Emilia

In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Othello, the author’s attitudes and observations toward women become apparent through the words and actions of female characters. This tragedy touches on different aspects such as jealousy, revenge, and manipulation. The author also reflects on different social and moral values of the female characters within the play. Othello, a historical fiction sets in Venice amidst the Elizabethan time period. Act One Scene One opens with dialogue between “honest”…

I consider Othello to be a tragic hero because throughout the play he demonstrates heroic characteristics. For example, Othello is appointed as a general in the Venetian army and dispatched to Cyprus by the Duke of Venice to fight the Ottomans (Bevington, 2014): Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you Against the general enemy Ottoman. (Shakespeare, 1604, 1.3.50-51) Furthermore, Othello demonstrates heroic characteristic because even though at certain times his actions were wrong…

plays take place. Three attributes that define a woman during these times were chastity, silence, and obedience. Emilia is a feminist before her time by going against these attributes. Chastity was an importance during the Renaissance era. Emilia goes against the social norm by pardoning women who hoodwink their husbands. She places the blame for women cheating on the husbands. Emilia says “But I do think it is their husbands' faults if wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties and pour…

the women of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca like tools. The women’s reply to their husband’s action is complete submissiveness to them. For example, Desdemona says, “Whate’er you be, I am obedient.” (III.iii.89). This shows that Desdemona continues to obey Othello from every phase of their relationship; from the early loving stages to the green-eyed ravings. She remains true to Othello. She does not try to disobey him, or betray his trust. Another woman who shows this is Emilia. She points out…

Shakespeare’s Othello, Emilia serves as a foil for both Desdemona and Iago. Her meekness in these close relationships allows Iago to play her to gain access to Desdemona. Accordingly, Emilia steals the handkerchief to gratify Iago which fuels the tragic turning point of the play. Emilia is Desdemona’s foil. Her worldly perceptiveness, experience and dark cynicism contrast Desdemona’s innocence and purity. When Desdemona asks, “Dost thou in conscience think, tell me, Emilia, / That there be women…

to think that she is having an affair with Cassio. In the end, because of Othello’s jealousy, the pure and kind Desdemona is lead to her own death. Additionally, Emilia is shown to be a strong and outspoken women. Throughout the play, she makes feminist opinions about the unfair male and female relationships as well as gender roles. Emilia is not as fortunate as Desdemona, as she is married to the evil villain Iago. Iago obviously does not treat her well, which explains her cynical view on men.…

Desdemona, the wife of Othello is seen for the majority of the play as a submissive wife until a misunderstanding turns her, in her husband 's eyes, into a demon. Emilia, the wife of Iago and the most sensible woman of the trio, still dons the recipe for a submissive wife that would go to great lengths to satisfy her husband. Finally, Bianca, a prostitute that routinely visited Michael Cassio, is verbally spat upon…

willow song, and the characterization of Emilia. These roles were contrasting and daring, and led to the beginning of a feministic change in the portrayal of women in the era. The portrayal of women in Othello was audacious and contrasting to the accustomed roles in the time period. One of the main ways this is demonstrated is through the setting. In Othello, the setting is a Venetian city in the 1600s.…

Shakespeare suggests that dying is the easy way out and the solution to all problems. Emilia, Desdemona’s lady in waiting, is an honest and moral lady in Othello however, she can be seen diverting from this path when her loyalties change during the middle of the play, to a man who verbally abuses her. Iago sees women as inferiors, including his wife whom he continually targets condescending statements at. When Emilia tries to satisfy her husband by giving him Desdemona’s handkerchief which “[h]e…

In the William Shakespeare’s play Othello, Emilia and Desdemona are the major female characters that are remarkably notable in the play. When the two are separated and looked at they are two completely different individuals who come from different backgrounds. While Desdemona comes from an upper class family very wealthy and prosperous, Emilia comes from a middle class family comfortable and probably in those times what would be considered an average normal family. In principle, few individuals…