Othello: Act Four
Scene 1
Iago continues to torture Othello with questions and crude images. He also torments him with
allusions to the handkerchief. Iago again manipulates language expertly, forcing Othello to
question him about his suspicions. When Iago suggests that he does not know for certain whether
Cassio has lain “With her, on her, what you will” (34), Othello falls down in a fit. While he is
convulsed on the floor Iago gloats over him saying “Work on, / my medicine, work! Thus
credulous fools are caught” (45-46). Cassio enters and Iago assumes the role of the concerned
servant. He sends Cassio away but tells him he needs to speak to him. When he comes round
Othello agonises about being cuckolded: “A horned man’s a monster and a beast” (64). Iago
tells Othello to hide so he can overhear a conversation with Cassio about Desdemona. When
Cassio returns, he replies in a light-hearted way when Iago asks him about his intentions towards
Bianca, his mistress. Othello believes Cassio is talking about Desdemona. When Bianca arrives
and throw the handkerchief at Cassio (because she believes it is “some minx’s token”), Othello
thinks he has absolute proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. Cassio and Bianca leave and Othello
emerges in a black mood. He is still torn between thoughts of his wife’s sweetness and a desire to
believe in her guilt. Iago ensures that vengefulness dominates. Othello suggests poisoning
Desdemona that very night but Iago tells him that strangling her in the bed she has
“contaminated” (205) is more appropriate. The “justice” (206) of this plan pleases Othello. Iago
says that he will murder Cassio and report back after midnight.
At this point Desdemona appears with Lodovico and other attendants. Othello has been recalled
from Cyprus and Cassio is to be governor in his place. Desdemona welcomes this news. Othello
presumes she is glad because her lover has received promotion at his expense and strikes
Desdemona who leaves the stage. Lodovico is deeply shocked; he cannot believe that this is the
“noble Moor…Whom passion could not shake?” (264 and 266). After the general has left, Iago
tells Lodovico, with pretended reluctance, that Othello has been guilty of worse actions than
striking his wife.
Scene 2
Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona and Cassio. He wants further ‘evidence’ to add to the
‘proof’ of the handkerchief. Emilia insists that Desdemona is honest and chaste and warns Othello
against jealousy. Othello asks Emilia to fetch his wife. She leaves the couple together. Othello
now tries to elicit an admission of guilt from Desdemona, who courageously asserts her virtue.
Overwrought, Othello weeps; Desdemona presumes that he is mourning her father who has died.
Othello then describes his mental suffering, using an image of himself caught in everlasting shame.
He says that “The fountain” (60) of his life has been polluted, becoming “a cistern, for foul
toads / To knot and gender in” (62-63). Turning to his wife, Othello wonders how she can look
so “lovelock fair” while being a “weed” (68). Desdemona asks what “ignorant sin” (71) she has
committed. At this point Emilia returns. Believing her a “simple bawd” (20) who has assisted
Desdemona in her deceit, Othello offers her money and leaves in disgust.
Emilia tries to comfort her mistress. Desdemona asks Emilia to call Iago to her and also asks her
to make her bed up with her wedding sheets. Emilia describes to her husband how Othello has
“bewhored” his wife (117) and Desdemona finally weeps. Disturbingly, Iago assumes the role of
the gentle comforter while Emilia (ironically) explains how she believes that Desdemona has been
slandered by some “busy insinuating rogue” who has made Othello believe falsehoods (133).
She reminds Iago that this is what happened between her and him when he was led to believe that
she and Othello engaged in an affair. Desdemona asks Iago how she can win Othello back again.
Iago tells her not to worry and to dry her tears. When Desdemona is summoned to supper by
trumpets Roderigo appears; he has decided to return home, believing that Iago has deceived him
with false hopes. Yet again Iago manages o talk him round, on this occasion persuading him to
participate in the plot to murder Cassio. He says that his death is necessary so that Othello will be
kept on in Cyprus as governor (Iago lies to Roderigo and tells him Othello is being sent to
Mauritania).
Scene 3
In contrast to the way Othello has spoken to her, Lodovico politely wishes Desdemona goodnight
and leaves to take an evening walk with Othello. Othello speaks graciously enough to Lodovico
but then commands his wife to go to bed and dismisses Emilia so that Desdemona is alone. Emilia
attempts to comfort her mistress, saying she thinks Othello “looks gentler than he did” (9). But
she is puzzled and possible alarmed when she is told she is to be dismissed, asserting that she
wishes Desdemona had never met Othello. Desdemona says that she still loves her husband, that
even his bad moods “have grace and favour” in them (19). Ominously, she then tells Emilia that
she would like to be shrouded in her wedding sheets if she should die. Desdemona narrates the sad
story of one of her mother’s maids called Barbary, whose lover went mad and forsook her.
Desdemona says that she cannot get the song Barbary sang as she died out of her mind. Emilia
helps her mistress prepare for bed. Desdemona sings Barbary’s willow song, before bringing up
the topic of men. Desdemona cannot believe that women can ever be unfaithful to their husbands;
more realistically, Emilia Retorts that there are many who would betray their husbands. She offers
a realistic description of marriage. Desdemona ends the scene hoping that she will not behave
badly when she is set a bad example, she will instead try to find a virtuous path.