Comparing and Contrast Emilia and Desdemona's Love for Their Husband

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“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” (Martin Luther King, Jr.) In the play Othello this quote shows relation to how love occurs among the main characters. This is highlighted though the relationship that Emilia and Desdemona have with their respective husbands. Throughout, the relationship of these characters with their spouses will be analyzed. The relationship between Emilia and her husband Iago will be expressed as well as the relationship between Desdemona and her husband Othello. Then the similarities and differences between the two relationships will be compared. Emilia and Iago had a very complex relationship. They do not have a strong and equal relationship displaying love. This is not what one would expect to exist between a man and his wife. Iago uses Emilia as his puppet; he mocks and disrespects her. He appears to not care much about her well being. This is seen in the lack of affection he shows to his wife. Iago seems as though he does not have the ability to love anything or anyone. However Emilia's feelings towards her husband completely different from the negative feelings he has towards her. Emilia's love towards Iago is filled with so much passion and devotion. She tries her utmost best to please Iago."I nothing but to please his fantasy."(Act 3. Scene 3) This is seen when she steals Desdemona's handkerchief hoping her husband would be appreciative. She is experiencing unrequited love. This is odd as the object of her affections is her husband,whom has no feelings towards her. He is undeserving of her love,as Emilia could be offering all this love to one whom actually deserves it. This is a good character trait in Emilia. Due to her not getting the love she wants from husband, she develops the belief that women should be able cheat on there husbands. Subsequently they had a rocky relationship,even though

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