Emilia's Profile
Education-None, but a woman of practical intelligence and emotional resilience. She follows Iago in
wifely duty.
Family-Iago's wife
Career-Desdemona's maid
Values-Loyalty, Love, Honesty
Friends-None
wifely duty.
Family-Iago's wife
Career-Desdemona's maid
Values-Loyalty, Love, Honesty
Friends-None
Themes of the play
Racism, perception of women
Iago's attitude towards women is largely critical and
negative. He tells Emilia that women are "pictures out of doors, Bells in your
parlors, wildcats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being
offended, Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds" (2.1.111-114),
meaning that women are often deceptive. He later says, "She never yet was
foolish that was fair, For even her folly helped her to an heir" (2.1.137-138).
Iago's cynical attitude towards women continues throughout the play, as he talks
of women as being foolish and unfaithful creatures.
negative. He tells Emilia that women are "pictures out of doors, Bells in your
parlors, wildcats in your kitchens, Saints in your injuries, devils being
offended, Players in your huswifery, and huswives in your beds" (2.1.111-114),
meaning that women are often deceptive. He later says, "She never yet was
foolish that was fair, For even her folly helped her to an heir" (2.1.137-138).
Iago's cynical attitude towards women continues throughout the play, as he talks
of women as being foolish and unfaithful creatures.
Reputation
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. She speaks disparagingly of men, but, until the
last scene, she supports her husband when needed. When finally she sees the
truth, Emilia abandons all loyalty to Iago and verbally attacks him for the
villain he is. In response, he silences her by killing her. She believes most
men are foolish, wicked, or perverse, and nothing she experiences during the
course of the play disproves that assessment.
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. She speaks disparagingly of men, but, until the
last scene, she supports her husband when needed. When finally she sees the
truth, Emilia abandons all loyalty to Iago and verbally attacks him for the
villain he is. In response, he silences her by killing her. She believes most
men are foolish, wicked, or perverse, and nothing she experiences during the
course of the play disproves that assessment.
Appearance vs reality
"Desdemona's lady in waiting, wife of Iago. Loyal to both her husband and her mistress. Shows an
attitude toward men far more different from Desdemona."
Emilia to Desdemona
3.4.153-156
"But jealous souls will not be answered so.They are not ever jealous for the cause,But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monsterBegot upon itself, born on itself."
The way that Othello is acting is in a jealous manner, showing Emilia and
Desdemona that he is infact jealous. The appearance of what use to be is no more but they cannot see the reality of what is going to happen and how upset Othello really is.
4.2.135-142
"A halter pardon him and hell gnaw his bones!Why should he call her “whore”? Who keeps her company?What place? What time? What form? What likelihood?The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave,Some
base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.O heavens, that such companions thou’dst unfold,And put in every honest hand a whipTo lash the rascals naked through the worldEven from the east to th'
west! "
Emilia is going on about how Desdemona is innocent and how someone has been tricking Othello into believing that she is having an affair. She explains that whoever this person is, he is a low life, bastard and a crook, which should be beat senseless. When in reality the person she is explaining is actually her own husband! Iago, who she is also telling this to.
attitude toward men far more different from Desdemona."
Emilia to Desdemona
3.4.153-156
"But jealous souls will not be answered so.They are not ever jealous for the cause,But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monsterBegot upon itself, born on itself."
The way that Othello is acting is in a jealous manner, showing Emilia and
Desdemona that he is infact jealous. The appearance of what use to be is no more but they cannot see the reality of what is going to happen and how upset Othello really is.
4.2.135-142
"A halter pardon him and hell gnaw his bones!Why should he call her “whore”? Who keeps her company?What place? What time? What form? What likelihood?The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave,Some
base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.O heavens, that such companions thou’dst unfold,And put in every honest hand a whipTo lash the rascals naked through the worldEven from the east to th'
west! "
Emilia is going on about how Desdemona is innocent and how someone has been tricking Othello into believing that she is having an affair. She explains that whoever this person is, he is a low life, bastard and a crook, which should be beat senseless. When in reality the person she is explaining is actually her own husband! Iago, who she is also telling this to.
Love
"I am glad I have found this napkin." Her husband, Iago, wanted her to steal Desdemona's handkerchief and
Emilia did it for him and she felt happy because she did what he wanted.