Theme Of Love In Shakespeare's Othello

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As one of Shakespeare's famous tragedies, “Othello”, is a play that not only shows the love and the humanistic ideal destroyed, but also shows the tragic fortune of women in the era of the patriarchal society. (Snow 384) This play includes several main themes of love tragedies delivered through some contrasting values and characters such as love and jealousy, trust and breach of trust etc. Desdemona, a representative of the perfect embodiment of a faithful loving wife, eventually killed by her suspecting husband. Emilia, an analytical woman that knew to obey the social norms but still carried a sense of inherent moral compass and compassion. How do the characters perceive what is proper and moral in the society they were in? This essay will …show more content…

She was initially loyal to Iago, which made her an unsuspecting link in Iago’s plot, Desdemona. Iago was a selfish and insidious character, he was a manipulative and deceptive figure that for lack of any good reasons was bent on destroying the people around him. As close as husband and wife, Iago never revealed his true intention to Emilia, he distrusted Emilia. At first, Emilia believed that a loving wife should obey to her husband that is why she respond to her husband's request to ask Desdemona to help Cassio. However Emilia’s compliant behaviors to Iago were different from Desdemona’s unconditional and endless obedience to Othello. On the one hand, Emilia obeyed Iago, did what Iago asked of her; on the other hand, when Iago wanted to destroy her image in front of other people, she dared to condemn Iago. She thought he have no reason to mistreat her in such fashion. It can be seen that Emilia’s compliant actions were selective and she remained fairly independent minded. Emilia still had her own thoughts, feelings, and independent personality. When Emilia overheard Othello and Desdemona’s confrontation she tried her best to support Desdemona in favor of the truth. 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. Her actions showed a sense of justice and morals. Before dying, due to her guilt and adoration of Desdemona, she demanded people took her to …show more content…

Othello scolded Desdemona as a prostitute, Desdemona accepted her fate without murmuring; in support Desdemona, Emilia said that nobody can tolerate these words. Compared to Desdemona’s naivety, Emilia is a more grown and worldly-wise woman. “I did not give him any reason to doubt me”, Desdemona said to Emilia innocently. (Shakespear) Emilia pointed out it doesn’t need a reason for a man to be

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