Emilia

• "To wager she is honest, lay down my soul at stake."


  - The word "honest" is a motif throughout the play and was used to describe Iago's character throughout. This is tragic, as the repeated use of "honest" has now been morphed to represent Iago's version of "honesty" - false honesty and duplicity. Arguably, this is also a reflection of Othello's morphed view of honesty - the tragic replacement of Desdemona's truth and honesty with Iago's honesty which leads to Desdemona's wrongful killing. THE WORLD HAS BEEN DEVALUED TO DESCRIBE INSINCERITY.

  - In stating that she would "lay down [her] soul at stake", Emilia shows her undying loyalty and devotion to her mistress. Not only is she willing to sacrifice her life and become martyred for her mistress, it is also evidence that Desdemona is clearly honest. If Emilia had doubts about Desdemona's loyalty, she would not offer to die a martyr.

  - Sorela love; the only true love experienced by Desdemona and Emilia are the love from each other. Shakespeare is suggesting that female love transcends romantic love, as often, females become victims of male toxicity and patriarchy.

  - Shows the strength of female love to which is non-existent amongst men. The love Othello has been fed with from Iago was fake and duplicitous love. This further shows the purity of women; their purity and innocence being sacrificed at the hands of male egoism.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "I will be hanged if some eternal villain, have not devised this slander."

  
  

  "That Moor's abused by some most villainous knave, some scurvy fellow."


  - This is a shocking statement. Throughout the play we only see Emilia as being obedient towards her husband and desperate for his love, yet, for once, she is given an active voice and the benefit of the doubt. We see that she is smart enough to be the only character that is close to discerning her husband's duplicity and plan.

  - This is tragic however, as Emilia figures out Iago's plan when it is too late. When Emilia finds out of Iago's duplicity Desdemona is already killed and the murder cannot be undone. Desdemona is already a sacrificial animal at the hands of Iago and Othello.

  - Foreshadows Iago being exposed.

  - Emilia discovers too late that Iago is the "scurvy fellow".

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "My husband? My husband? My husband says that she was false?"

  - Othello tells Emilia the reason as to why he killed Desdemona. Iago had told him that Desdemona was false.

  - Upon hearing of this, Emilia enters a state of panic and shock, repeatedly questioning the fact that "my husband?" told Othello such lies.

  - Emilia's repetition of "my husband" is evident of Emilia's manipulation and the success of the manipulation of other characters at Iago's hands. Emilia was unable to discern that her own husband was the one in charge of this evil act.

  - Tragic; Emilia had suspicions about the plan and was close to finding out it was her husband who devised it, but did not go forward with her suspicions. Missed opportunity & fate - Iago is unstoppable and Desdemona was meant to suffer.

  - Everyone has been duped by Iago.

  - We feel angry that Emilia did not discover the truth later on.

  - Foreshadows Emilia's wrongful and sacrificial killing at the hands of her husband's duplicity. HE IS SO EVIL.

  - It could be argued that like Desdemona and Othello, Emilia did not know Iago well enough.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "You told a lie, an odious, damned lie; upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie."

  - Emilia's realisation of Iago's true character.

  - Iago can no longer hide; his true character is revealed at the time when his plan has reached its end. He successfully manages to get Desdemona killed.

  - It is tragic that Iago's duplicity was found out when it was too late. Creates feelings of anger.

  - Shows the extent of female solidarity against the entangled lies in the patriarchy.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "That handkerchief thou speaks of, I found by fortune and give my husband."


  - Iago's true nature is revealed.

  - Emilia makes it known to Othello that he has been tricked and duped by Iago's ability to prey on character's weaknesses and use them as pawns.

  - In this case, Emilia's devotion and duty to her husband as a loyal and dutiful wife, led to her use as a tragic pawn in Iago's plan.

  - "My wayward husband hath wooed me to steal it."

  - Tragic; highlights the victimisation of women at the hands of men, even when they follow their roles and duty as a wife. Women suffer at the hands of the patriarchy - foreshadowing Emilia's death too.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA
• "Moor, she was chaste."

  "So speaking as I think, I die."

  - Error of judgement about Desdemona, as a result of Othello's manipulation by Iago.

  - The truth about the Desdemona is revealed too late.

  - Undying loyalty and sorela love. Female love transcends any other type of love in this tragedy which shows the mistreatment of female characters and their exploitation. Victims of patriarchy.

  - Emilia as a martyr. We admire her.

  
  

  SAID BY EMILIA