Othello
Discuss the conversation between Emilia and Desdemona about jealousy and men and what this reveals about Emilia's character.
ACT III.iv
ACT III.iv
Othello is acting paranoid and crazy over the handkerchief. He sounds intensely jealous. Emilia characterises Man's jealousy as a monster that feeds on itself but for no other reason than to feel more jealousy. It is not based on reason. This shows Emilia to be a woman who understands the nature of powerful men like Othello.
But jealous people don’t think like that. They’re never jealous for a reason; they’re just jealous. It’s like a monster that just grows and grows, out of nothing.