In act four Emilia starts to add up a few things. At least comes to grasp that Othello thinks that Desdemona is cheating on him with someone. She is also concerned with why she is being sent away and continually asks why but is shut down. Desdemona, who seems determined not to share this concern obeys his orders without question. Her only concern is whether or not her husband still loves her. Even as Emilia starts battering on Desdemona’s husband she answers with “My love doth so approve him/ That even his stubbornness, his cheeks, his/frowns/Prithee me-have grace and favor,” (4.3.19-20) Declaring her love for him even though he belittles her. And as she is getting ready for bed, this is where she confides in Emilia about a song that her mother’s …show more content…
I think Barbary’s song ended singing “a green willow must be my garland.” (4.3.52) Then Desdemona attaches a different ending for her own when she goes on about how Othello thinks her a cheat and a liar. I do believe she thinks that death will become her because of the love she holds for Othello, but I do not believe that she thought it would be from his hands. For she says “If I do die before, prithee shroud me/In one of these same sheets.” (4.3.23-24) Yet she trust him enough to do as he asks (4.3.15-17) “It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia/ Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu/ We must not displease him.” The reminiscence of the song is just mirroring her despair of losing a loved one, not of a woman sworn to death. She is accepting of her fate in losing his love, and is genuinely surprised that he tells her about his plans to kill her in the next act. Throughout the play the reason she misses so many ques to her untimely end, is because of the fact of they did not know each other. (1.3.163-167) “And bade me, if I had a friend that loved …show more content…
I saw Othello’s visage in his mind, And to his honors and his valiant parts.” That is why it is so easy for Iago to use them like puppets. They lay in ignorance of each other’s true nature, while Iago almost knows them perfectly. She continually thinks highly of how things are instead of what is to be seen. (3.4.29-30) “Who? He? I think the sun where he was/born/ drew all such humors from him.” She does not see him as jealous. And all Othello can see is the way things can be shown instead of the way things are. (4.1.102-105) “As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad/ And his unbookish jealousy must conster/ Poor Cassio’s smiles, gestures, and light behaviors/ Quite in the wrong.” It is proven that Desdemona can easily be deceived about what reality really is. She seems almost too innocent in her ways. A shown by her question to Emilia about whether wives truly cheat on their husbands. She seems genuinely distressed about even the thought of a woman betraying her husband. And she is so in love with her man that she put him on a pedestal, making it so that she cannot grasp that her man has decided to kill
However strong Othello's and Desdemona's marriage seems, it begins to deteriorate as a result of Othello's self-pride. At first, Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful. Iago suggests to Othello that Desdemona slept with Cassio. Iago uses a handkerchief given by Othello to Desdemona that he got Emilia to get for him as his proof against
In the given passage, we see that Desdemona takes a very honest, romantic and loyal stance towards Othello, (this is also true of her relationship with him), where as Emilia speaks more ‘sense’... more ‘realistically’. Desdemona is melancholy but hopeful, and her defenses of true love against Emilia’s more cynical view of the world
Desdemona is considered a sincere, kind, -and above all-, an honest wife and woman in general. She is like a model of the perfect woman of that time. We can find proof in her honesty when she and Emilia are talking about infidelity, and Desdemona's words are "Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong
When Iago found out Cassio became Othello’s lieutenant, he can be comprehended as jealous. He talks about Cassio’s lack of knowledge and experience with fighting (I.i.20-27). Although, Iago may seem jealous of Cassio, he is only furious with Othello. Later, when Cassio welcomes Emilia by kissing her hand, he is being polite. He also speaks very highly of Desdemona by saying, “One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,” (II.i.69).
Emilia lacks the wisdom or courage to confront Othello and confirm that Desdemona is an honest person. Her actions make the
In addition, Emilia proves her underrated intelligence by standing up for what she believes is right. Desdemona, Othello's wife, and Emilia's relationship grows because of her great loyalty towards her. At the end of the play Emilia stands up for Desdemona because Othello kills her. She explains Desdemona's true love for him and would never do anything to hurt him, which proves Desdemona's innocence. Not only does Emilia stand up for Desdemona, but she also voices her opinion to Othello. Emilia shows no fear standing up to Othello to prove to him that his wife has always been faithful. At first Othello finds it implausible but then Emilia says, "Thou art rash as fire, to say that she was false. O, she was heavenly true!" (Shakespeare V: ii, 165-166).Women are looked at in Othello as unintelligent and unfaithful, but Emilia changes that stereotype by standing up to the men. From the start Emilia and Iago's relationship always seemed rocky. Emilia's confidence in herself shows that she is not afraid to stand up to her husband. Emilia realizes the danger she puts herself in when she stands up to Iago. In order to make things right, she does whatever it takes, even if that means ruining their marriage or taking her life.
She begins the play as a independent and thoughtful person, but she must struggle against all odds to make Othello believe that she is not too independent. Desdemona is a symbol of innocence and helplessness. However in the beginning of the play, she seems to be mature and quite insightful of events around her. Iago often tells Othello that she is unfaithful. It seems that she refuses to accept what Iago is doing. She has a tendency to be sympathetic towards other people's situations, like Cassio. This also further inspired Othello's jealousy when Iago pointed out that Cassio and Desdemona were speaking in private. She often pays attention to other people’s thoughts, yet remains distrustful if they differ from her own. She has a loyalty to her husband in all aspects of life,
In Act 4 scene 3 of the tragedy Othello, William Shakespeare uses Emilia as Desdemona’s literary foil, in order to highlight the idea that Desdemona is a very loyal and naive character. In the scene, contrasting character Emilia repeatedly states it’s not a big deal if women cheat on men, while Desdemona acts as if being unfaithful to your partner is the biggest sin in the world. The differences between these two characters help readers understand them much better. Emilia’s willingness to cheat on men largely contrasts Desdemona’s morals in many different ways. For example, when talking about Lodovico, Emilia states “I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.”
As a result of society‟s prejudice, Othello‟s self-esteem diminishes, allowing Iago to capitalize on his insecurity to invoke the feeling of jealousy in Othello. To start off, Iago insinuates that Desdemona is unfaithful to Othello, as she prefers only people of her „type‟, a class Othello will never belong. Iago convincingly states: “As, to be bold with you,/Not to affect many proposed matches/Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,/Whereto we see in all things nature tends” (III.iii. 232-236). By the same logic, Desdemona would prefer Cassio, who is like her in age, race, and class, as opposed to Othello who is older, black and unattractive(1538). Similarly, Iago uses Desdemona‟s gender and past to convince Othelloof her infidelity. Iago states: “She did deceive her father, marrying you,/And when she seemed to shake and fear your looks,/She loved them most” (III.iii. 210-213). He alludes that Desdemona, having betrayed her father, is very likely to betray Othello. Combined with the knowledge that wome of that time period were unvirtuous and unfaithful, this tips Othello over the
She has a loyalty to her husbands in all aspects of life, whether it is mental or physical. If Desdemona had been an emotional void then Iago would not have succeeded in his plan. This would have meant that she would not have lied to Othello about losing the handkerchief, which she did so as not to hurt his feelings. However Othello sees this as an attempt to deceive him and conceal the alleged truth about her affair with Cassio. Even her final words, indicate that she blames her death on herself, and not her jealous husband.
The three characters of Iago, Desdemona and Othello are gradually revealed to the audience as Act One unfolds. All three are linked to one another and talk to and about each other. Their characters unfold through their interaction with others and how they behave in isolation. The first impression formed of Iago comes from what Roderigo says. Being gullible, Roderigo has given Iago his purse. A character who accepts an offer like this is likely to be of doubtful reputation. The first words spoken by Iago are a strong oath. Already it is obvious that he has little respect for religion. Iago also sees little point in fighting purely in theory. He despises Cassio, partly because he
This quote proves his love for Desdemona is unconditional. This also foreshadows to the end of the play because at the end, he was, again, fooled by his emotions. In Act 2 Scene 3, Othello says “Now by heaven, my blood begins my safer guides to rule, and passion having my best judgement collied, assays to lead the way… Give me to know how this foul rout began, who set it on, and he that is approv’d in this offence, though he had twinn’d with me, both at birth, shall lose me.”. In this quote, we see that Othello is letting his emotions of what he has heard about Cassio and Desdemona get in the way. Othello is getting jealous of Cassio and Desdemona because Desdemona has been spending a lot of time talking to Cassio.
Desdemona got married to Othello by stories of his adventure in travel and war and he was given permission by Brabantio, the father of Desdemona, the duke, and the senators after he was reported by Iago and Roderigo for stealing her away from her father. Roderigo is a man who love to have Desdemona to himself but he was convinced by Iago which require his money to win Desdemona back. Roderigo is willing to agree with Iago plans to use Cassio as a bait to both Othello and Desdemona. Iago became close to Othello by winning his trust and convince him that Desdemona is having affair with Cassio. Iago kept Cassio closer to Desdemona by asking her for help to get his position back and by making Othello be suspicious of them having an affair.
During the play Emilia serves Desdemona and helps her in any way. She is her right hand so to speak. Throughout the play they both share one major trait: loyalty. They are loyal to one another and their husbands. In the beginning of the play Desdemona leaves her father to be with Othello.
Not like Othello who is self-conscious, Desdemona seems only emphasize on her loyalty and fidelity to her husband, which she does not even realize her husband’s jealousy on Cassio and herself until the end. Desdemona is also a self-effacing wife who at last even forgives her husband’s murder on her. Unlike her Moor who could never forgive any “evidence” that shows Desdemona’s infidelity. She also has a tendency to think people of goodness at first place which implies that she will hardly doubt anyone, the opposite as Othello. For example, in her conversation with Emilia at last, she asked Emilia “That there be women do abuse their husbands In such gross kind?” Desdemona trust in her loyalty as well as the others’. This unawareness of the evil leads to Desdemona’s ultimate death. Also, her poor diction and speech is also different from her husband. She always chose wrong time to talk about wrong requests such as asking her husband’s forgiveness for Cassio. She hardly express herself except her only but unsubstantial claim on her fidelity. All of these show a traditional weakness on a woman who holds exactly the contrary personality of