The Characters of Desdemona and Emilia in Othello, and Miranda in Tempest

The Characters of Desdemona and Emilia in Othello, and Miranda in Tempest

Introduction

In Othello, Emilia and Desdemona are motivated by husband troubles to develop an unbreakable friendship bond. It is Emilia who discovers her husband’s plot and makes it known to the world. Even though her revelation does not bring back Desdemona’s life, she at least clears her name because people would stop thinking of her like a whore. Her betrayal causes her husband Lago to kill her as payback for letting his secrets out of the basket. In Tempest, Miranda stands to her father on different occasions, despite the powers that Prospero wields. Below is a description of how these women are portrayed by Shakespeare.

The Portrayal of Desdemona and Emilia in Othello

Desdemona

Desdemona is portrayed as being loyal and submissive to her general husband. Despite being the general’s wife, she has to demonstrate some unquestionable submission and loyalty to her husband. Her elevation above the other females in the play does not protect her from the norms and traditions. Desdemona seals the fate of her life the moment she chose to run away with Othello. Her life changes entirely because she has no authority to reject or question him, even when she is being accused of disloyalty. Her continued loyalty and submission to her husband makes it difficult for her to escape from the man that eventually strangles her to death. Even if she made the decision to run away from her Othello, she could not go back to her father because he disowned the day she eloped with Othello. Blinded by her love, she continues to be in an abusive relationship: “His unkindness may defeat my life/ But never taint my love”.

From the beginning of the play, Desdemona is displayed as being innocent, meek and glamorous. It appears that her cultural background shaped her to be this way. Hence she was not supposed to be in control of her own life, and neither was she supposed to be rebellious despite her husband’s mistreatment. By being loyal and submissive to Othello in exchange for status, Desdemona grants the general authority and control over her life. She loses all other freedoms in life, including the freedom to think for herself and make her own decisions. Her devotion to her husband is unquestionable, and betrayal of trust would be similar to betraying God. In the end, Lago poison’s Othello’s heart by making him believe that his wife was having an affair, something that pushes him to smother Desdemona to death with a pillow. Othello takes his life later when he discovers that his wife was innocent.

Emilia

Emilia plays the role of Desdemona’s maid and Lago’s wife. She is portrayed as a resilient woman with practical intelligence in life. She is also a submissive wife to her husband, as evidenced by her wifely duties. As the play continues to develop, and as she continues to serve lady Desdemona, she begins to develop a strong loyalty to her. In the end, she defies her husband Lego’s lies and chooses to defend the reputation of Desdemona. While she disapproves of the actions of men, she continues to be loyal and supportive of her husband up to the last scene whenever needed. When she finally comes to know the truth, she begins to be rebellious and defiant towards him, and she even attacks him verbally for whom he truly is. She begins to believe that men are pervasive, wicked, and foolish, and her experiences throughout the play approve her convictions” “They are all but stomachs, and we all but food/ To eat us hungrily, and when they are full, they belch us” Lago responds to his wife’s defiance and rebellion by killing her in order to silence her.

The Portrayal of Miranda in Tempest

14-year-old Miranda is Prospero’s daughter. She was not even three years old at the time when her father was exiled, and now she has grown into a woman of beauty. She appears to be so innocent, perhaps because she has never encountered any other women or human beings, aside from her father. She is also not aware of how beautiful she is. She does not have any experience with men and other people, except Caliban and her father. She has been isolated all her life; hence, she has not developed any flirting skills. This perhaps is the reason why she cries when Ferdinand confesses his love to her.

She is presented as a naïve pretty young girl, but this is what maker her endearing to the audience; she represents the candid innocence of youth.  Some study guides present her as a weak young girl who allows her father to pawn or use her as he wishes, but this is not an accurate portrayal of this woman. While it is true that Prospero – her father is manipulative, Miranda takes things into her own hands whenever situations call for it. For instance, she declares her passions and love for Ferdinand even at a time when she thinks that her father hates him. Unknown to her, it is her father who secretly makes it possible for the two to fall in love. She is, however, willing to take things into her own hands even when her actions are likely to put her into trouble with her father. A good example is when she defends her love for Ferdinand when her father pretends to be mad about their relationship: “My affections are then most humble. I have no ambition to see a goodlier man”. When she is first presented to the audience, Miranda appears to be begging her father to have mercy on the men at sea. She understands the powers that her father wields yet she challenges him: “Had I been any god of power, I would / Have sunk the sea within the earth or ere / It should the good ship so have swallowed and / The fraughting souls within her”