Used as a pawn by iago in his pschological warefare against othello emilia signs her own death warrant through defending desdemonaĬatalyst for iagos plot - affair with othello Life or death importance of obeying husband in emilia - knwoing the premium placed on female obedience by society at the time we can appreciate the risk emilia is taking Women as helpless victims to male jealousy 'monster begot upon itself born upon itself' Immense pressure placed on women and the risks they face becuase of their isolation in wider society Women can be innocent and still be disgraced - women have no control over their lives - men dictact narrativeĪ wife can be as doting and loyal as desdemona or as outspoken and cynical as smilia and still suffer the same fate womans reputation at the mercy of mens whims and fancies Reputation as a patriarchal tool used to control and demean women her resignation to the reality of male jealousy and greed, depiciting it as a cruel inevitability This story is the story not of Othello, but rather the story of Iago and how he plays the other characters, which is the reason Iago is one of literatures greatest villans.Women murdered for adulterly regardless of their guiltĮmilia exposes the treatment of women as something destructive and entrenched in lust Iago is left as a prisoner of Cassio, to live with what he did. Othello then kills himself and proceeds to die next to Desdamona and Emilia. One must wonder why Othello does not kill Iago in a fit of rage, but he must be commended for his action. Othello does not kill Iago, he says that Iago is the devil, and the devil cannot be killed.

When Iago learns he has been discovered, he turns to real cowardness and stabs his own wife, commiting the same sin as Othello. When she reveals Iago to Othello, Othello sends for Iago along with Cassio, Gratiano, Montano, and Lodovico.

Emilia is the only one who knows that Iago is to blame. ” Emilia blames Iago for all that has been done to Othello and Desdamona. It is ironic that Othello damns himself here, because a few lines later, Emilia blames Iago for Desdamonas death by saying: “If he say so may his pernicious soul rot half a grain a day! He lies to th’ heart. O, I were damned beneath all depths in hell but that I did proceed upon just grounds to this extremity. Othello and Iago’s wife, Emilia, argue in Act III Scene II Lines 142-161. Othello believes in the honesty of Iago untill the bitter end of the play. Iago calls himself trust worthy in Act II Scene I Line 196, Iago is quoted saying “As honest as I am”, which everyone knows is far from true, but Iago is still capable of bringing Othello. In Othello’s mind, Iago was so trust worthy that anyone elses word would not be truth, and all of Othello’s faith was placed in Iago. Iago was capable of bringing Othello into killing his own wife without ever have Othello question his wife or anyone else. Othello takes every word Iago says like it is truth, and whenever he does question Iago, Iago’s quick wits keep him uncovered by weaving all his lies together. He plays on every man’s weakness, jealousy. Possibly the best work Iago does is on his boss, Othello. Iago also plays Roderigo into giving him money and leaving the picture so Iago can do his work. He plays Cassio into a confession of his dealings with Bianca to make it look like he is speaking about Desdamona, and into planting the handkerchief onto Cassio without making himself look suspicious.

Othello character analysis