Othello – Act 3
English 12
Mrs. Woodliffe
Scene I – Summary
There is a short scene with musicians and a clown to give some relief from the tension
developing on stage. Othello sends the clown out to dismiss the musicians, and then
Cassio uses him as a messenger to send out Emilia. Cassio wants to speak with
Desdemona, and he asks Emilia to arrange it for him. Iago offers to detain Othello for
but he really means to have Othello watch their conversation. Emilia comes in and
expresses her regret for his trouble, and fills him in on what Othello is thinking. She
eventually agrees to set up a meeting with Desdemona for him.
1. What information is revealed here that could have upset Iago’s plans?
Scene III - Summary
A brief scene that shows, with Cassio gone, Othello asking Iago to take a military
message for him to his pilot, and suspense is built for the eventual meeting between
Othello and Iago where he will come upon Cassio and Desdemona together.
Scene III - Summary
Cassio speaks to Desdemona briefly, but leaves when Othello enters. Both she and
Emilia think Desdemona can influence Othello in taking Cassio back. Iago makes
Cassio’s abrupt departure seem incriminating. Othello and Desdemona speak, and
Othello is not too pleased as Desdemona expresses her concern for Cassio (bad timing).
Iago then insinuates there is something going on between Desdemona and Cassio, and
soon, Othello begins to doubt his wife. Iago brilliantly leads Othello through a series of
questions and maneuvers so that, eventually, Othello voices his insecurities about
Desdemona, and himself as well. He begins to sound jealous, but states he needs to see
the proof before he believes any of it.
Desdemona and Emilia enter, and they have a brief conversation, but Othello pleads a
headache. Desdemona drops the handkerchief Othello gave her; Emilia knows her
husband wanted it, so she gives it to him. Othello re-enters, and tells Iago his doubts, but
demands visible proof of Desdemona’s dishonesty. Eventually, Iago convinces Othello
of the affair, and offers to help in his revenge. Othello then makes Iago swear he will kill
Cassio, and when Iago pleads for Desdemona, Othello vows to kill her as well.
Key Lines
 Desdemona
“My lord shall never rest; / I’ll watch him tame and talk him out of
patience; / His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift; / I’ll
intermingle everything he does / With Cassio’s suit.” (22-26)
 Desdemona
“ If I have any grace or power to move you, / His present
reconciliation take; / For if he be not one that truly loves you, /
That errs in ignorance, and not in cunning, / I have judgment in an
honest face.” (46-50)
 Othello
“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul / But I do love thee!
And when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again.” (90-93)
 Othello
“By heaven, he echoes me, / As if there were some monster in his
thought / Too hideous to be shown. Thou dos mean something; / I
heard thee say but now, thou lik’st not that, / When Cassio left my
wife. What didst not like? / And when I told thee he was of my
counsel / In my whole course of wooing, thou cried’st ‘Indeed?’ /
And didst contract and purse thy brow together, / As if thou then
hadst shut up in thy brain / Some horrible conceit. If thou dost
love me, / Show me thy thought.” (107-116)
 Iago
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! / It is the green-eyed monster,
which doth mock / The meat it feeds on.” (165-167)
 Othello
“I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; / And on the proof
there is no more but this- / Away at once with love or jealousy!”
(190 – 192)
 Othello
“I swear ‘tis better to be much abused / Than but to know’t a
little.” (336-337)
 Othello
“Now do I see ‘tis true. Look here, Iago: / All my fond love thus
do I blow to heaven. / ‘Tis gone. (444-446)
Questions
2. Why does Desdemona push so hard for Cassio to get his job back?
3. Describe Othello and Iago’s responses to seeing Cassio leave Desdemona.
4. Explain Iago’s principal strategy or technique he uses to convince Othello that his
wife is unfaithful.
5. What does Othello require before he will believe Desdemona is guilty?
6. How does Iago know he is getting to Othello?
7. Summarize Othello’s soliloquy in lines 258 – 277.
8. Why does Emilia give the dropped handkerchief to Iago?
9. What warning does Othello give Iago in lines 368 – 373?
10. What two things does Iago tell Othello to prove Desdemona and Cassio are
having an affair?
11. Summarize what happens at the end of scene three.
12. Why do you think Othello believes Iago and does not believe in Desdemona?
Scene IV - Summary
Desdemona looks everywhere for her handkerchief, but she can’t find it. Othello enters
and asks Desdemona for the handkerchief, and she admits she does not have it. Othello
lectures her, and she does not like his tone; he seems so obsessed with this object. She
begins to fear his mood, so she interrupts Othello’s inquiry by bringing up Cassio;
Othello storms out in anger. Desdemona and Emilia both note the change in Othello.
Cassio then enters, with Iago; he laments that that Othello does not seem likely to take
him back. Desdemona is sorry; she tells Cassio and Iago that Othello has been acting
strangely, and Iago goes to look for him, feigning concern. Emilia and Desdemona
cannot figure out what is wrong, although Emilia suspects it is jealousy and Desdemona
thinks it’s troubles with important military matters, and the two leave.
Bianca joins Cassio, and Cassio asks her to copy the handkerchief that he found in his
room. He claim is angry at her for suspecting that the handkerchief is from another
woman, and takes her away and he does not think it’s a good idea for Othello to see him
with her at this time.
Questions
13. What is the dramatic irony at the beginning of this scene?
14. Recap the story of the handkerchief in your own words.
15. Why is Emilia deceitful about the handkerchief?
16. What do Desdemona’s lines reveal about her character?
17. Choose two examples of lines you consider important to this scene and explain
why your choice.