Through out the play Emilia could be considered the ideal women of the time. Until the final scene, Emilia generally obeys her husband and keeps her opinions to herself, only sharing them with Desdemona in private. As well she is devoted to her husband, like a good wife should be, even though it becomes evident that it is a loveless marriage. These qualities are shown in the following quote:
“My wayward husband hath a hundred times
Woo’d me to steal it; but she loves the token…
…What he will do with it heaven knows, not I:
I nothing but to please his fantasy.” (3.3.294-295,300-301)
Emilia speaks these lines after she has picked up the handkerchief Desdemona dropped. The handkerchief was the Moor’s first gift to Desdemona and Desdemona treasures it, Emilia acknowledges this fact but it does not seem to waver her in her decision to give it to Iago; this shows her devotion to him. Her devotion to her husband creates the turning point of the tragedy, she steals the handkerchief --- which becomes a symbol of Desdemona’s supposed unfaithfulness --- giving Iago the opportunity to place it in Cassio’s lodging. She also states that she does not know why Iago wants her to steal it; here the audience sees how she will obey him with out questioning his demands. She then says that she will do anything to please his “fantasy”, it is implied that since Emilia cannot seem to please her husband’s sexual fantasy she needs to compensate in other ways. As the audience realizes further into the play, Iago appears completely indifferent about his wife, only using her as a tool to link his plans together. This is a reflection of Iago’s principles of women as being foolish, whorish creatures made only to please the men’s sexual urges and to serve them. Shakespeare appears to have created this relationship to appeal to the mainly male audience of the time. As well, Emilia’s honorable qualities of honesty and devotion to Desdemona in the final scene are greatly contrasted by Iago’s selfish and evil qualities. In the final scene Emilia protects Desdemona’s honor after her death by vouching for her innocence. She says “You told a lie, an odius damned lie / She false with Cassio?”, even now she is a ware of social conduct when she says “’Tis proper I obey him, but not now.” She understands that to be good wife she must hold her tongue but her natural morality will not allow her to. This violation costs her dearly, Emilia’s stunning conviction of her own husband as the evil mastermind behind the murder results in Iago’s killing her. Emilia tends to act on her emotions and does before she thinks, which is contrasted by Iago who plans out every action he takes; this is notable in the final scene, when Emilia acts on her anger at Iago and does not think that she could be killed. Emilia is a foil to the wicked Iago who cold-bloodedly kills his wife.
Othello and Desdemona’s relationship is central to the plot of the tragedy and Desdemona is central to the characterization of Othello. At the beginning of the play, Othello and Desdemona share a very progressive relationship, filled with mutual respect. “Send for the lady to the Sagittary \ And let her speak of me before her father,” (1.3.115-116) Othello says. This shows that they share a very sophisticated relationship where Othello trust’s Desdemona and value’s her as a person. This reflects Othello’s civilized and trusting manner, since he is putting the future of his and Desdemona’s marriage in her hands. Before leaving for Cyprus, Othello asks the Duke if Desdemona could come with him because he wants the company of her mind “not to please the palate of [his] appetite” (1.3.259), this demonstrates his respect for Desdemona as an intelligent person not just a creature made to please his sexual urges. Seeing these qualities at the start of the play, makes the changes to Othello’s character so much more prominent. Throughout the play Desdemona remains unchanged while Othello’s character changes greatly. After Othello strikes her, Desdemona says “I have not dserv’d this” (4.1.238), She says this not just because she didn’t deserve it but because she does not understand why he would do it. Even though she does not understand why Othello would hit her she still obeys him with the respect that she had for him since the beginning. Her respect and virtuous nature is also shown by her consistent attempts to justify Othello’s behavior, she states that it must be “something sure of state” or “some unhatch’d practice/ Made demonstratable here in Cyprus” (3.4.134-135) When Othello tells her to leave, Dsdemona replies by stating that she “will not stay to offend [Othello]” (4.1.244); by saying this she submits to the fact that she had done something wrong to offend him. Othello is used to comment on the presence of jealousy in society. As the changes in Othello’s character become more extreme, they are emphasized my Desdemona who has not changed. Until the very end Desdemona keeps her naivety and virtue, which allows the audience to experience the full scope of Othello’s jealous wrath.
Through analyzing the relationships of Othello and Desdemona, Iago and Emilia, and Cassio and Bianca, it is apparent that the women in Shakespeare’s Othello are mainly used to characterize the men of the play. Although the women lack power they do not lack importance since they allow the audience to have a greater understanding of the male characters. The relationships they share with the women they love are the reflections of the men’s values and outlooks on life, the women act as a foil to the men. According to Venetian society of the time women were unintelligent, however it is the women who speak the most sense through out the play. It is as if Shakespeare’s tragedy is a social commentary on the actions of men in society at the time.
Roles of Women in Shakespeare’s Othello
Essay