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Emilia in Othello
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A full, in-depth A* essay plan exploring the character of Emilia in Shakespeare's "Othello", for the Pearson Edexcel A-Level English Literature.
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By: mischacarr1 • 6 months ago
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EmiliaIntroduction
- Within her critical reception there is disagreement over her nature Wheale – challenging to interpret due to
variation between quarto and folio (quarto published first but folio includes willow scene and includes
subtle differences in speech which change our critical interpretation)
- Often seen as a dramatic foil to Desdemona (emphasising her purity and Emilia’s controversy)
Relationship with Desdemona –
- Arguable that they have a deeper relationship than we may first imagine. One of Emilia’s last requests was
to “lay me by my mistress’s side” – burial next to someone else is traditionally romantic, reserved for
husband and wife. Shows eternal devotion to each-other Women should be loyal to husbands (seen through
Desdemona) but Emilia dedicates her last words to Desdemona instead “she was chaste”
- Willow scene only included in folio, not quarto, making her critical interpretation challenging. Willow
scene enables us to access emotional side of Emilia with Desdemona shown through high emotional state
(singing) - both sing Willow – united in their emotional state (only included in folio, not quarto, making her
critical interpretation challenging)
Dramatic foil to Desdemona – Saunders “polarise Desdemona and Emilia”
1) Attitudes to men
- Emilia blames men for women’s sin “it is their husbands’ faults if wives do fall” but Desdemona doesn’t
“think there is any such woman” who could commit adultery
- Emilia belittles men to animals “eating [women] hungrily, and when they are full, they belch [them]” but
Desdemona lies on deathbed blaming herself for Othello’s fault – “I, myself”
- Despite Desdemona’s loyalty and Emilia’s defiance, both die as a result of toxic masculinity (Shakespeare
presents futility of female defiance)
2) Last words
- Desdemona’s are self-denigrating and false “I, myself” – shows loyalty and reinforces wedding vows where
woman have to “honour and obey” husbands (willing to sacrifice soul for Othello) but Emilia tells truth.
Desdemona is headstrong
- Highly ironic that the supposed wife of the devil is going to heaven for telling the truth on her death bed
whereas a figure of innocence is going to hell for lying
Defiant and independent
- In Giraldi, was fearsome and weak yet in Othello, she is defiant, holds controversial views and is feisty,
possibly to appeal to the temperament of Elizabeth I (physically frail but strong in spirit)
- Not scared of Iago – accuses Desdemona of being untruthful and she replies “you have little cause to say
so” – feminist figure of play, resists patriarchy
- Worrall - “pluck not pulchritude” as they are played by men (Shakespeare hints that it is only men who
should be able to possess wit and charisma)
- Dominates end of willow scene with controversial “it is their husbands’ faults if wives do fall”, and if men
cheat on wives, its only right they seek revenge. Shakespeare subtly criticises Emilia’s controversial
opinions and defiance to society – although she is strong-willed and defiant, she is still submissive in the
face of the brutal patriarchy when she meets her demise
- Speech (“their wives have sense like them, they see and smell”) similar to Shylock – Shakespeare uses
pathos to appeal to audience to communicate message (MOV written 4 years before Othello – figure who
represents unfair and unjust marginalisation – comparison to Emilia transfers this message to women and
reinforcing the effect of her emotional and pathos-evoking speech) Wheale – moving speech about double
standards and the “essential humanity of woman” acts as a feminist figure responding to society like
Shylock does
Conclusion
- Within her critical reception there is disagreement over her nature Wheale – challenging to interpret due to
variation between quarto and folio (quarto published first but folio includes willow scene and includes
subtle differences in speech which change our critical interpretation)
- Shakespeare “polarises Desdemona and Emilia” (Saunders) – dramatic foils to highlight each-other’s
characteristics (E encourages D’s innocence, D encourages E’s defiance)
- Strong, deep relationship – only true, pure and positive friendship throughout play
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