Emilia’s Contemporary Stand

Emilia’s Contemporary Stand

In equation with the Elizabethan era, Shakespeare offers us a male dominated society in his renowned tragedy, Othello. Consequently, this definitely persuades a negative attitude and demeanor towards the women of the times. The female characters in the play: Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca; play relevant roles in contributing to one’s understanding of this exhausted Elizabethan view. In contrast to the larger portion of the play, Emilia, spouse to the scandalous Iago, takes an opinionated stand for Desdemona in relation to her wholesome gone sour relationship with the Moor of Venice, Othello. I recognize Emilia’s “Betrayal lecture” as a justified outlook in accordance with today’s period and events surrounding Desdemona’s and Othello’s fatal misunderstanding.

In Act IV, scene ii and iii, Emilia shows her contemporary views about relationships to the audience and talks to Desdemona while doing so. She believes that many men and women are commonly guilty of cheating and betrayal of their partner. At this point, Othello’s worries of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness have wholly increased, and he begins to accuse her of cheating on him. Desdemona then hopes Othello sees to her honesty and truthfulness of the matter. “I hope my noble lord esteems me honest” (Act IV, scene II line 67). Othello counters her begging by beginning his sarcasm and request for her to never have been born. He says, “O, ay. As summer flies are in the shambles,that quicken even with blowing. O Thou weed, Who art so lovely fair and smell’st so sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne’er been born!”(Act IV scene II lines 68-70)

As Desdemona constantly denies his accusations, Othello becomes very angry. He asks for her forgiveness (jokingly) and says “I took you for that cunning whore of Venice” (Act IV, scene ii, line 93). Desdemona is left mad by Othello’s ridicule and listens to Emilia’s contrasting attitude.

As Othello and Lodovico leave the scene, the Moor commands Desdemona to exit Emilia’s presence and exclaims, “get you to bed on th’ instant.(Act IV scene iii line 7). Emilia fervently disagrees with Othello and graces us with her pro- female attitudes once again by saying, “ I would you had never seen him”, with Desdemona agreeing light-heartedly as well.(Act IV scene iii lines 19-20) .

Emilia displays to Desdemona a helping hand and says to leave Othello if she is so hurt by his “understandings”. “…Having the world for your labor, ‘tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right” She is basically explaining to Desdemona to leave Othello for his ludicrous antics. I can’t fathom a woman with a “strong backbone”, continue to withstand such a prolonged quarrel. Continuing with her dejection of Othello, Emilia explains her infamous phrase, “The world’s a huge thing. It is a great price for a small vice.” (Act IV scene III 70-71) Indirectly speaking, Emilia translates that the world holds many things to discourage one’s self (Desdemona) over a such a diminutive and blind love.

As Desdemona naively states that she does not believe there is such a woman, Emilia responds:

To th’ vantage as would store the world they played for.

But I do think