Throughout Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia’s challenge of the societal norm manages to get her so called “unfaithful” mistress killed. Emilia is a character who changes throughout the play. She may seem like the quiet type but there are many things that run through her mind. When she finally changes her ways of silence she to pays the price of death. There is many times where her silence isn’t necessary but it works so well for the effect. As a character, Emilia’s role in the book is to practically be Desdemona’s servant. She has to cater to every one of her needs. She must dress her and have her ready and always looking nice. Her role to those who read the play is to show someone who is mostly loyal to her mistress, but also shows that
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My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token
(For he conjured her she should ever keep it)
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta'en out
And give ’t Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I.
I nothing but to please his fantasy. (290-299)
That isn’t the only time that she remains faithful though because when Othello asks Desdemona to go get is she replies tells him she would go get it but not that instant so she can stall because she really can’t find it. When this is all happening Emilia could speak up about the whereabouts and tell these lovers who has it but she does not say a word. With the handkerchief gone Othello then becomes angry with Desdemona but Emilia does know that this is because of her husband. When she finally puts these pieces together she sees what horrible deed she has done by giving that to her husband. She also sees how evil her husband is by tricking Othello into thinking his with was having an affair with Cassio by placing the handkerchief in his belongings. She doesn’t want Othello to kill her husband but manages to kill them
My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token
(For he conjured her she should ever keep it)
That she reserves it evermore about her
To kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta'en out
And give ’t Iago. What he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I.
I nothing but to please his fantasy. (290-299)
That isn’t the only time that she remains faithful though because when Othello asks Desdemona to go get is she replies tells him she would go get it but not that instant so she can stall because she really can’t find it. When this is all happening Emilia could speak up about the whereabouts and tell these lovers who has it but she does not say a word. With the handkerchief gone Othello then becomes angry with Desdemona but Emilia does know that this is because of her husband. When she finally puts these pieces together she sees what horrible deed she has done by giving that to her husband. She also sees how evil her husband is by tricking Othello into thinking his with was having an affair with Cassio by placing the handkerchief in his belongings. She doesn’t want Othello to kill her husband but manages to kill them