Emilia Flashcards
Othello asks Iago to allow his wife (Emilia) to attend to Desdemona when he is away. The imperative verb ‘‘let’’ delegates all of Emilia’s power to Iago who is in full control of Emilia’s actions. It is not at all questioned whether emilia wants to go to Cyprus or not - she must and her husband has made the decision for her. Othello asks Iago, not Emilia for her to come to Cyprus to tend to Desdemona.
Othello to Iago = ‘‘I prithee let thy wife attend on her’’
Emilia lets Cassio in and says she will put him where he can speak freely to Desdemona. She somewhat catalyses the progression of Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship which feeds into Othello’s suspicion that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.
'’Pray you come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time/ To speak your bosom freely.’’
Emilia steals the all important handkerchief as instructed by Iago - she obeys him. Emilia appears suspicious of Iago’s need to acquire the handkerchief but stole it anyway.
'’What will you do with’t that you have been so earnest/ To have me filch it?’’
Another enlightening view. Jealousy was seen as a pest that infests into the victim’s mind. This detaches blame from those who become terrorists due to being jealous i.e Othello. Jealous is repeated.
'’But jealous souls will not be answered to;/ They are not ever jealous for the cause,/ But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster/ Begot upon itself, born on itself.’’
Emilia defends Desdemona’s honour after Othello kills her. Emilia demonstrates confidence and fearlessness considering that she is confronting the person who just killed her ‘‘mistress’’. The colour imagery that Emilia uses connotes evil and negativity which accurately summarises Othello’s nature. However it could also be interpreted that Emilia is referring to Othello’s race, this aligns with the racist aspect of the play which is present throughout. We know that Emilia’s husband is comfortable making racist comments to authoritative figures ‘‘Barbary horse’’ so perhaps they both share this view. religious language Angel vs devil = contrast
'’O the more angel she,/ And you the blacker devil’’
What could be a feminist reading of Emilia?
A feminist reading of Emilia could interpret Emilia asa feminist because she views women as equal to men.
What could be a psychoanalytical reading of Emilia?
'’We have to acknowledge the fact that wives are required to be obedient to understand Emilia’s handing over of the handkerchief’’ M.Simpson. Emilia’s expectations of being a good wife somewhat excuses her behaviour of being submissive towards Iago, her husband.
What does A.C Bradely say about Emilia?
'’She nowhere shows signs of a bad heart’’
'’Her stupidity in this matter is gross, but it is stupidity and nothing worse’’
What does M.Simpson say about Emilia?
'’Emilia underscores Desdemona’s lack of knowledge in the world’’
'’She dies in service of the truth’’
'’We have to acknowledge the fact that wives are required to be obedient to understand Emilia’s handing over the handkerchief’’
What does Bayley say about Emilia?
’‘[Emilia is] the mouthpiece of repressed femininity’’
