In Act 4 Scene 3 we have Emilia and Desdemona talking about Othello’s accusation of her being unfaithful.  Desdemona states that she would never do such a thing as it is wrong and no woman would do such a thing.  On Lines 95 through 115 Emilia responds with an explanation for why wives, or any women for that matter, are unfaithful to their lovers.  She starts by saying that there are dozens of women who are unfaithful, but it is the fault of the husband.  She says “they slack their duties” in which she is referring to them not fulfilling their obligations to their wives including their sexual desires (Line 98).  She also says they “pour our treasures into foreign laps” which seems like she is saying husbands are basically giving their wives to another man in order to get something they want (Line 99).  This could possibly hint that this is something Iago has done with Emilia, which is why she goes on to talk about how wives have resentment too and seek revenge because of it.  She then asks what causes a man to cheat on their wife?  Is it for fun, affection or their own weaknesses?  She states that women have the same desires and qualities as men do. In the final lines she says, “Then let them use us well. Else let them know, / The ills we do, their ills instruct us so” (Lines 114-115).  In other words she is saying that husbands should treat their wives well, otherwise they are basically instructing them to be unfaithful.

I chose this section of the story because I felt it gave us a better understanding of the character of Emilia, who we don’t know too much about.  We learn how she really feels about relationships and how she thinks it is not wrong if a woman cheats too.  It makes the reader think that she may have been unfaithful before, which could be why Iago thought her and Othello slept together.  I felt that this passage gives a lot more insight on the true relationship of Iago and Emilia.  Perhaps neither of them remains faithful to one another, which is why she has this bitter outlook on marriage.