Othello by Shakespeare - Book Report/Review Example

Othello The story of the play Othello involves the female protagonist, Desdemona and her maid Emilia whose characters are different in their own ways; helping to contribute to the plot and ultimately the tragic climax of the story. Their characters can be compared and contrasted in different ways. Both Desdemona and Emilia are wives of men who serve the military and are held in high esteem. They both are faithful to their husbands and also attempt to win their husband’s pleasure. Desdemona’s love and her commitment to be loyal to her husband can be seen at many instances. When Desdemona’s father had questioned her whether she willingly agreed for the marriage and where her loyalty would lie, she responds by saying: “I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband, And so much duty as my mother show'd, To you, preferring you before her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord.” (Shakespeare 27). Her sincerity for his love was seen when she confessed everything upon being asked by father and wanted to accompany Othello to the war, for she loved him for his character and her profession which was well suited for his valiance. This can be seen by her dialogue in Act 1 Scene 3: “That I did love the Moor to live with him, My downright violence and storm of fortunes, May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued… So that, dear lords, if I be left behind, A moth of peace, and he go to the war, the rites for which I love him are bereft me…” (Shakespeare 29-28). Her dialogues reflect her love for Othello was free from pretence or deceit; she was going to be there for him fulfilling whatever he desired. This is depicted by her dialogue: “Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul, What you would ask me, that I should deny.” (Shakespeare 80). She had genuinely cared for him, which is seen in her dialogue while she attended him when he had a headache “, Let me but bind it hard, within this hour, It will be well.” (Shakespeare 91). In the beginning her love and affection is reciprocated by Othello in greater measures. Similarly, Emilia is also faithful to her husband and attempts to win his heart as he is not affectionate towards her. Her loyalty can be grasped from the situation where Emilia decides to keep Desdemona’s handkerchief in an attempt to win her husband’s praise since her husband had been asking her to steal it from her mistress as depicted by her dialogue: “My wayward husband hath a hundred times, Woo'd me to steal it.” We can very well gauge her objective from her dialogue: “…And give't Iago: what he will do with it Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy.” (Shakespeare 91). However we can see Iago does not show any affection towards her and one of his “best” affectionate moments was when he called her a “good wench” when she brought the handkerchief to him. (Shakespeare 93). She is not seen frequenting any fondness like Desdemona does towards Othello, although she does love her husband Iago. Both of the characters differ in their opinions about men, marriage, adultery and a feminist approach. Emilia possesses a very biased approach towards men. When Othello furiously and repeatedly asks for the handkerchief, Desdemona without passing any judgment says that she has never seen her husband like this ever before. To which Emilia’s dialogue in reply tells us that that she has a very feminist approach and all men are similar. Her dialogue: “'Tis not a year or two shows us a man: They are all but stomachs, and we all but food; To eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband!” generalizes Emilia’s stance towards men, that they all treat women unfairly and make use of them whenever they want (Shakespeare 109). Her dialogue: “Something, sure, of state, Either from Venice, or some unhatch'd practice, Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him, Hath puddled his clear spirit: and in such cases Men's natures wrangle with inferior things.” shows Desdemona does not straightaway agree with Emilia’s thoughts since she does not hold any biased approach towards men and states that his anger and frustration may stem from his professional affairs which is disturbing him, thus he is venting out his anger about big issues on lesser important issues like these (Shakespeare 111). When Desdemona enquires Emilia that do women betray their husbands by asking her “tell me, Emilia,—That there be women do abuse their husbands” she replies that there are women like that. When Desdemona asks her that would she do such a thing she replied affirmative. Desdemona stresses in powerful words that she can never do such a thing, as seen in her dialogue: “Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong For the whole world.” (Shakespeare 138). On the other hand Emilia believes husbands who are unfaithful to their wives deserve the same and it is their fault if women cheat on them because women deserve the same rights too. She believes in equality. This is seen in her long monologue which includes the dialogues “But I do think it is their husbands' faults, If wives do fall… Let husbands know, Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell, And have their palates both for sweet and sour, As husbands have…else let them know, The ills we do, their ills instruct us so” (Shakespeare 139). This is one main point where their character largely differs. Both the characters have a similar attitude while helping others. Throughout the play, Desdemona is determined to solve Cassio’s problem by talking to Othello. This can be judged from her dialogue: “I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee, If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it, For thy solicitor shall rather die Than give thy cause away” (Shakespeare 76). Emilia also reassures Cassio that everything will be okay as seen in her dialogue: “Good morrow, good Lieutenant: I am sorry For your displeasure; but all will sure be well” and allows her to talk to Desdemona in this regard; “Pray you, come in; I will bestow you where you shall have time To speak your bosom freely.” (Shakespeare 74). Throughout we see Desdemona has a polite and gentle disposition, her speech does not get coarse at any point. While Othello is killing her, her dialogues are just a pleading attempt to let her go. Her dialogues include “No, by my life and soul!”, “Then Lord have mercy on me!”, “And have you mercy too! I never did Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio, But with such general warranty of heaven, As I might love: I never gave him token.” Whereas Emilia defiantly says “Thou hast not half that power to do me harm As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt! As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed—I care not for thy sword;” infront of the lurking fear of her death.”(Shakespeare 177). Previously we saw that while Othello deeply insulted Desdemona, she could not even utter of the word whore which Othello used for her. She asks “Am I that name, Iago?” instead of mentioning that word, upon which Iago asks “what name, fair lady?” and again Desdemona replies “Such as she says my lord did say I was.” Indicating of the subtle speech she uses. It was Emilia who tells Iago that she had been called a whore by Othello (Shakespeare 147). Though both the women have been shown to love their husbands in the beginning, the end does not remain so same. Even while being stifled to death, Desdemona does not utter a word that went against her husband instead she was just pleading for more time: “Kill me to-morrow: let me live to-night!”, “But half an hour!”, “But while I say one prayer!”. She does not blame her husband but dies while saying “Nobody; I myself. Farewell. Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!”. This justifies the true love which she had for Othello, which did not subside even while her love, her husband was killing her with his very own hands. On the other hand while Emilia uncovered her husband’s treachery she said “may his pernicious soul Rot half a grain a day!” (Shakespeare 170). Her guilt increased because she knew she was also responsible for this. She dies while fighting for her mistress that she was not to be blamed. Emilia did love her husband and was not unfaithful to him, she did take his orders but towards the end she could garner nothing but pure hatred for him. On one instance we can see that in order to please her husband, Desdemona lies to him. While Othello enquires about the prized handkerchief to be handed over to him, Desdemona gives him a different one. Othello asks for the handkerchief which had its historical importance. Desdemona replied that did she not have it. She did not intend on telling Othello that she had lost it. She lied to her husband when she said that she did not lose it. When Othello asked her “, It is not lost; but what an if it were?” Desdemona confidently says “I say, it is not lost.” When Othello asks her to bring it she replies “Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now” (Shakespeare 107). Desdemona here could have told the truth to his husband but she did lose the handkerchief, but she chose not to. On the other hand, Iago had constantly pushed Emilia to steal the handkerchief from her mistress Desdemona and she luckily found it dropped by Desdemona. Since she was making a constant attempt to win her husband’s heart and affection, she could have lied to him that she stole the handkerchief from her mistress just for him to earn more praise and appreciation. But she does not lie to him and tells him “No, 'faith; she let it drop by negligence. And, to the advantage, I, being here, took't up.” even though he had asked her “Hast stol'n it from her?” (Shakespeare 92). The greatest similarity they share is of being killed by their husbands who could not value their love and greater characteristics. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. "Act 1 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 27. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 1 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 27-29. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 4 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 139. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 76. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 5 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 177. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 4 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 147. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 1 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 27. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 1 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 91. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 3."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 93. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 4."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 109. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 4."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 111. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 4 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 138. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 1."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 76. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 4."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 74. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 5 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 177. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 4 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 147. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 5 Scene 2."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 170. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 4."Othello. Feedbooks, 1603. 107. Print. Shakespeare, William. "Act 3 Scene 1."Othello. 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