10-33). Emilia’s way of comforting Desdemona is by talking and following her demands. She presents herself to be very passive towards Desdemona, trying to ease her from Othello’s aggression. Unfortunately, Desdemona is killed by Othello in the end. Even though she died, Emilia still stands up for her and defends her name. “Oh, the more angel she, and you the blacker
In Shakespeare’s play Othello, the male characters perceive women as adulterous and property, treating them as inferior that need to be submissive and obey. Iago creates a false perception of his wife thinking she is promiscuous. Also, Othello sees his wife as promiscuous, an impression created by his jealousy and one he has convinced himself of it. Furthermore, Iago and Othello perceive their wives as inferior, and by his words, the reader can see that they are both their wife and subordinate. At last, the male characters refer to Desdemona’s marriage as a “steal” and “purchase” of property, then, Iago and Othello end their wives’ lives because they see them as possessions of no good.
...ps their characters to function with adjusted roles in culture. In his novel Othello, William Shakespeare reveals Desdemona and Emilia’s courage through situations involving conflict to portray the ability for women to stand up for themselves as he exhibits his idea of feminism through their actions. The courageous attitudes of these women and their passionate voice grew stronger throughout the play as they eventually died staying true to their beliefs. This transformation parallels the rights of women over history, as the female population progressed very slowly towards a more equal position in society. With Shakespeare being an advocate for women’s unheard voices during the Elizabethan period of time, he is able to use Desdemona and Emilia’s characteristics to contrast what the world was like during that era, and how he viewed and wished the world would function.
First, in order to defend Desdemona's chastity, Emilia challenges the societal norm of silence. Recall the incident when Othello calls Desdemona a "whore" for cheating. In response, Emilia protests loudly against Othello and attempts to disprove his belief that Desdemona is not chaste: "A halter pardon him [Othello]! And hell gnaw his bones! / Why should he call her [Desdemona] whore? (4.2. 143,144). Instead of Emilia conforming to the attribute of Renaissance women as silent, she condemns Othello for his false accusations against her mistress, Desdemona. Later in the play, after finding Desdemona killed, Emilia challenges silence again: "As ignorant as dirt! Thou hast done a deed-... / The Moor hath killed my mistress!" (5.2. 171,174). Although Othello tells Emilia that it would be "best" for her to remain silent, she ignores his request and ridicules him for killing "sweet" Desdemona (5.2. 169).
Although, each woman varies in roles and personality, they all had a common trait: they lived in a patriarchal society and suffered together. Each of them lived in a society where it was ideal to think women were psychologically and physiologically inferior to men, however in reality each of them knew their role in society. At first, Emilia's character is the ideal submissive wife. Iago treats Emilia rather badly during the first scenes of the play. He refers to her as a nagging housewife and Emilia is submissively unresponsive to his harsh allegations.
...of Elizabethan England and put women in their place. Men view women as possessions, who are to remain obedient and submissive all the time. The only power over men women have is their sexuality, which is seen as evil and is to be resisted my men. Men are free to call women whores and accuse them of lewd acts with no substantial evidence. However there is a suggestion that women are starting to question the male authority society has set, this is evident when Desdemona is conversing with Emilia: 'Nay, we must think men are not gods" (III.4.144). This suggests that Desdemona had viewed men as god like in the past, but perhaps her experiences with Othello have changed her mind. The language and actions of the three women in Othello, while they seem to follow the expectations and standards of society, also seems to take a big step towards a more egalitarian society.
During the Shakespearean time women were treated as inferiors. The three women in Othello, Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca encountered many degrading and unfortunate situations. They were to be obedient. The women had to comply with the commands, orders, and the instructions of the men. Women were made to believe that they had no rights. The men would publicly humiliate the three women. It was difficult for the women to stand up for themselves due to that time in society. In Shakespeare’s play Othello, he portrayed the three women to be viewed as obedient, loyal, and submissive to their husbands.
The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society where women are only recognized as property; objects to own and to bear children. Women in the Elizabethan society and in Shakespeare society were not seen as equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, be respectful, and to not go against their husbands judgements or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia , and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan time where they were judged based on their class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare makes his female characters act the way they would be expected to act in an Elizabethan society. The role of these women in Othello is crucial because they show how women were treated and how unhealthy their relationships between men really were in both Elizabethan and Shakespeare's society.