Emilia (Othello)
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Summary
Iago's wife and Desdemona's loyal attendant, Emilia is a worldly, plain-spoken woman whose cynical realism about men and marriage contrasts sharply with Desdemona's idealism. Crucially, it is Emilia who unwittingly supplies Iago with Desdemona's handkerchief — the physical "proof" on which the entire plot hinges — not understanding her husband's design. In the final scene, despite Iago's furious commands to silence, she refuses to hold her tongue and exposes the entire conspiracy, a truth-telling that costs her her life at Iago's hand.
Notable Quotations
"I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak." *(5.2)*
"Let husbands know / Their wives have sense like them: they see, and smell, / And have their palates both for sweet and sour / As husbands have." *(4.3)*
"'Tis proper I obey him, but not now. / Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home." *(5.2)*