Othello by William Shakespeare
After being verbally attacked by Othello, Desdemona speaks with Emilia and Iago about Othello calling her a whore. Desdemona is shocked by his words and cannot comprehend what she has done to make Othello say such terrible things. Verbal irony is extremely present in this conversation. So disturbed and moved by Desdemona's pain, Emilia states," I will be hanged, if some eternal villain, some busy and insinuating rogue,
some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else!,(IV, ii, 135). Basically, Emilia is saying that some evil, lying, heartless person just made up this rumor to get something, and she is exactly right. Little does Emilia and Desdemona know, this villain is Iago, who is standing right next to them, comforting Desdemona, when he is the one who put her in this situation. Emilia continues by saying that she wishes such a monster could be unmasked and receive the punishment they deserve. Iago just stands there innocently, going along with the whole thing. No one questions Iago or distrusts him, they keep coming to him for advice and comfort, which he only uses to his advantage. Ironically, the more Iago hurts these people, the more they seem to be drawn to him.
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