Analyse the character of Emilia. How is her relationship to Iago a foil to the main relationship of Othello and Desdemona?

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Amelie Küster

English A2 – Standard

Literature essay – Othello

Task: Analyse the character of Emilia. How is her relationship to Iago a foil to the main relationship of Othello and Desdemona?

Emilia’s character only comes out throughout the book, very slowly, part by part. She seems to be a very rebellious person who is not the most intelligent character of the play. She sort of relies more on her feelings and emotions. She is aware of the relationship between women and men, and plays an important role explaining these roles to Desdemona. This, for example, happens in Act IV, Scene III, Line 90-101, where Emilia talks to Desdemona about her and husbands in general. With her advises and comments Emilia illustrates a trusted  friend of Desdemona and therefore plays an important role in the play.

Emilia

Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,

yet have some revenge. Let husbands know

their wives have sense like them, they see, and smell,

and have their plates both for sweet and sour

as husbands have. What is it that they do

when they change us for others? Is it sport?

I think it is. And doth affection breed it?

I Think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs?

It is so too. And have not we affections,

Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?

Then let them use us well; else let them know,

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The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.

Just with the help of this short passage, Emilia tells us a lot about her relationship and marriage to Iago, who she is not very much loved by. Iago does not fool only Othello, Cassio and Roderigo, bit also his wife Emilia, for as she first does not want to believe that she only serves but is not loved. However, even though she speaks these wise words, she does not see Iago’s wickedness yet. She describes more the “eternal villain” but does not know she is speaking about Iago; she ...

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