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, The issues of racism and domestic violence dominate the action, leaving the wife of scheming Iago and attendant to Desdemona to fall into the shadows. The play is a tragedy that revolves around the main characters of Othello, who is a general in the Venetian army and the treacherous Iago. Lee Jamieson, M.A., is a theater scholar and educator. I trust Iago completely, that's part of my duty as a wife. The issues of racism and domestic violence dominate the action, leaving the wife of scheming Iago and attendant to Desdemona to fall into the shadows. EMILIA: By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. Is it sport? 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; But I do think it is their husbands' faults. When they change us for others? How about Emilia's monolouge from Othello, act 4, scene 3: But I do think it is their husbands' faults. Emilia is Iago’s wife. 80 Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. Othello. Change ). [1] This simple addition gives Emilia’s character a much more defined role, and has had an impact on recent feminist interpretations of Shakespeare. Unfortunately, these two strong, perceptive, loyal women are killed off but, at the same time, they could be considered the heroes of the piece. (101 lines) Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants. Emilia is telling Desdemona to leave Othello, but Desdemona wants to stay loyal to her husband. Emilia. Or scant our former having in despite- Having said this, it may well have been better if Desdemona had never set eyes on Othello, given the outcome. I am bound to speak” (Act 5 Scene 2, Line 191). Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Emilia judges jealous Othello’s behavior harshly and warns Desdemona off him; “I would you had never seen him” (Act 4 Scene 2, Line 17). She says something like, "Yep, there sure are women who cheat on their husbands." And doth affection breed it? ... Emilia goes on to offer the opinion that "I do think it is their husbands' faults / If wives do fall" (4.3.86-87). If wives do fall. Unfortunately, she does not identify her own husband as the perpetrator until it is too late: “You told a lie, an odious, damned lie” (Act 5 Scene 2, Line 187). ( Log Out /  The scene in which this monologue appears is a touching and tender interaction between the two women, Desdemona and Emilia. If he needed Desdemona's handkerchief there is a good reason for it. Asked by Angie V #953140 on 12/10/2019 12:53 AM I'm 22 and I really like books, going outside, and hanging out with animals. I always find listening to Shakespeare a lot easier, and luckily this speech was chosen by the Guardian as a part of their ‘Shakespeare Solo’ series. Emilia says. What is it that they do, Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, 3115 And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us, In a conversation with Desdemona, Emilia does not condemn a woman for having an affair: Emilia blames the man in the relationship for driving her to it. by Shakespeare (soliloquy) O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown! Desdemona thinks she can prove her fidelity to her husband, but Emilia is more cynical and believes that now that Othello has become suspicious, he will never be able to fully trust his wife again. - "But I do think it is their husbands’ faults/ If wives do fall. " The use of ‘fall’ contains an irony as the concept contradicts her argument. Emilia and Desdemona from Othello, Act 4, Scene 3. 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; 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. This intimate, female space is characterised by the action of Emilia ‘unpinning’ Desdemona, … Say that they slack their duties. She tells Desdemona that “they eat us hungerly, and when they are full / They belch us” (3.4.) And pour our treasures into foreign laps, ... treated me as sweetly as Othello treats Desdemona but that never lasts. LOD. Also, the glass of wine adds to the image of a wise, long-suffering wife who is sick of her husband’s bullshit. If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in … 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; 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. Emilia goes so far as to betray her friend for the love of her man. This leads to Iago’s eventual downfall and sadly her own murder as her husband kills her. Emilia is perceptive and cynical, maybe as a result of her relationship with Iago. After reading about the textual history of this play, I found that this specific speech was not present in the First Folio collection in 1623, which was the first full collection of Shakespeare’s works published after his death. Check out our discussion for " Gender " for more on this. At this point, I began to see her as a character in her own right, with an original perspective to add to the play’s drama. The character of Emilia is often overlooked in Shakespeare’s Othello, and it is easy to see why. If Wives Do Fall – Recent Perspectives of Emilia’s Speech in Othello, Follow Writing in the AM on WordPress.com, In The Flesh: The Experience of Seeing Original Manuscripts, GUEST DOODLEWASH: Using Watercolours to Unlock a Life of Purpose — Doodlewash. And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, ... TV episode or film that this monologue appears in to support the artist and understand the context. Placing the blame onto the man is a daring move to make for a woman within Jacobean society and therefore this reveals Emilia’s strength and passion. But I do think it is their husbands’ faults She is the first to suggest that somebody is telling Othello untruths about Desdemona; “The Moor’s abused by some most villainous knave./Some base, notorious knave” (Act 4 Scene 2, Line 143-5).​. by Shakespeare (to Desdemona) But I do think it is their husbands' faults. EMILIA ). Emilia even bravely challenges Othello when she discovers he has murdered Desdemona: “O the more angel she, and you the blacker devil!” (Act 5 Scene 2, Line 140). I didn’t know the channel Shakespeare Solos. 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 … Emilia is getting Desdemona ready for bed and the two are discussing whether they could ever cheat on their husbands. If wives do fall. In this scene she is discussing her worry with her maid Emilia. The scene opens with Othello asking Emilia if she has seen Desdemona and Cassio alone together, whispering or sharing secrets. Emilia's conviction for female equality is so strong that she attempts to convince Desdemona that she should not put up with Othello's jealousy. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our, Character Analysis of Shakespeare's Othello, Iago Character Analysis From Shakespeare's 'Othello', 3 Prominent Themes Found in William Shakespeare's 'Othello', Portia - Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice', Cordelia From King Lear: Character Profile, The Roles of Women in Shakespeare's Plays, M.A., Theater Studies, Warwick University, B.A., Drama and English, DeMontfort University. [1] Michael Neill ed. Desdemona (Janie Brookshire) and Emilia (Karen Peakes) in Othello at Folger Theatre, 2011. Also, her loyalty to Desdemona may belie this rumor too. Photo by Carol Pratt. [He runs at IAGO IAGO, from behind, stabs EMILIA, and exit] GRATIANO: The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife. It looks great; I think I’ll go ahead and watch a few . Emilia blames the man in the relationship for driving her to it. Then let them use us well: else let them know, ( Log Out /  Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. She remains loyal to her mistress throughout and even asks to join her on her deathbed as she herself dies. Is’t frailty that thus errs? what should such a fool: Do with so good a woman? She is the feminist of Othello. Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would. store the world they played for. Emilia's response is more worldly. What I love about this adaptation is the way Atkins pauses after each question, which really gives the message a chance to sink in. Desdemona, our ‘pure’ heroine is aghast and protests that she never could do such a thing. “But I do think it is their husband’s faults If wives do fall.” This speaks volumes for her relationship with Iago and does insinuate that she would not be averse to the idea of an affair; which corroborates the rumors about her and Othello, although she denies them. He has been acting strange, and Desdemona starts to think that something bad is going to happen. As Desdemona intends to follow Othello to the war, the latter requests that Emilia become his wife’s attendant. The character of Emilia is often overlooked in Shakespeare’s Othello, and it is easy to see why. And pour our treasures into foreign laps, Or else break out in peevish jealousies, ... Labels: EMILIA, monologue, Othello, Shakespeare. Emilia: Yes, a dozen – and as many to th’ vantage,                                                                   As would store the world they played for. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. It is so too: And have not we affections,                                                               95 Shakespeare put a feminist in his play, showing that Shakespeare was before his time. This demonstrates her loyalty and that she judges men based on her own experience. 1/16/2014 12:07:06 pm. Emilia's Monologue. The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.[1]. Throwing restraint upon us; or say they strike us,                                             85 “But I do think it is their husband’s faults If wives do fall.” This speaks volumes for her relationship with Iago and does insinuate that she would not be averse to the idea of an affair; which corroborates the rumors about her and Othello, although she denies them. EMILIA (20s) Othello. In order to please him, Emilia gives Iago Desdemona’s handkerchief, which leads to her best friend’s condemnation, but this is not done out of spite but to garner a little praise or love from her husband Iago, who rewards her with the line; “O good wench give it to me” (Act 3 Scene 3, Line 319). Emilia also shows courage and self-assurance in chastising Othello for doubting his wife’s virtue, scolding him “If you think other / Remove your thought” (4.2. Desdemona is shocked. They were below them and Emilia calls society out on the inequlaity between men and women: "But I do think it is their husbands's faults If wives do fall. Worldly-wise and mistreated by her husband, who suspects her of infidelity and regularly humiliates her in public, she is not the happiest of women. I do not think there is any such woman. 270: O murderous coxcomb! Although Emilia is adamant that no such thing has happened, Othello unconvinced, tells her to fetch his wife. Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA and Attendants LODOVICO I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further. I do what I am told, without question. He previously served as a theater studies lecturer at Stratford-upon Avon College in the United Kingdom. This particular line is prophetic in that Emilia’s testimony at the end of the play, relating to how Cassio came by the handkerchief, leads directly to Iago’s downfall. 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, Their wives have sense like them; they see, and smell, Say that they slack their duties. EMILIA And yet, despite her submissiveness, Emilia's obvious bitterness boils over in a final scene during which she says that husbands are usually to blame when their wives cheat on them: EMILIA But I do think it is their husbands' faults If wives do fall. As husbands have. This monologue springs from a tense scene between Othello and Desdemona. Emilia says she would, if she thought it would advance her husband’s status in the world. However, it was included in the longer Second Quarto edition of Othello, published in 1630. Emilia’s role in Othello is key, her part in taking the handkerchief leads to Othello falling for Iago’s lies more fully. I think it is. One example of this is when Emilia says it is the ‘husbands’ fault’ if their ‘wives do fall’. Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? Or else break out in peevish jealousies, Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, (This clip is only a minute long, but Eileen Atkins really brings the speech to life.). Othello, (Oxford World Classics: Oxford, 2006), Act IV, Scene 3,79-98) p.181. She demonstrates her strength and honesty by exposing her husband and challenging Othello for his behavior. Antonio Muñoz Degrain / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain. She discovers Othello as Desdemona’s murderer and uncovers her husband’s plot which she exposes; “I will not charm my tongue. An audience would not judge Emilia too harshly for her views, knowing Iago’s true nature. 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