Emilia Flashcards
World-weary/cynicism
“they are all but stomachs, and we all but food. They. eat us hungrely, and when they are full, they belch us out”
Unlike Desdemona, Emilia expects men to merely use women
“the ills we do, their ills instruct us so”
Unlike Desdemona no qualms about saying foul language “he called her a whore”
Unforgiving as Desdemona says “heaven pardon him” she says a “halter pardon him”
Moral relativeness
confesses, to compromise morals under the right conditions
“I would not do such thing for a joint ring….but for the whole world”
Justifies this by claiming that “ it is a great price for a small vice”
and cynically says “who would not make her husband a cuckhold to make him monarch”
Familiar with criminal Ideation
suspects foul play from Othello as she says s
Prone to a moral lapse
Deliberately steals the handkerchief from Desdemona in full knowledge of the significance of. it. As she says “this was her first remembrance of the moor”, she so loves the token”
As she commits theft she briefly reflects that “This poor lady, she’ll run mad when she shall lack it” still steals it though
she mat have felt justified to steal it as her husband “hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it”
Should have moral courage not to
Sense of justice
has a conscience and sense of justice
Brands Othello as a devil “ And you the blacker devil” while saying Desdemona “was heavenly true”
She rounds on Iago condemning him” You told a lie, an odious damned lie. Upon my should a wicked lie”
For all her flaws , Emilia shows that she has a innate sense of justice and an abhorrence for justice : lay thee down and roar, for thou hast killed the sweetest innocent that e’er did lift up an eye”
Wracked by guilt
She exclaims “O God, O heavenly God”
Acknowledges her share in responsibility for the death of Desdemona gives her courage to defy her husband
“I will not charm my tongue, I am bound to speak”
” “Tis proper I obey him, but not now . Perchance Iago I will never go home”
