How Does Othello Show Loyalty To Desdemona

The most important similarity between Desdemona and Emilia is their constant pursuit to please their husbands. Even though Emilia believes it is wrong to steal from Desdemona, she takes her handkerchief because Iago has continually asked her to do so. By doing this, "she unknowingly helps Iago's plans by securing Desdemona's handkerchief" (Bloom 27). To prove her desire to please Iago, she says "I nothing know, but for his fantasy" (3. 3. 300). If Emilia had not followed Iago's commands to steal the handkerchief, then there would be no evidence to accuse Desdemona of sleeping with Cassio and Othello would not have pursued the accusation. Her loyalty for Iago outweighs her friendship to Desdemona. In order to please Othello, Desdemona constantly reassures him about the false claims surrounding her adultery. She consistently repeats her innocence throughout the entire play to him, sometimes, to the extent

As Desdemona’s lady in waiting, Emilia’s character shows key elements of the inner workings of female relationships in Othello. Although she is married to Iago, it is evident that her loyalty is with her mistress. A woman whose first duty it is to be honest and true to her mistress rather than her husband was a unique concept for the time period. In the final act of Othello, Emilia betrays her husband’s loyalty to inform Othello of the truth: “If he say so, may his pernicious soul, Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:

Throughout the play, Desdemona displays nothing but obedience to Othello, following his every order even as he grows cold and violent towards her, banishing her to her room. Further, Emilia demonstrates the same obedience to Iago as she steals the handkerchief from Desdemona and assists Iago in turning Othello against his wife. Both Desdemona and Emilia, however, are destroyed by their initial disobedience; Desdemona’s betrayal of her father in marrying Othello, even for love, causes Othello to see her as a deceptive, disobedient wife which leads him to kill her while Emilia finally disobeys Iago and tells Othello of Desdemona’s innocence, causing Iago to kill her. Shakespeare uses the deaths of Desdemona and Emilia to show the suffocating constraints of a society driven by violence and war on women beyond their roles. Similarly, Shakespeare uses Desdemona’s sexuality and the brazen depiction of her unconventional sexuality to again explore how a male-dominated world cannot accept the sexual nature of women.

In Act III Scene III Emilia unintentionally assists Iago in his plans to poison Othello’s mind with jealousy. This occurs when Emilia finds on the floor the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona. Emilia immediately gives the handkerchief to Iago, who had been asking her to steal it for him. “Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona/ That which so often you did bid me steal/… If it not be for the purpose of import,/ Give ‘t me again.

Emilia without hesitation expresses to Othello that Desdemona is honest and loyal. “I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, / Lay down my soul at stake. If you think other, “ (4.1. 13-14). Emilia throughout the play becomes more and more loyal to her mistress and her character really comes alive in The Willow Scene. The two women have a moment when they share each others thoughts and it is a time when Desdemona really needs someone to lean on and Emilia is there to ease her mind. Desdemona is very emotional and confused with why her husband is accusing her of being a whore and Emilia is the one who Desdemona is expressing her depressed sadness too. “Good faith, how foolish are our minds! / If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me / In one of these same sheets” (4.3.22-24). Desdemona is losing hope and seems to sense that death is near her and Emilia quickly tells Desdemona to talk to her, “Come, come, you talk”. Desdemona confides in Emilia, which forms a bond between both the women and that is something that is rare in many of Shakespeare’s

Emilia is intelligent and resilient with sincere loyalty for Desdemona, while also attending Iago with her wifely duties. Ruth Vanita explains the modern aspect of Emilia, where she is much more loyal toward Desdemona than her own husband, “…Emilia is "unfaithful" not sexually but mentally. She breaks faith with Iago by choosing to be loyal to Desdemona rather than to him” (343). Shakespeare creates Emilia as a modern feminist that understands the double standard between man and women through this quote: Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace, Yet have we some revenge.

Throughout the whole play, Iago is able to corrupt Othello’s faith in Desdemona, pretty easily. Iago really gives Othello no solid proof in regard to Desdemona’s infidelity. Yet Othello is so quick to believe him. This line continues with Othello having Iago’s wife, Emilia, attend to Desdemona. And while Emilia comes to the realization of her mistakes in the end, she plays a pretty major role in Desdemona death.

To begin, Othello announces to Desdemona that he has the intention to kill her, she asks him to ask Cassio to confess the truth. Othello then mentions that Cassio is dead, which leads to Desdemona crying. Furious, Othello yells, “Out Strumpet! Weep’st thou for him to my face?” (5..2 78). Othello disrespects Desdemona by calling her a strumpet but a greater insult is him assuming that she is not loyal to him as Desdemona is viewed as one of the most angelic and innocent woman but yet the one she deeply loves, Othello, does not appreciate her at all. Next, Iago mentions that Emilia is worthless. Emilia picks up the handkerchief Desdemona drops and takes it to Iago. Emilia approaches Iago and tells him that she has something for him to which Iago replies, “You have a thing for me? It is a common thing”(3.3 305). When Iago refers to Emilia as a ‘common thing’ he is saying that she is of no use to him, he can find a replacement easily. This is very disrespectful to Emilia as she has done nothing but aid and love him but yet he treats her so maliciously, she is undeserving of all the hate he directs at her. Finally, Othello disrespects Desdemona’s honour by purposefully saying things to hurt her. He questions Desdemona’s loyalty countless times and goes as far as to call her demeaning names. When confronting her about her allegedly cheating on him, Othello says, “I cry you mercy then:/I

Othello asks Emilia if she has ever heard Desdemona tell Cassio anything or if she has whispered to him. He specifically asks Emilia because she has been there every time that Cassio and Desdemona have talked. Emilia says that if anyone has tried to convince Othello that Desdemona has done wrong then that person should be cursed. It is ironic because Iago, Emilia’s husband, has been convincing Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Emilia is unaware of the fact that her own husband is creating problems between Othello and Desdemona. The reader might wonder what Emilia would do if she found out that Iago was the person that was influencing Othello. The reader also has sympathy for Desdemona because she is kind hearted and loyal, but she is mistreated for acts she did not take part

In Othello by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare wrote about love, jealously, and deceives. These three adjectives was shown within the main characters of act one and two. Othello, a noble Moor, fell in love with Desdemona, the senators daughter. Roderigo, a Venetian gentleman, was in love with Desdemona, but Desdemona was not in love with Roderigo because she is in love with Othello. Iago, Othello's ancient, created hatred towards Othello because he was not promoted as lieutenant but Cassio, who was not as wise as Iago, was promoted to Lieutenant.

When Brabantio warns Othello about the possibility of Desdemona deceiving him in the future, Othello responded with “My life upon her faith! Honest Iago, My Desdemona must I leave to thee:” (1.3.295-296) Othello’s vulnerability is highlighted here when he disregarded Brabantio’s warning claiming that he trusts her with his life and he ignores all possibilities that she will never deceive him like her father. Another great example of Othello’s vulnerability occurs when he assigns Desdemona to Iago; as shown through Othello choice of words “So please your grace, my ancient; A man he is of honest and trust: To his conveyance I assign my wife,” Othello is too trusting of Iago that it makes him too vulnerable to be taken advantage of. He used the words honest to show his belief of Iago’s character which also makes him naïve because he doesn’t realize that Iago is

Desdemona loves Othello dearly, which is reflected in how loyal she is to him. There are two situations in particular that Desdemona demonstrates this. First, when discussing women that cheat with Emilia, Desdemona claimed,”Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong / For the whole world” (4.3.73-74). She would not cheat on Othello for the entire world. Another instance where she shows how loyal she is to Othello is at the end of the play. Othello stabbed her, and

Despite that, Iago commands Emilia to keep her mouth shut before she exposed his actions of his dishonesty about Desdemona’s affairs to Othello. Emilia on the other hand rebels back at her husband and proves Desdemona’s innocence. According to the story, Emilia says, “You told a lie, an odious, damnèd lie. Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie. She false with Cassio!

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.

A lot of her dependence and loyalty to him was portrayed through her honest. She alway told him the truth and reminded him the she loved only him, especially when he began to believe that she was cheating on him. And even when Othello murdered her, her finally words were to put the blame of her death upon herself, stating that “Nobody. I myself. Farewell.