Emilia and Desdemona - not Willow and Tree song

Question 1

How are the two women different?

Answer 1

Fundamentally “unlike” - maid and gentlewoman , older vs younger, sexually experienced vs naive

Question 2

What qualities do the women share?

Answer 2

Share more than what sets them apart; both wives, women, isolated and alone

Question 3

EMILIA “Tis not a year or two shows in a man. They are all but food; they eat as hungerly, and when they are full they belch us out” Act 3 scene 4

Answer 3

ACT 3.4
Men driven by basic needs and can be exploitive
Emilia educate D on realities of married life.

IMAGE OF VOMITING, METAPHOR OF FOOD, ALLUSION/IMAGERY OF GLUTTONY —> nature of men and highlights D’s vulnerability because she is a woman.
- Othello’s jealous turn as inevitable, a symptom of manhood itself; it need not destroy Desdemona. Men are greedy and predictable, but women are clever and resilient = survivors. Emilia herself offers a symbol of hope - years trapped in own abusive marriage have not robbed her of her wit and strength.
EMILIA REPRESENTS WHAT DESDEMONA MIGHT BECOME - a wife whose individual character and identify remain betrayal