Emilia’s Role

Throughout the play of Othello, the character of Emilia goes through an important change. At the beginning of the play her character is very weak but as the plot thickens, her character shows herself to be strong.

Emilia starts out as an insignificant character. She is very simple and does not ask questions when he husband asks her to do things. At one point Iago, her husband, asks her to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief. Emilia knows that this handkerchief is important to Desdemona because Othello gave it to her as a gift. “I am glad I have found this napkin, / my wayward husband hath a hundred times/ Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token/ and give it to Iago. What will he do with it/ Heaven knows, not I. / I nothing but to please his fantasy” (3.3.297-306). Emilia admits that this is a strange task but does it anyways without questioning.  Stealing from her lady without having a reason does not paint Emilia out to be strong or caring.

As the play progresses, Emilia starts standing up for herself and standing up to Iago. Her feelings toward her husband change and she is no longer willing to do everything to please him. She even talks about cheating on her husband because she says that husbands cheat on their wives and why should the standards be different. She does not openly disclose whether or not she has cheated on Iago but she hints that she would. In the last act of Othello, Emilia shows herself to be strong and caring for Desdemona. She tells everyone what her evil husband did, even though Iago is screaming for her to shut up. “No, I will speak as liberal as the north. / Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,/ All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak” (5.2.233-235). Emilia defies him and tells everyone that is was he who poisoned Othello’s mind and caused Desdemona’s death.  

                The development of Emilia’s character from weak to strong is significant. She is the one who opens everyone’s eyes to the truth. If she was not able to grow and stand up to herself and also for Desdemona, Desdemona would have died with people thinking she was unfaithful. This makes her growth as a character very significant.