Although two people are friends, it doesn’t mean that they are alike. In Othello by William Shakespeare, Emilia and Desdemona, the wives of main characters, are faced with many decisions and arguments that mark distinct differences and similarities between them. Emilia and Desdemona are very similar but also very different, depending on the traits and ideas the compared or contrasted between them. Desdemona and Emilia are both faithful to their husbands, but in different ways. They are also both the wives of high ranking men in the army and are regarded as high class. Emilia and Desdemona have conflicting ideas about men and women. Emilia thinks that men are disrespectful to women, allowing women cheat on the men, opposing Desdemona’s idea that women don’t cheat. Desdemona is more reserved and doesn’t fight Othello back when he hurts her, unlike Emilia who strives for women’s equality and rights. However, when Iago’s plan is uncovered, Emilia is no longer faithful to Iago, but rather disgusted. As wives, they were both very unaware of what was going on; their ignorance led them right...
Desdemona has a different view of men after the unpredicted change of Othello’s persona. She denounces, “Nay, we must think men are not gods, / Nor of them look for such observances / As fit the bridal" (3.4.148-150). Desdemona rules that men should not be look to as gods if they cannot act as they did before. Emilia feels that men and women are justified equally and are entitled to the same rights as men. She lectures, “Let husbands know, their wives have sense like them; they see and smell, and have their palates both for sweet and sour as husbands have” (4. 3.70-74). The physical traits of male and female are of no difference. In addition, she says, “And have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Then let them use us well, else let them know, the ills we do, their ills instruct us so” (4.3.78-81). How men think they have sexual desire, Emilia believes that women have the same, however men are intellectually weaker: “Is’t frailty that thus errs/ It is so too” (4.3.77-78). Though these two have very opinionated thoughts about men’s authority, they have the conversation privately because still, women are used to society’s expectations. The intimate conversation depicts the different views that Desdemona and Emilia have on men and women’s social
although it is only at the end of the first act that we see the extent
In the play Othello by William Shakespeare, the character Othello is portrayed as a fairly good man. By some, he may be known as a bad person but he has become greatly beneficial to the growth of Venice and the state of Cyprus. Othello is a good man even if he committed murder to his wife because he is a great war general and contributed to Cyprus in time of need.
Emilia represents another aspect of female strength, less logical character, which relies on her sense of instinct. She understands her role as a wife (act 4, scene 3) Emilia is talking to Desdemona about husbands. " Yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know Their wives have sense like them. They see, and smell, and have their palates both for sweet and sour, As husbands have. What is it they do When they change us for others? Is it sport? I think it is. And doth affection breed it? I think it doth. Is't fraility that thus errs? It is so too. And have not we affections, Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?"(page 217 line 104-113). Emilia and her husband Iago have different affiliation than Desdemona and Othello. Desdemona and Othello truly love each other, while Emilia, having no common sense of hatred towards Othello, has never actually loved Iago. She educate Desdemona, she is ignorant of Iago's evil nature and is also unsuspecting of his plot against Othello.
Othello is one of Shakespeare’s four pillars of great tragedies. Othello is unique in comparison to the others in that it focuses on the private lives of its primary characters. When researching the subject of Othello being an Aristotelian tragedy, there is debate among some critics and readers. Some claim that Shakespeare did not hold true to Aristotle’s model of tragedy, according to his definition in “Poetics,” which categorized Othello as a classic tragedy as opposed to traditional tragedy. Readers in the twenty-first century would regard Othello a psychological thriller; it definitely keeps you on the edge of your seat creating the emotions of terror, heart break, and sympathy. This paper will focus on what Shakespeare actually intended regarding “Othello” and its Aristotelian influences.
Racial barriers are often used as a means to manipulate a member of a minority group. in The tragedy, Othello, was written by William Shakespeare(1564-1616) an English poet and playwright, who is often contemplated as the greatest writer in the English Language. The story begins with Othello, a black general in the Venetian army who secretly marries Desdemona, a white woman. Early on, Othello promotes Michael Cassio as his lieutenant over Iago, fostering mass jealousy. Desperate to get even with Othello, Iago creates elaborate plans to ruin his marriage with Desdemona. Iago’s effective manipulation skills lead Othello to take his wife's life and then his own. Iago is successfully able to deceive Othello because of their many differences, mainly racial, and Iago's understanding of how manipulation works.
It is clear that the race of Othello is a factor in his downfall. A
“I asked her to wear something revealing, so she showed up in a prophet's toga.”(CITE) Jarod Kintz’s words are an example of miscommunication, or failure to comprehend meaning. In this case, it is implied that one person misunderstood the message of another, but incomprehension also applies to problems other than falsely interpreted requests. Incomprehension can occur when people misinterpret another’s words or intentions, or when a person misreads situations or events. The outcome described in Kintz’s quote is unexpected and unintended, but there are instances of incomprehension that have consequences of greater severity. Perhaps a classic tragedy with a high body count falls under these parameters.
Criss Jami is a personal favorite poet of mine states “Just because something isn't a lie does not mean that it isn't deceptive. A liar knows that he is a liar, but one who speaks mere portions of truth in order to deceive is a craftsman of destruction.” Iago is a craftsman of destruction, and a wolf in lamb's skin. The article “Honesty” by John F Ahearne researches what honestly truly is and the forms, as well as dishonesty. "People Often Trust Eloquence More Than Honesty." by Rogers, Todd, and Michael I. Norton discusses how people will an individual who eloquently dodges a direct question then the truth given in unrefined way. Honesty is not the best policy in my point of view. The truth can hinder an individual from getting what they desire. If only the truth is told, it can be used against the everyone. If everyone was completely honest society could not function properly. Therefore, honesty is not the best policy.
Desdemona and Emilia are two of the main characters in William Shakespeare’s Othello. While one of them is the overly virtuous wife of the play’s protagonist and tragic hero, the other one is wife to one of the most clever and maquiavelic everlasting villains.
The role of women in Othello is a strong role. They are treated as though they are property, but yet are a man’s weakness. They are expected to follow, and worship their husband as if he is her master. “Women must think of themselves as ‘other’ and man as primary or ‘subject’” (Iyasere 70). Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca are all treated with this role in Othello, but in the end Desdemona is ultimately Othello’s weakness. The women in Othello were not treated as a man’s equal, but instead his property; these women were used against the heroes, and caused much commotion throughout the play.
Shakespeare displays a world of obedience and loyalty through the women in his play, Othello. Shakespeare strongly expresses Desdemona and Emilia’s characters as women in the Elizabethan era throughout the play, as they both have entirely different views on marriage. Shakespeare also characterizes both females with contradicting personalities.Desdemona and Emilia are disguised as vulnerable against their husbands and therefore concludes that women fail to please.
There are a lot of similarities between the two of the female characters; Desdemona and Emilia are both loyal wives, who want to please their husbands. As Iago tempts Othello, Othello begins to believe that Desdemona is disloyal and unchaste; therefore Desdemona wants to appease his worries concerning her loyalty by reassuring him. To prove her innocence Desdemona says:
Most notable is the contrasting dynamic they each have with their husband. Desdemona’s husband, Othello, before he becomes jealous, differed from other Elizabethan husbands since he treated his wife with love and respect. Their marriage was built on trust which allowed them to be honest with each other. The way she converses with him is unique because “No one else speaks to Othello like this, as an equal” (Grennan 286). More than that is Othello has the power to talk to her in a demeaning manner and instead, speaks to her with respect and values her opinion. Emilia does not have this openness with her husband, Iago. Iago stereotypically treats his wife by showing her little to no respect and feels he needs to have some sort of control over her and her actions. This is shown when she gives him the handkerchief. She expects some sort of explanation as to why she has to lie to Desdemona or at least praise for doing as he asked but is told “Be not acknown on’t. /…Go, leave me” (3.2 354-355). She is respectful and obeys her husband’s orders to leave and to lie about the handkerchief to Desdemona. All she asks in return is for Iago to be honest with her, be on a better level of communication with him and does her best to please him even if she does not agree with or understand his motives. With the handkerchief, Othello becomes susceptible to Iago’s
Both marriages portray the role of woman. Both Emilia and Desdemona are under the control of their husbands. They were almost forbidden to speak up. Shakespeare is trying to show that that notion of "love", is not all that it is intended to be. Up until the end of her life, Desdemona defended her husband [act 4 scene 2] "I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.""O, heaven forgive us!". It seems as in all of Shakespeare plays, love always end in a tragedy. This proves to be true in Othello.