RECALL NOTES ACT FOUR
Act 4 scene 1:
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Iago continues to rub in Desdemona’s alleged affair.
o Laying naked with Cassio
o Secret kisses
o Having the right to give her handkerchief away
Cassio and Iago have a conversation while Othello is watching, but unable to fully
hear.
Iago is asking Cassio about Bianca, but Othello assumes that Cassio’s responses
are linked to Desdemona.
Othello contemplates how he is going to kill Desdemona.
Iago suggests strangling her in her sin reddened bed, and Othello agrees.
Lodovicio, Desdemona’s cousin, informs Othello that he is to return to Venice,
leaving Cassio to take Othello’s role in Cyprus.
Othello is angered and strikes Desdemona.
Desdemona does not fight back or stand up for herself. She simply takes and
questions what she had done to deserve the slap.
Act 4 Scene 2:
Othello grilling Emilia, trying to get her to confess that Desdemona and Cassio
are having an affair. Emilia swears that Desdemona has been faithful.
Othello asks Desdemona to confess if she has done anything wrong, and she is
confused. Othello calls her a whore and storms off.
Desdemona asks Iago why her husband would call her a whore and act in this
way. Iago claims he has no idea.
Emilia thinks someone is spreading a rumor about Desdemona, much like the
rumor spread around about Emilia and Othello.
Desdemona asks Iago for help, and he reassures her that Othello is only upset
about the letter.
Roderigo is wising up. He realizes that Iago is simply using him for money.
Nothing that Iago has promised him has panned out.
Iago tells Roderigo that Othello will be leaving Cyprus with Desdemona unless
something is done to prolong the trip. Iago tells Roderigo to kill Cassio, leaving
no one to take Othello’s place forcing Desdemona to stay.
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Scene 3:
Othello tells Desdemona to get ready for bed and that he will be there soon.
Othello also tells her to dismiss her servant Emilia.
Desdemona begins to say strange things regarding death.
o If I die wrap me in these sheets
o Shares story about a woman whose love went mad and abandoned her,
and died singing a willow song.
o Desdemona begins to sing this same song.
Desdemona shares that she would never cheat on her man and Emilia basically
replies, “Never say never.”
Emilia believes that if a wife cheats it’s the husband’s fault:
o Men put too much restraint on their wives
o Men may hit their wives
o Men cheat why can’t women?