Sedgwick s Homosocial Continuum Of William Shakespeare s...

Sedgwick’s Homosocial Continuum in William Shakespeare’s Othello Where does it end? Where did it begin? On a continuum, it is impossible to distinguish. Eve Sedgwick coined the idea of the â€Å"Homosocial continuum.† Her argument involves gender, class, and hierarchical relationships. In William Shakespeare’s, Othello, many character pairings can be analyzed in relation to Sedgwick’s theories. The relationships that most interestingly relate to the homosocial continuum are Desdemona and Emilia, Iago and Roderigo, and Iago and Othello. First, Desdemona and Emilia have a homosocial relationship that is easier to understand by today’s standards based on Sedgwick’s assertions. Sedgwick states, â€Å"The apparent simplicity...of the continuum, [for women], would not be so striking if it were not in strong contrast to the arrangement among males† (506). Emilia and Desdemona’s relationship, while certainly blurring the lines at points, would not be questioned even today based on Sedgwick’s claim that women are so much more free to move along the homosocial continuum. It is typical for women to care for one another and desire one another’s company, including physical touch and intimate dialogue. At Desdemona’s death bed, Emilia arrives to discover the situation and cries out, Emilia. Out, and alas! that was my lady’s voice. Help, help, ho! help. O lady, speak again! Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress speak! (Act V, Scene III, Line 119) In this moment it is clear that Emilia