Emilia

• ‘My wayward husband'
• Iago's derogatory treatment of Emilia

  • Speaks in Interrogatives "why, what's that to you?/what handkerchief"
  • Iago is the dominant one in the relationship
  • Interrogatives coupled with stage directions of "snatched" shows a complete lack of gratefulness even though Emilia took the handkerchief simply to please him
  • Uses Imperatives (commands) of 'go', 'leave me' to order her about
  • Emilia immediately exists to be an obedient wife typical of a Jacobean wife, cementing the idea that their marriage is not based off of love
• ‘I am glad I have found this napkin’

  In this scene the audience is exposed to Emilia's desire to appease her husbands at any cost, which is typical of a Jacobean woman.
• ‘I know not, madam’


  Dramatic irony. Emilia deceives Desdemona as she knows where the handkerchief is and has delivered it to Iago. She values her role as Iago’s wife over being an attendant
• 'foolish wife'


  Iago treats Desdemona with contempt and calls her a ‘foolish wife’ when he gives her the handkerchief and calls her a ‘good wench’ but his overall treatment does not improve
• Iago being against women in general

  • He is not against Emilia specifically, but rather women in general as he sees them as no more than their ‘insatiable appetites’ and other things that mock Othello for his more progressive relationship with Desdemona.
  • Emilia is not happy in married life, but she still loves Iago or has been conditioned to love him
• ‘[men] are all but stomachs and we all but food;

  They eat us hungerly, and when they are full

  They belch us’

  Euphemism Emilia asserts to show the nature of Elizabethan men being predatory and treating woman as commodities to be consumed and digested until their needs are satisfied. Emilia takes a cynical yet realistic outlook on women’s position in society. She also has a disillusioned view of marriage as a product of Iago’s treatment.
• ‘They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they are jealous’


  Emilia suggest that jealousy is not created, rather it is drawn out of people and already exists. Presents it as a monster that brings about its own birth.
• Emilia speaks in free verse- Act 4, Scene 3


  demonstrating her free flowing thought due to being by patriarchy for so long. However, women can only be disobedient and speak in such ways in private.
• Emilia as the foil to Desdeoma


  Emilia acts as a foil to her mistress. She is a sharp-tongues woman whose cynicism makes her marriage to the ambitious and unscrupulous Iago plausible, her nature contrasts with Desdemona's loving innocence. Though Emilia does not suspect Iago's motives, their marriage is visibly unhappy. She stoically receives his insults, but when alone with Desdemona she speaks out against patriarchy, declaring in act 4 scene 3 that she would commit adultery if given the chance. Despite her unhappiness, Desdemona rejects this idea firmly
• ‘They slack their duties and pour our treasures into foreign laps’


  Emilia speaks out against men having relations with whoever they want with little backlash and women being shamed for it. She suggest that she herself would have an affair. But if women do the same they would be ‘striked’
• 'Strumpet’

  Contradicts Emilia’s previous feminist message as she degrades Bianca. A modern audience would highlight that Emilia’s feminist advocations are elitist and only applies to women with a respectable, high status in society like Desdemona.
• ‘I obey him, but not now’ ‘I will ne’er go home’


  Emilia disobeys Iago and shares the truth. She understand the finality in this moment and says she will not go home.
• ‘The handkerchief thou speak'st of I found by fortune and did give my husband'

  As the play comes to a close, Emilia’s great importance becomes clear. Emilia is the truth-teller, the sole character capable of unravelling Iago’s schemes. In this way, Emilia represents the play’s heart. She is the one who sees clearly amid the confusion created by Iago.
• ‘You told a lie, an odious damned lie: upon my soul a lie, a wicked lie’


  Extreme repetition of lie emphasises her outrage for Iago’s sins.
• ‘Iago stabs Emilia from behind’


  physical representation of Iago’s treachery and deception as she cannot prepare for his attack.