Final answer:
Desdemona asks Emilia to place her wedding sheets on the bed as a symbol of her fidelity, highlighting her character and the tragic themes in Shakespeare's 'Othello'.
Step-by-step explanation:
On the night of her death in Shakespeare's Othello, Desdemona asks Emilia, her maid and confidante, to do something quite meaningful. Desdemona, facing her tragic end, implores Emilia to lay her wedding sheets on her bed as a symbol of her fidelity. This request signifies the importance of her honor and marital fidelity, which she maintains even as she faces death due to the false accusations concocted by Iago that she has been unfaithful to her husband Othello.
The subject of this question, revolving around Desdemona's final moments in Othello, provides insight into her character and the values she held dear. It also serves as a poignant contrast to Othello's misguided belief in her infidelity, which ultimately leads to tragedy. In her impending death scene, Desdemona's actions evoke sympathy and highlight the tragic elements of the narrative, where misunderstandings and orchestrated deceit culminate in the play's sorrowful climax.