Villany, villany, villany!
I think upon ‘t, I think: I smell ‘t: O villany! –
I thought so then: – I’ll kill myself for grief: –
O villany, villany!
– William Shakespeare
Othello, Act 5, Scene 2. Emilia cries out in grief and anger about her husband Iago’s villainy, leading to the murder of her mistress Desdemona by Othello. Distraught over the death, she shows her deep loyalty to Desdemona and her own strong character. In this final scene, Emilia emerges as the defender and protector of Desdemona’s honor, a role that should have been Othello’s. She is now realizing that her husband is not the man she thought he was and is ready to reveal the truth about him.