Sabrina

Shakespeare once said, “Women speak two languages – one which is verbal.” Throughout the Renaissance period, when most of Shakespeare’s work was read and performed, women were domestic child bearers, inferior to men. Only a certain few were able to escape a life of assembling clothes and catering to their husbands. Women were also denied political rights and were not permitted to live on their own if they weren’t married. From birth, the average Renaissance woman was raised and controlled by her parents only to be put into the hands of a husband who was commonly chosen through an arranged marriage. In Shakespeare’s __Othello__, Emilia, though she is not a main character, appears as an atypical woman for her time. Through her speech and behavior, Emilia proves to be an active feminist who’s confident, opinionated, and independent. While __Othello__ does not reveal much about Emilia’s background, Emilia’s confidence is clearly portrayed throughout the play. She assertively confronts men and never holds back while speaking her mind. She is the only woman in __Othello__ that publicly expresses her own opinion. She is virtually unafraid of men and what they might think about her. This is shown when she confronts the General of the Army, Othello, saying, “Thou hast not half the power to do me harm… (5.2 198)” Through this conversation, she clearly states that she is not intimidated by men, even of the highest caliber. However, it remains unclear that if Othello actually attempted to hurt Emilia, she would fight back. Not only does Emilia show confidence to men that aren’t significant in her life, she addresses her husband in the same manner. Speaking to her husband, Iago, Emilia said, “I will not charm my tongue. I am bound to speak (5.2 220).” Though women were inferior to men throughout the Renaissance, Emilia defends herself and her right to speak. She continues to say, “No, I will speak as liberal as the north. Let heaven and men and devils, let them all, / All, all cry shame against me, yet I’ll speak (5.2 261-263).” While Emilia knows that speaking her mind may cause her to be looked down upon in society, she proves to value doing so anyway. She shows more confidence then some of the men in __Othello__. For example, a male character, Roderigo, is in love with Othello’s wife, Desdemona, but will not directly confront her. Instead, he keeps his feelings to himself. Unfortunately, however, Iago ultimately murders Emilia for this bold behavior. While Emilia was successful in voicing her views, she was unfairly murdered because her husband felt she had said too much. As the man, he felt that he had to take a stand and silence his wife forever. As Emilia’s characteristics display her boldness, her confidence derives from her analyses of her surroundings. Through her observations of the lives of others as well as her own life, Emilia is able to shape and share her opinions on anything. When Othello begins to question his wife’s faithfulness, Emilia says “A halter pardon him, and he’ll gnaw his bones! / Why should he call her whore? Who keeps her company? What place? What time? What form? What likelihood? / The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave, / Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow (4.2 159-165).” Through this quote, Emilia outspokenly reveals her opinion of the irrationality behind Othello’s assumptions based on his deep insecurities. Emilia does not hesitate to defend a woman, even if she disrespects a man while doing so. Yet, Emilia expresses her opinions in a confrontational manner. It seems that she is unconcerned with what her actions might result in. While Iago and Othello are in the midst of conversation, Emilia cuts in to say, “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 (5.2 208-210).” Embarrassing her husband, Emilia attempts to take control of the situation at hand, trying to convince Iago to reveal the truth. While her husband did lie to Othello, Emilia instead defends her own point of view rather then backing him up. Revealing what really happened, she says, “O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’st of / I found by fortune, and did give my husband…He begged of me to steal’t (5.2 267-272).” Although Desdemona has already been murdered by her husband, Othello, Emilia still feels the need to explain the misunderstanding that led to Othello’s raging violence. She does not consider the emotions that this explanation may bring up. Emilia feels that it is her place to tell the truth. Reflecting on her life, Emilia conveys her independence through her discussions with the female protagonist, Desdemona. Opposite of Emilia, Desdemona is quiet and enjoys catering to her husband, Othello. In a conversation between the two, Emilia says, “In troth, I think I should, and undo’t when I had done (it.) 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 (4.3 81-85).” Looking back on her marriage, Emilia exposes that given the opportunity to take it back, she would. She explains that not even the finest things could convince her to marry, a mistake that she’s already made. Emilia also tries to convince Desdemona to be more self-sufficient and open, saying “Let husbands know / Their wives have sense like them. They see, and smell, / And have their palates for both sweet and sour / As husbands have (4.2 104-108).” Emilia shares the fact that women are indeed like men, an idea that was often ignored during the period of the Renaissance. Though she is speaking to Desdemona, she’d most likely say this to a man. She continues to discuss that infidelity is often due to an error the husband made. She says, “But I do think it is their husbands; faults / 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 (4.2 97-101).” While Emilia deciphers the reasons behind a wife’s motive to be unfaithful, she again empowers women and places blame on the man. Though Emilia’s feminist ideals may have seemed righteous for her time and they cost Emilia her life, her words and actions ultimately induced gender conflict in Othello, offering a different view on a Renaissance woman. Her main character traits, showing confidence, being opinionated and being independent, were those that most men were expected to have. Though she wasn’t a prevalent throughout the play, her presence was definitely noticeable. Emilia’s strength was a step in the right direction for women to begin gaining more confidence and freedom.