Othello: Acts IV and V

Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare

By the end of the play, Emilia proves to be a dynamic character. At the beginning of the play, Emilia would not speak against her husband or other men. She seemed to be passive and somewhat insignificant. By the end of the play, her role grew. After accidentally interrupting Desdemona's murder, Emilia passionately argued against Othello that Desdemona was an honest and pure woman. Othello counters Emilia's argument by stating that Iago first told him of Desdemona's infidelity. 'If he say so, may his pernicious soul Rot half a grain a day! He lies to the heart. She was to fond of her most filthy bargain" (V, ii, 154-156). Here, Emilia dangerously stated that Desdemona's marriage to Othello was "filthy", and Desdemona should have married a better man than Othello. Emelia also spoke against her husband, revealing how she found the handkerchief and gave it to Iago. This was also a risky statement because Iago drew his sword to silence Emelia; luckily, Graziano stopped Iago from this initial blow. In these two examples, Emilia shows her growth in confidence to speak her thoughts against those 'superior' to her. In doing so, she displays herself as a dynamic character.