Is Emilia the real hero? Cont...

Although Emilia's deed of stealing Desdemona's handkerchief made her able to defend Desdemona and reveal Iago's evil character, she was still responsible for the setting up of proof against Desdemona. She does not show heroic characteristics when Desdemona really needs the help but instead plays the hero when Desdemona is already dead. We see her intentionally take the handkerchief from her mistress and show no guilt for taking it when Othello becomes very angry at Desdemona for losing it.
3.4.51-88
Othello:That's a fault...Fetch me the handkerchief. My mind misgives.
Desdemona: I say it is not lost.
Othello: The handkerchief!

After Othello rudely accuses Desdemona, thinking she has given the handkerchief to Cassio as a token, Emilia does not confess her act of stealing the handkerchief. Of course this would have faltered Othello's unjust suspicions against Desdemona, but Emilia does not confess; not until it is too late.

3.4.93
Emilia: Is he this man jealous?

Instead of feeling guilty after witnessing the fight between Othello and Desdemona over the handkerchief and knowing full well she had a part in provoking Othello's anger, she asks Desdemona if Othello is jealous. Although these feelings she has picked up from him are in fact true, she seems to be changing the subject of the handkerchief so that Desdemona will not be suspicious. After the fight scene, Desdemona might have then questioned Emilia as to whether she knew where the handkerchief was but to avoid this, Emilia questions Desdemona about Othello's behaviour. It is obvious throughout the play, that Emilia knows Desdemona needs the handkerchief and knows she is being falsely accused for having misplaced it. However, she does nothing  to help Desdemona, only when it is too late and she is no longer living. In this way, she does not show heroic qualities until it is too late to save Desdemona.

Emilia plays the role of the hero at the end of the play by revealing Iago's villainess hand in the death of Desdemona. Without her hand in the devising of 'proof' against Desdemona, Emilia would not have been able to reveal the truth entirely at the end of the play. Despite this heroic act on her part, it would have been more effective if she had confessed her part in the stealing of the handkerchief earlier in the play rather than once Desdemona was already dead. Emilia is the most heroic character for confessing and taking a stand against her husband but does not fit the typical hero as she does not 'save' anyone, not even herself.

Is Emilia the real hero?

Emilia, the behind the scenes wife of the villain Iago, is in many ways the hero of the story yet she also plays a part in the destruction of Othello's trust in Desdemona. When Iago tries to find 'proof' of Desdemona's disloyalty, he has Emilia blindly play a part in the devising of Desdemona's disloyalty. However, towards the end of the play when Desdemona has been killed, Emilia stands up and lets out the truth against her husband, a move he did not expect.

Throughout the play, Emilia is never close to her husband, Iago. She does not suspect him of foul play between Desdemona and Othello's marriage but she does know that there is someone who has upset their union and disturbed Othello's mind. Although she plays a part in the devising of proof against Desdemona, she does not have evil intentions against Desdemona but is merely trying to please her husband. Also, without her input in this, she would not have been able to reveal her husbands real character at the end of the play.
3.3. 315:
Iago: ...Give it me.
Emilia: What will you do with't, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it?
Iago: [Snatching it] Why, what's that to you?
Emilia: If it be not for some purpose of import, give't me again. Poor lady, she'll run mad when she lack it.
Iago: I have use for it. Go, leave me.

The relationship we see here between Iago and Emilia is far from an equal love and respect for each other. Emilia even asks for the handkerchief back as she knows Desdemona will miss it. With this knowledge of Iago's intention to use the handkerchief, at the end of the play when it is said by Othello that Iago had told him the handkerchief was proof against Desdemona's disloyalty, Emilia knows that there has been foul play on Iago's part. She understands who is the real villian and is able to reveal Iago's evil character.
5.2.209
Othello: 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows that she and Cassio hath the act of shame... I saw it in his hand: it was a handkerchief...
Emilia: Oh God! O heavenly God!

At this line what Iago does not expect of Emilia happens. She reveals the truth about Iago and his plan to set up Desdemona. Although all does not end happily as Desdemona, Othello and Emilia are killed, Iago's crime does not go unpunished and unknown. In this way she is a hero as she sacrifices her own life to tell the truth about her husband.

Reputation in Othello

Based on what we have read so far, discuss the importance of reputation in relation to the following characters:

Desdemona

Cassio

Iago

In the play Othello reputation is highly important to Cassio, Iago and Desdemona. As the play progresses we see each of these characters lose their good reputation which ultimately gets them into trouble. Iago ruins Cassio's reputation as a good solider and he loses his job. Knowing Iago's weakness of being out of control when drunk, Iago pressures him to drink and sets him up to have a fight and makes the whole situation seem much worse. Iago knows the importance of reputation and uses it against Cassio. Othello then loses his trust in Cassio and is more susceptible to believe Iago's lies.

Desdemona has no faults or hidden weaknesses. However, she is still young and foolish. She does not come across as a very mature woman and she is very innocent and good. Othello treats her almost like a child as she is very much his junior. Desdemona is still very naive and Iago, knowing her good nature, uses it against her. Iago, setting up Cassio to ask Desdemona to implore on his behalf, knows she will defend Cassio as a child would; annoy Othello until he  accepts Cassio back. Without her good reputation as an innocent and loyal wife, Desdemona loses Othello's trust without it.

Iago needs his good reputation. He has a reputation as a loyal, honest and trustworthy friend and lieutenant. Because of this reputation, everyone trusts his lies and deception. He plays the villian so well as they all believe what he says and he is able to speak so convincingly that no-one doubts his words. What is interesting is his reputation is so unlike his true character. His wife, Emilia, is the only person who seems to doubt his good reputation. In the end, Iago's loss of reputation costs him his life as his wife reveals his evil intentions. Without his good reputation his plan is a fail from the start.

Othello - Is Iago justified in reporting Desdemona's marriage to Othello to her father?

Iago was not justified in reporting Desdemona's marriage to her father as he was doing it for himself and not for Brabantio. His actions would have been justified if he reported to Brabantio out of honesty and concern for his daughters false actions. However, this was not the case. Iago only wanted to cause trouble for Othello because he knew that Brabantio would not be pleased with the secret marriage. This was not because Othello was in a low class. On the contrary, he was in a very high rank in military. Brabantio did not approve of the marriage because Othello was black. If Iago truly wanted to inform Brabantio of the marriage he would not have used Roderigo to report this message and have told Brabantio so rudely in the middle of the night. Iago was not justified in his actions as he did so for selfish purposes.