Emilia is a typical wife who would submit to her husband’s will, a faithful servant who would serve and defend her mistress should the need to do so arise and a classic Shakespearean woman character who would manifest her peculiarity should be given a scene to demonstrate such a trait. As the play unfolds, Emilia’s respect and loyalty to her mistress is drawn by the way she speaks to her and as she obeys each of the latter’s command. Her desire for freedom on self- expression is exemplified as she extends Desdemona as to how the mistress would regard things concerning her husband. The following dialogs from Act III, scene 4 prove that.
Emil.: Pray heaven t be state-matters, as you think, and no conception nor no jealous concerning you.
Des. : Alas the day! I never gave him cause.
Emil. : But jealous souls will not be answer’d so; They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they are jealous: ‘tis a monster begot upon itself, born on itself.
Des. : Heaven, keep that monster from Othello’s mind!
Eml. : Lady, amen (III.4.745).
Emilia is observed to show great concern towards Desdemona and prepared to defend her as needed. When she is asked by Othello on Desdemona’s dealings with Cassio, she provides a straight and an honest answer by saying:
“I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest, lay down my soul at stake:
If you think other, remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.
If any wretch has put this in your head, let heaven requite it with
the serpent’s curse! For, if she be not honest, chaste, and true,
there’s no man happy; the purest of their wives is foul as slander” (IV.2.748).
Here, Emilia does not just justify Desdemona’s faithfulness to the latter’s husband but displays her wisdom as well. Her point of view goes beyond what is expected of her as a maid-in-waiting.
When Emilia steals Desdemona’s handkerchief, it is not her desire of owning what her mistress owns which sways her. It is Othello’s command which makes her do what she never thinks of doing. Further, she is ignorant of her husband’s intention of persuading her to stealing the object which is so important to both Othello and Desdemona. As she finds the handkerchief having unconsciously been dropped by Desdemona, Emilia says:
“I am glad I have found this napkin: This was her first remembrance from the Moor:
My wayward husband hath a hundred times woo’d me to steal it; but she so loves the token , for he conjured her he should ever keep it, that she reserves it evermore about her
to kiss and talk to. I’ll have the work ta’en out, and give ‘t Iago: what he will do with it
Heaven knows, not I; I nothing but to please his fantasy” (III.3.741).
Emilia is compelled by her social and marital status to submit to her husband’s authority despite the latter’s unjust and insolent remarks of her as proven by the following lines:
“You rise to play and go to bed to work” (II.1.732)
“A thing for me? It is a common thing _... To have a foolish wife” (III.3.741).
Iago delivered the first line before his wife’s mistress, an act which explicitly tells of his low regard to women, specifically, his wife. Despite her husband’s hostility Emilia never fail to show him how much she values their marriage and her husband’s reputation. Nonetheless, there are dialogs in the play which sound interesting and may enable the readers and the audience to think that Emilia somehow practices infidelity and that Iago’s suspicions happen after all. See the following lines from Act IV, scene 3, p. 751. Here, Desdemona asks Emilia if she would practice infidelity. See how she answers the question.
“In troth, I think I should; and undo’t when I had done. Marry I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any
petty exhibition; but, for the whole world, - why who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for’t” (IV.3.751).
And when asks about the accountability of the deed, she responds,
“But I do think it is their husband’s fault. If wives do fall: say that they slack their
duties, and pour our treasures into foreign laps, or else break out in peevish jealousies
Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, or scant our former having in despite;
Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace, yet have we some revenge. 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”…(IV.3.751).
These answers by Emilia show that she is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary wit. Had it been Desdemona who delivered the lines, the intensity would not have been felt but considering that it was Emilia, the maid-in-waiting, who did it the message, became distinctive. The dialogue paradoxically defines the women featured in the presentation. Emilia’s emotional strength surfaces as she tries to prevent Othello from killing Desdemona. She even confronts the Moor after the death scene and calls for help. The trait is intensified as she herself dares her husband – Iago to speak the truth of his involvement in her masters’ predicament.
“Disprove this villain, if thou be’st a man: He says thou told’st him that his wife was
false : I know thou didst not, thou’rt not such a villain: Speak, for my heart is full”(V.2.755).
When she decides to part from her husband because of his villainy that validates the fact , Emilia has not done anything wrong. She together with her masters and Cassio are just victims of Iago’s revenge. Her husband’s fury overcomes her love and faithfulness for him. By the moment that
she finds the handkerchief which Iago told him to steal from her mistress after the couple’s death, she instantly realize her contribution to the crime and that brings her despair.
Nevertheless, three has already been dead and finding out the truth would never bring them back to life nor would make her go back to Iago’s side for before she could make any move Iago stabs
her from the back. So tragic is the death of a woman who has remained loyal and true to the people whom she loves. Emilia’s role is not as profound as her mistress yet she leaves a mark. Her pieces of advice make women readers aware of their right as wives and as a person apart from being her husband’s wife. Through Emilia, Shakespeare once again has proven the strength and wisdom of women which during his time were deprived.
References :
Clark, W.G. and Wright, W.A. ed. (1858). The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: All
the plays, all the poems. USA : Nelson Doubleday Inc. (pp. 724-757).
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