Role of racism in Othello - Essay Example

At this point Emilia is but a pawn of her wicked husband. We soon are given more insight into her personality and motivations. She makes it clear that she has a low opinion of men in general to her mistress when discussing the handkerchief. Desdemona is suggesting that Othello would never mistreat her by being jealous. But Emilia responds, “Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They are all stomachs, and we all but food: They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us. (Shakespeare, 1136) This is our first indication that Emilia may be more than a puppet for her husband.

These words reveal a woman, weary of her lot and skeptical about men in general, but not specifically about the motivations of her husband. The real strength of Emilia is revealed upon her conversation with Othello. He his suspicion with her, the suspicion that Iago has placed in his heart. Emilia is defiantly opposed to what Othello is saying. Not only this, she is the one that suspects that someone is manipulating Othello and she tells him so by saying, The Moor’s abused by some villainous knave, Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow: - O heaven that such companions thou’dst unfold, And put in every honest hand a whip To lash the rascals naked through the world Even from the east to the west!

(Shakespeare, 1142) This is all the more powerful because these feelings are expressed right in front of Iago who does no small amount of squirmingg, telling Emilia to lower her voice and to go inside. Two final instances of Emilia’s strength occur before the play’s tragic ending. In private with Desdemona, she reveals her true heart concerning right and wrong and shows why she is so passionate about defending her husband. She explains that. Two final instances of Emilia’s strength occur before the play’s tragic ending.

  In private with Desdemona, she reveals her true heart concerning right and wrong and shows why she is so passionate about defending her husband.  She explains that she would surely cuckold her husband if it would make him king of the world.  He would surely understand and accept this in exchange for such a prize.  Desdemona disagrees, but Emilia explains that a woman needs to exercise power when she can, and even if it is to gain a good thing by bad means, then exercise power you must.

  This reveals Emilia to be the most Machiavellian character, even more so than Iago who is driven by blind revenge not a desire for power. Her final, powerful act of bringing the tragic truth to light gives her final power over her husband.  As she reveals her husband to be a liar of the worst sort he draws his sword.  Gratiano scolds him, “Fie!  Your sword upon a woman?” (Shakespeare, 1149).  This is significant because it shows that at this point, Emilia has become the most powerful of all the characters because she is the only one that possesses the truth and she is going to tell it to everyone.

  She dies at the hands of her husband, but not before she has once again revealed Iago to be a scoundrel, Othello to be a fool and Desdemona to be virtuous and true.  Emilia is a powerful, strong character because she was the first to see through the lies and the one that revealed the truth even though the cost was her life. (Shakespeare, 1149).