Emilia (Othello)

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Emilia is a character in William Shakespeare's Othello. She is a servant and companion to Desdemona and the wife of the play's villain Iago.

Emilia is a comparatively minor character for much of the play; however, she serves to provide a strong contrast to the romantic and obedient Desdemona, demonstrating that she is both intelligent and distinctly cynical, especially on matters relating to men and marriage - her speech to Desdemona listing the faults and flaws of the male sex in Act IV Scene III is a good example of this (though she does admit that women also have "frailty, as men have"). She also states in the same scene that she would be willing to commit adultery for a sufficiently high price - this shows her cynical and worldly nature in sharp contrast to Desdemona, who seems almost unable to believe that any woman could contemplate such an act.

Throughout the play, Iago uses Emilia's close friendship with Desdemona to gain access to her and, in particular, asks her to steal Desdemona's handkerchief, which he subsequently drops in Cassio's house and later uses this as evidence to convince Othello that Cassio has been with Desdemona. Although Emilia has a close friendship with Desdemona, she agrees to steal the handkerchief for him and later even lies to Desdemona, saying she doesn't know where it is; it is clear she feels a "divided duty" in this matter between her friend and her husband. She is, however, entirely ignorant of Iago's plans until the very end of the play.

Iago states on two separate occasions during the play that he suspects Emilia of infidelity with both Othello and Cassio, and this is sometimes suggested as a possible motive for his actions; however, there is little if any evidence within the play to suggest that his suspicions have any basis in reality.

After Desdemona's murder, Emilia first challenges Othello, disregarding his threats towards her, and then, after learning that her own husband is responsible in part for her murder, denounces his actions and reveals her own part in stealing the handkerchief and passing it on; for this she is stabbed by her husband and dies during the final act.