belongs with Othello, and has such great love for him, so much that "a heave interim shall support his absence" . Soon after their elopement, envious Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona has been unfaithful to him. Othello becomes enraged cursing Desdemona as a whore. When Othello questions her, we again see her strong sense of devotion, pleading for his trust rather than vehemently defending herself. "I hope my noble lord esteems me honest… Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?" However, her faith in Othello is so strong that it undermines her "modern", prideful characteristics. Consequently, Desdemona is really not as strong and educated as originally perceived, for she continues to attempt to maintain Othello's trust, despite his incredibly harsh accusations. Although her arguments remain strong, the weakness in her character emerges, for she cannot see the monster that her husband is becoming, and failing to realize that he trusts Iago, a man who is extremely competitive with him, over his very wife's word. We also see that
Desdemona is not the sophisticated woman she once appeared to be. In a conversation with Emilia, Iago's wife, she is first exposed to the notion that "there be women that do abuse their husbands in such gross kind? …I do not think there is such a woman." Emilia is representative of still another aspect of female strength. She is a less intellectual character, one who relies upon her sense of intuition. She is aware of the relationships between women and men, and plays an important role explaining these roles to Desdemona. She briefly educates Desdemona on the homespun nature of infidelity, reasoning "Why we have galls and though we have some grace, yet we have some revenge. Let husbands know their wives have sense like them. They see, and smell, and have their palates both for sweet and sour, as husbands have." Emilia and her husband Iago have a much different relationship than Desdemona and Othello (at least until Othello becomes suspicious of Desdemona). Desdemona and Othello truly love each other, while Emilia, although bearing no sense of hatred towards him, has never actually loved Iago. Although she possesses the common sense to educate Desdemona of the interactions between married people, she is unaware of Iago's villainous character and is similarly unsuspecting of his plot against Othello.
Emilia is Iago's young and attractive outspoken wife. She is a agent in the plot of Desdemona's death. Many times has Emilia been asked to steal Desdemona's handkerchief by her husband. She knows how deeply Desdemona treasures it, but recalls that Iago has asked her many times for it. When the opportunity comes, Emilia steals it for her husband. When Desdemona questions Emilia about the handkerchief Emilia answers with a lie "I know not, madam"(Act 3 Scene 4 Line 24). Even after Desdemona explains the importance of the handkerchief. Emilia still sticks to her lie. Emilia knows that she has found the handkerchief and has given it to Iago. Even during Othello's questioning she remains silent. Act 3 Scene 4 shows Emilia's cynicism towards men as she asks Desdemona about her husband's display of temper. Emilia believes that no women can be certain of her husband; to her, all men are egocentric-"they are all but stomachs and we all but food; they eat us hungry, and when they are full they belch usScene 4. In Act 4 Scene 4 Emilia is given a chance to redeem herself when she has the opportunity to speak of Desdemona's faithfulness towards Othello. Emilia is firm in her answers; she has never seen anything improper nor heard anything that would make her suspect the Desdemona has been less then faithful. In Act 4 Scene 2 you also learn of Emilia's intelligence. She is able to spot that some man is setting Desdemona up in a web of lies. This person ironically being her husband Iago. In the last scene you see Emilia's strength as a women. Emilia ignores her husband's command to be quiet and go home. Loudly so everyone can hear her, she curses Iago and states that "perhaps she will never go home".
The dissimilarities of these three women are that Desdemona is being accused of an act which she could never take part in. Although, Bianca and Emilia both are admitted cheaters. The idea is unthinkable for Desdemona, She swears that she could never make love with another man. Emilia answers Desdemona by saying she would never betray Iago in this heavenly light-that is, she herself prefers to make love in the dark. Emilia had illusions about men or love or marriage vows. Emilia explains that there are many unfaithful wives and she blames it on the husband. She insists that wives should have the right to do whatever men do. That is where these three women all come into common. They live in a society where women can not do the thing men do. But, these three women live by their own wills. By being a mistress, by cheating and by marrying a moor. These three women felt that a wife should not be judged nor treated with less respect than a man. Emilia especially speaks strongly on this issue because of her years living as Iago's wife. Too long has she seen hypocrisy and his faults which she as a women could be censored for committing.
