Importance/significance/roles of Emilia in Othello –
Essay Plan/Character Summary
description + significance-
• Duties (as per society’s conventions): wife of Iago, maid of
Desdemona, heeds to the patriarchal, archaic rules of marriage present at
the time by continuously protecting her husband’s honour despite
acknowledging his flaws
• Duties (as per Shakespeare’s intention):
• truth teller – towards the end of the play, Emilia emerges as a
moral compass, her courage to speak the truth, even at the cost of
her own life, underscores the themes of honesty and integrity which
the more powerful male characters fail to do, further emphasising
her importance as an integral part of the storyline
• the voice of reason – Emilia’s pragmatic and blunt assessments
of the situations around her provide the audience with a grounded
perspective on the unfolding drama, enabling them to see past the
chaos and focus on the hidden meanings that the other characters
seemingly ignore. Her voice and tone widely contrast the other
characters’ more emotional and irrational actions.
Emilia and Iago-
• At the beginning of the play, we witness matrimonial harmony between
Othello and Desdemona, with no clear evidence that portrays betrayal:
“my soul hath her content so absolute that not another comfort like to this
succeeds in unknown fate” (2,1). Due to their seemingly perfect
relationship, Iago became jealous that he had never experienced the same
love for Emilia, and hence believed Emilia and Othello had an affair.
• Iago constantly mistreats Emilia, “it is a common thing…to have a foolish
wife” (3,3), he doesn’t respect her intelligence, and in turn verbally abuses
her. He continuously mocks Emilia in a demeaning, disrespectful manner,
“sir, would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft
bestows on me, you’d have enough.” (2,1). This quote is misogynistic, and
implicit to Emilia’s supposed promiscuity as Iago undermines dignity and
self- worth.
• It is this relentless mistreatment that further provokes Emilia to expose
Iago’s true intentions, “they are all but stomachs… when they are full,
they belch us.” (3,4), Emilia is referring to Iago’s manipulation into
stealing the handkerchief.
Emilia through the eyes of the audience-
Headstrong, intelligent, outspoken
, • Conflicting loyalties and motivations- a dutiful wife must side with
her husband. Emilia’s morals dictate siding with Desdemona
• Complex- we witness her change sides when she comprehends how
immoral Iago is
• Assertive- is one of the only women in the play to confront her husband
for his wrongdoings, “You told a lie, an odious, damned lie!” (5,2)
• Defiant- challenges Iago’s authority by confronting him about his
involvement in Desdemona’s death. “I will not charm my tongue; I am
bound to speak.” (5,2)
• Observant- displays awareness of the unfairness of gender dynamics
when Desdemona is oblivious about them, “But I do think it is their
husbands’ faults if wives do fall: say that they slack their duties.” (4,3)
“Ay,ay. O, lay me by my mistress’ side.” – Emilia, Act 5, Scene
2:
- Emilia and Desdemona die in the same bed. At the end of the play, Emilia dies
the more defiant woman, striving to prove Iago’s demise, “Villainy, Villainy,
Villainy!”, (5,2) whereas Desdemona dies still as naïve as at the start of the play,
taking Othello’s crime as her own, “Nobody; I myself.”, (5,2) but despite Emilia
revealing the truth, she dies in the same bed as Desdemona, literally and
figuratively. The significance of this was to highlight the stereotypical fate of
women in the Elizabethan Era, women were generally oppressed and were
depicted as the property of men and nothing more. Shakespeare’s intention was
to reveal to the audience that even the strongest of women were undermined
and overlooked by men in society and ultimately faced the same tragic fate. The
class of these women failed to support them as worthy candidates of life.
Desdemona was of a higher class than Emilia, yet she wasn’t considered worthy
to continue living, and died the same way.
Emilia’s Character timeline from the start to the end of the play
1- Obedient + dutiful – Emilia partakes in Iago’s schemes without fully
understanding his intentions. “What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I.” (3,3)
2- Growing suspicion- Emilia begins to express her views more openly and
even raises the idea of Othello’s jealousy to Desdemona. “Is not this man
jealous?” (3,4). Emilia suggests that men are often unjust with their scepticism.
3- Protesting male authority- in her bold conversation with Desdemona, she
highlights her increasingly condemning attitude towards the societal double
standards presented at the time. “The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.” (4,3)
she argues that women have the same desires and capacities as men.
Essay Plan/Character Summary
description + significance-
• Duties (as per society’s conventions): wife of Iago, maid of
Desdemona, heeds to the patriarchal, archaic rules of marriage present at
the time by continuously protecting her husband’s honour despite
acknowledging his flaws
• Duties (as per Shakespeare’s intention):
• truth teller – towards the end of the play, Emilia emerges as a
moral compass, her courage to speak the truth, even at the cost of
her own life, underscores the themes of honesty and integrity which
the more powerful male characters fail to do, further emphasising
her importance as an integral part of the storyline
• the voice of reason – Emilia’s pragmatic and blunt assessments
of the situations around her provide the audience with a grounded
perspective on the unfolding drama, enabling them to see past the
chaos and focus on the hidden meanings that the other characters
seemingly ignore. Her voice and tone widely contrast the other
characters’ more emotional and irrational actions.
Emilia and Iago-
• At the beginning of the play, we witness matrimonial harmony between
Othello and Desdemona, with no clear evidence that portrays betrayal:
“my soul hath her content so absolute that not another comfort like to this
succeeds in unknown fate” (2,1). Due to their seemingly perfect
relationship, Iago became jealous that he had never experienced the same
love for Emilia, and hence believed Emilia and Othello had an affair.
• Iago constantly mistreats Emilia, “it is a common thing…to have a foolish
wife” (3,3), he doesn’t respect her intelligence, and in turn verbally abuses
her. He continuously mocks Emilia in a demeaning, disrespectful manner,
“sir, would she give you so much of her lips as of her tongue she oft
bestows on me, you’d have enough.” (2,1). This quote is misogynistic, and
implicit to Emilia’s supposed promiscuity as Iago undermines dignity and
self- worth.
• It is this relentless mistreatment that further provokes Emilia to expose
Iago’s true intentions, “they are all but stomachs… when they are full,
they belch us.” (3,4), Emilia is referring to Iago’s manipulation into
stealing the handkerchief.
Emilia through the eyes of the audience-
Headstrong, intelligent, outspoken
, • Conflicting loyalties and motivations- a dutiful wife must side with
her husband. Emilia’s morals dictate siding with Desdemona
• Complex- we witness her change sides when she comprehends how
immoral Iago is
• Assertive- is one of the only women in the play to confront her husband
for his wrongdoings, “You told a lie, an odious, damned lie!” (5,2)
• Defiant- challenges Iago’s authority by confronting him about his
involvement in Desdemona’s death. “I will not charm my tongue; I am
bound to speak.” (5,2)
• Observant- displays awareness of the unfairness of gender dynamics
when Desdemona is oblivious about them, “But I do think it is their
husbands’ faults if wives do fall: say that they slack their duties.” (4,3)
“Ay,ay. O, lay me by my mistress’ side.” – Emilia, Act 5, Scene
2:
- Emilia and Desdemona die in the same bed. At the end of the play, Emilia dies
the more defiant woman, striving to prove Iago’s demise, “Villainy, Villainy,
Villainy!”, (5,2) whereas Desdemona dies still as naïve as at the start of the play,
taking Othello’s crime as her own, “Nobody; I myself.”, (5,2) but despite Emilia
revealing the truth, she dies in the same bed as Desdemona, literally and
figuratively. The significance of this was to highlight the stereotypical fate of
women in the Elizabethan Era, women were generally oppressed and were
depicted as the property of men and nothing more. Shakespeare’s intention was
to reveal to the audience that even the strongest of women were undermined
and overlooked by men in society and ultimately faced the same tragic fate. The
class of these women failed to support them as worthy candidates of life.
Desdemona was of a higher class than Emilia, yet she wasn’t considered worthy
to continue living, and died the same way.
Emilia’s Character timeline from the start to the end of the play
1- Obedient + dutiful – Emilia partakes in Iago’s schemes without fully
understanding his intentions. “What he will do with it, Heaven knows, not I.” (3,3)
2- Growing suspicion- Emilia begins to express her views more openly and
even raises the idea of Othello’s jealousy to Desdemona. “Is not this man
jealous?” (3,4). Emilia suggests that men are often unjust with their scepticism.
3- Protesting male authority- in her bold conversation with Desdemona, she
highlights her increasingly condemning attitude towards the societal double
standards presented at the time. “The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.” (4,3)
she argues that women have the same desires and capacities as men.
