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. Othello. Emilia is telling Desdemona to leave Othello, but Desdemona wants to stay loyal to her husband. 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. As husbands have. Change ). And doth affection breed it? I think it doth. Emilia. That is, until her speech in Desdemona’s bedchamber. Othello Act 4: Emilia's badass monologue and someone needs to do a cover of the Willow song 4.1 The scene starts with more twisting of words by Iago and lots of discussion about how Cassio had the handkerchief Othello gave Desdemona. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for. She is the feminist of Othello. EMILIA (20s) Othello. store the world they played for. Othello has been angry at Desdemona because he thinks she is cheating on him even though she hasn’t been. Say that they slack their duties. I trust Iago completely, that's part of my duty as a wife. I'm 22 and I really like books, going outside, and hanging out with animals. If he needed Desdemona's handkerchief there is a good reason for it. 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 /  270: O murderous coxcomb! If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties, Shakespeare put a feminist in his play, showing that Shakespeare was before his time. Not only that, Emilia says " [b]ut I do think it is their husbands' faults / If wives do fall" (4.3.97-98). 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). 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. Say that they slack their duties. Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have? ( Log Out /  Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace, 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).​. what should such a fool: Do with so good a woman? That is, until her speech in Desdemona’s bedchamber. (101 lines) Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia, and Attendants. This intimate, female space is characterised by the action of Emilia ‘unpinning’ Desdemona, as their husbands leave for a walk. 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; 80 OPHELIA (15-25 years) Hamlet. Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com. [1] This simple addition gives Emilia’s character a much more defined role, and has had an impact on recent feminist interpretations of Shakespeare. and later explains to her mistress that “I do think it is their husbands’ faults / If wives do fall” (4.3.). Desdemona is shocked. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would. However, it was included in the longer Second Quarto edition of Othello, published in 1630. Emilia is Iago’s wife. I think it is. Photo by Carol Pratt. I despise the heat; I wish I was back in Venice with the cool wind. 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. by Shakespeare (to Desdemona) But I do think it is their husbands' faults. I didn’t know the channel Shakespeare Solos. What I love about this adaptation is the way Atkins pauses after each question, which really gives the message a chance to sink in.