Theme Of Sacrifice In Othello

In the tragic tale of Othello, the evil deeds of Iago cause many of the characters to make sacrifices, with some giving the ultimate sacrifice: their lives. Emilia can be categorized as such a character, whose martyrdom provided important insight regarding her views on honesty, marriage, and morals.
Shakespeare introduces Emilia as a laconic woman with a bitter, worldly demeanor. Her views towards men and marriage in general are largely negative, stemming from her tumultuous marriage to Iago. Evidence of the couple’s unhappiness shows when Iago alludes to her frequent denigration of his behavior as Emilia “chides not with tongue but with her heart (check this quote)”.
Despite her disdain toward her husband, she shows her loyalty by nabbing Desdemona’s
Her final words also shed light on her values, showing she holds righteousness in higher esteem than the patriarchal bonds chaining her to silence. Her sacrifice reiterates the thematic importance of reputation throughout the play. Many characters become entangled within a fatal series of misperception; Emilia’s death attests to this. Iago’s skewed perception of Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship allow him to deceive Othello and Roderigo. Sixteenth century gender roles (Explore themes of reputation, also talk about gender)
Emilia and Desdemona share one major similarity: they both meet a tragic demise at the hands of their husbands. However, both women serve as character foils for each other. Emilia’s crass nature contrasts Desdemona’s docility. Their views on marriage vary greatly (insert quotes here).
Her sacrifice proves she is far more modern-minded than any other character in the play. Emilia is the only one to question the merit of marital union, shown when she says (“ “ . She also pontificates on the double standards imposed on sixteenth century