Othello Outline

Prompt 6: Take two characters and contrast them to one another. How does each character make the other more pronounced? How are they defined through their juxtaposition? 

Realist vs. Idealist

Thesis: The contradictions between Desdemona and Emilia are utilized to highlight their inherent and opposing character traits. While Desdemona portrays the image of the ideal, Christian wife, eternally worshiping her husband Othello, Emilia is able to observe the reality in situations, and she derives her actions based on honesty and morality.

I. Desdemona and Emilia are both married to powerful men; however, Desdemona is always obedient to Othello, whereas Emilia does not share the same sentiment of obligation and duty to her husband Iago.

                1. After Othello strikes her, Desdemona does not question the reasoning behind the abuse or protest the brutality. Instead she says, "I will not stay to offend you" (IV.1.277).

·         Desdemona is the obedient follower of Othello, and does not question his actions. She unquestioningly follows his orders, as if she was bound to him.

            2. Iago orders Emilia to cease talking as she is about to reveal his villainous actions. However, she replies, "I will not charm my tongue. I am bound to speak" (V.2.225).

·         Emilia willingly refuses to obey her husband. By publically rebuking the expectations of society, she is contrasting herself to the ever dutiful Desdemona. Whereas Desdemona is bound to Othello and her obligations as a wife, Emilia is bound to her obligation to tell the truth and honor her mistress.

II. Shakespeare juxtaposes the manner in which the two characters converse in order to distinguish the eloquence in Desdemona versus Emilia's perceptibility.

            1. After Desdemona has been accused of cheating by Othello, she is still able to maintain calm and elegant speech, "And his unkindness may defeat my life,/ But never taint my love" (IV.2.189-190).

·         Although she fears for her life, Desdemona remains confident and passionate in her love for Othello. The beautifully constructed phrases parallel the beauty of Desdemona and the love she feels towards Othello.

            2. When rumors are spread about Emilia being unfaithful, she disregards the rumors and criticizes her husband for getting too jealous: "O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was/ That turned your wit the steamy side without/ And made you to suspect me with the Moor" (IV.2.172-4)

·         Emilia does not take any of the blame unto herself, and she condemns the gossip who started the lie and her husband for subjecting himself to the rumor.

III. When it becomes suggested that another person may be responsible for the wrath of Othello towards Desdemona, Desdemona responds with forgiveness whereas Emilia reacts with thoughts of vengeance.

            1. Although Desdemona recognizes that her life is in jeopardy, she imparts Christian love and forgiveness towards the theoretical sinner: "If any such there be, heaven pardon him" (IV.2.158).

·         Such a selfless response in such a dangerous time reveals how devoted Desdemona is to her religion and her Christian faith.

            2. On the contrary, Emilia immediately responds with words of hatred: "A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones!" (IV. 2.159).

·         The proximity of these statements and the way in which they are similarly phrased further exemplifies the opposition of these two characters. Emilia sees justice in the form of punishment, whereas Desdemona views forgiveness as righteous course of action.

IV.  While Emilia is perceptive and able to think logically, she makes Desdemona appear more innocent and naive with her thoughts that the world rings pure.

            1. Emilia and Desdemona debate whether women would stay faithful to their husbands over the value of the whole world. Desdemona is confident that by no means would she ever cheat on Othello: "No, by this heavenly light" (IV.3.74).

            2. When Emilia is questioned, she responds, "Nor I neither, by this heavenly light./ I might do't as well i' th' dark" (IV.3.75-6).

·         Whereas Desdemona is only able to see the light, Emilia has seen both the light and the dark in society, mainly due to the malicious actions of her husband. Desdemona cannot imagine a world where wives cheat on the husbands, and she is too blinded by pure and holy thoughts to witness the reality of the world in which she lives. Desdemona's innocence can be viewed as naivety, and they may ultimately lead to her death because she could never envision a person as manipulative and cruel as Iago.

V. Through comparing the final lines of Desdemona and Emilia, the contrast of their last statements emphasizes the priorities of both characters.

            1. Desdemona remains eternally faithful to her husband, and she puts the blame of her death upon herself: "Nobody. I myself. Farewell./ Commend me to my kind lord. O, farewell" (V.2.152-4).

·         The astute length of Desdemona's first lines verify how her life was short, simple and to the point. She has always known where her loyalties lie, and even in death she is true to her character. The reader almost feels pity for Desdemona because of the simplicity of her thinking and her character. She was so loyal, but so confined and oblivious.

            2. On the contrary, Emilia's final lines make a statement demonstrating the complexity of her character: "Moor, she was chaste. She loved thee, cruel Moor./ So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true./ So speaking as I think, alas, I die" (V.ii.299-301).

·         Emilia dies because she is loyal to her morals and is not afraid to express her thoughts. She is a dynamic character that surpasses her time period with her use of logic and disobedience towards her husband. Contrarily, Desdemona dies because of the malicious intentions of Iago and a lack of her own actions. Desdemona dies protecting her husband, whereas Emilia dies because she betrayed her husband. The difference in their final lines depicts the disparity between the complexity in their characters. Desdemona is simple and predictable character, whereas Emilia is able to generate her own opinions and set of principles.

Conclusion: By juxtaposing the female protagonists, Shakespeare emphasizes the perceptive and logical thinking of Emilia in contrast to the simplistic and devoted mindset of Desdemona.