Is Emilia innocent in Othello?

Although Emilia was previously accused of having an affair with Othello, her actions throughout the play portray a loyal and honest woman. She is certainly loyal to Iago when she gives him Desdemona's handkerchief, despite her instinct to return it to Desdemona instead.

Is Emilia honest in Othello?

In a play dominated by men, the scheming Iago, the gullible Othello and the beleaguered Cassio, Emilia acts as a voice of honesty and reason. Although fiercely loyal to her mistress, Desdemona, she inadvertently allows her to be snared in Iago's trap. Her efforts to save her come too late.

What happens to Emilia in Othello?

She ends up sacrificing her life so that Desdemona won't be remembered as a "whore." Iago kills Emilia as payback for unmasking him, but Emilia dies proud that she set the record straight.

Does Emilia lie in Othello?

When she hears about the handkerchief, she reveals her role and Iago threatens and then kills her at the first opportunity. She then dies singing Desdemona's song and speaking of her purity and love for Othello, lying alongside her mistress.

Is Emilia a victim in Othello?

Emilia becomes a parallel to Desdemona, as another woman killed by her husband for insisting on a truth that he did not want to hear. However, while Desdemona's death reflects the murder of an innocent victim, Emilia dies seeking atonement for her participation in Iago's crimes.

Othello's Girlboss, Emilia | Emilia Character Analysis

Does Iago abuse Emilia?

Iago treats Emilia contemptuously. He asks her sharply what she's doing alone, implying that her movements should be directed entirely by him. He also insults Emilia as 'a foolish wife' (III. 3.308), but when he realises she has the handkerchief, his tone softens: now Emilia is a 'good wench' (III.

How is Emilia a tragic victim in Othello?

Firstly, throughout 'Othello' Shakespeare presents men as the dominant characters of the play, whereas the women are portrayed as characters to always…show more content… Her death is therefore her punishment, furthermore making Emilia a tragic victim as she has died through no fault of her own.

Is Emilia loyal?

Emilia is loyal to Desdemona, but she is loyal to Iago. She is caught between her conscience and her responsibilities as both a wife and Desdemona's attendant.

What happens to Emilia at the end of the play?

In a vain attempt to prevent his scheme from being revealed, Iago stabs and kills Emilia, and is then taken prisoner while Othello, lamenting the loss of his wife, kills himself next to her.

Why does Emilia betray Iago?

Emilia only betrayed her lady Desdemona because Iago has been asking for the handkerchief for a while now and since Desdemona just happened to conveniently drop the handkerchief she thought now was her opportunity to quickly grab it and make Iago happy, “No, faith, she let it drop by negligence, And to th' advantage I, ...

What happens in the play Emilia?

Emilia is played by three actresses; Saffron Coomber as the young Emilia coming to terms with the death of her parents and making her way through the royal court, Adelle Leonce as an older Emilia with more wisdom and further pain and Clare Perkins is Emilia at the end of her life looking back on the injustices she ...

Is Emilia obedient in Othello?

Desdemona And Emilia In Shakespeare's Othello

After finding out her husband, Iago, was the one who had plotted the demise of so many around her, Emilia declared “Tis proper I obey him, but not right now” (5.2. 233).

How is Emilia a victim of Iago?

Once Iago admits that he told Othello that Desdemona was an adulteress, Emilia reacts furiously in refuting him, refuses to obey Iago's threatening command to keep quiet and tells the whole truth about the handkerchief even when Iago draws his sword and then murders her.

How is Emilia presented in Othello?

Emilia is Iago's wife, and Desdemona's maid, a woman of practical intelligence and emotional resilience. She follows Iago in wifely duty, but during the play develops a strong loyalty to Desdemona and, at the end, denounces Iago's lies to defend Desdemona's reputation.

Is Emilia a true friend to Desdemona?

Emilia is Iago's wife. Othello appoints her to be Desdemona's maid and accompany them to Cyprus. Emilia and Desdemona become closer during the play and Emilia is loyal to her at the end of the play. Emilia steals Desdemona's handkerchief to make Iago happy but she doesn't know what he will do with it.

Does Emilia stand up for Desdemona?

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.

Does Emilia expose Iago?

The affront to Iago's masculine pride is sufficient. In the end, Emilia is killed by her husband for betraying him not physically, but mentally: she exposes his lies and speaks out against him.

How is Emilia responsible for Desdemona's death?

Emilia who is Desdemona's loyal friend fails to convince Othello that Desdemona is faithful. She is unwittingly responsible for her friend's death because, she never mentions the handkerchief until Desdemona has been killed.

What is Emilia's view on marriage?

Key quotation: Emilia on marriage

Emilia has a disillusioned view of marriage: ''Tis not a year or two shows us a man./ They are all but stomachs, and we all but food' (III. 4.104–5). These words remind us that the female characters are powerless in Othello ; they are 'food' for their men.

Is Emilia a servant?

Emilia tries to be a loyal wife and servant but her loyalty is repeatedly tested by the incidents surrounding the handkerchief.

How is Emilia jealous in Othello?

On one level, Emilia's speech functions as a commentary on jealousy as a self-motivating force. Yet her words unconsciously take on a double meaning, for, unbeknownst to her, it is her husband's sexual jealousy that begets Othello's own sexual jealousy, and which ultimately leads to Desdemona's murder.

Who was most loyal in Othello?

At the beginning of William Shakespeare's Othello, Emilia, Iago's wife and Desdemona's attendant, remains blindly loyal to her husband. Emilia demonstrates her blind loyalty when she steals Desdemona's handkerchief for Iago, stating that she is “nothing but to please his fancy” (3.3. 343).

What is Emilia's motivation?

Emilia. Emilia is motivated by her desire to please her husband but that changes later on in the play and her new incentive becomes helping Desdemona.

What was Emilia's relationship with Desdemona?

What was Emilia's relationship with Iago/Desdemona? Iago's wife; she is Desdemona's BFF/Mistress.

How does Iago manipulate Emilia?

Iago also takes advantage of Emilia in the play by using her to steal the handkerchief that Othello presented to Desdemona which convinced Othello undisputedly of Desdemona's infidelity.