Othello
Act 3 - Scene 4
Nasrin
Karaleen
Jeffer Jiahong Pamera
Plot
Desdemona talks to Clown.
Significance: comic relief
Desdemona asks Emilia where
is the handkerchief
Significance: Emilia lied to
Desdemona; thus Desdemona
lost her chance to justify
herself.
Plot
Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief but she can’t find it.
Significance: Othello interprets this as proof of Desdemona’s
disloyalty.
Desdemona talks to Cassio,Emilia,and Iago.
Cassio asks Bianca to make a copy of the handkerchief.
Significance: Bianca trusts Cassio. This impacts what happens later
in the story.
Desdemona talks to
clown.
Significance: comic relief
Othello asks Desdemona for the
handkerchief but she can’t find it.
Significance: Othello interprets
this as proof of Desdemona’s
disloyalty.
Desdemona asks Emilia where is
the handkerchief
Significance: Emilia lied to
Desdemona; thus Desdemona
lost her chance to justify herself..
Cassio asks Bianca to make a
copy of the handkerchief.
Significance: Bianca trusts
Cassio. This impacts what
happens later in the story.
Desdemona talks to
Cassio,Emilia,and Iago.
Themes
-
Jealousy can lead to mistreatment.
-
There was distrust in relationships during the period of Othello because
women were seen as liars.
-
Everyone should be aware of who they trust.
-
It is possible for one to have divided loyalty.
-
Appearance versus reality is evident as many characters lie about what
they know and does not report their knowledge or give false information.
Development of Othello
➔ The story of the handkerchief tells the audience about Othello’s
exotic background
➔ Othello’s anger towards Desdemona shows his irritable temper
(III.iv.74-93)
➔ Solving matters indirectly:
◆
◆
Othello questions Desdemona indirectly.(III,iv,30-94)
Othello punishes Cassio without solving the root of the
problem. (II,iii,234)
➔ Othello hates disloyalty.
Development of
Desdemona
-
Superstitious:
Desdemona believes in Othello’s
story about the handkerchief.
Development of Desdemona
-
Innocent and naive:
Desdemona keeps advocating for Cassio while
Othello is clearly angry. (III,iv,85-93)
Rather than cover, Desdemona continues to do the
right thing.
“Something sure of state/from Venice/unhatch’d
practice” (III,iv,134-144)
Desdemona denies that Othello is jealous, and
believes the source of Othello’s anger is from his
occupation.
Bianca:
(foil character to Othello)
-
-
trusting Cassio
“Tis very good; I must be
circumstanc’d” (III,iv,195)
loves Cassio
Cassio:
-
gullible
well-mannered
(III,iv,104-116)
manipulated by Iago
Iago:
-
manipulator
confident liar
Emila:
-
blinded by love
place her love to Iago higher
than her loyalty to Desdemona
having a tragic marriage
“they are all but stomachs, and
we all but food” (III,iv,98)
Relationships
Cassio - Desdemona:
- Friend.
- Desdemona tries to help Cassio to
get back his position.
Emilia - Desdemona:
- Emilia tries to hint Desdemona
that Othello is jealous.
“Pray Heaven/no conception nor
no jealous toy concerning you”
(III,iv,149-151)
- lies about the handkerchief.
“I know not, madam.”(III,iv,20)
Othello - Desdemona:
- Othello does not trust
Desdemona.
- Othello suspects that Desdemona
is cheating.
- Othello confronts Desdemona
about the handkerchief.
-
Desdemona denies that Othello is
jealous, and believes the source of
Othello’s anger is from his
occupation.(III,iv,134-144)
Relationships
Iago - Othello
- Iago manipulates Othello in the
previous scenes.
Iago - Emilia/Desdemona/Cassio
- Used Emilia to steal the
handkerchief.
- Pretends to help and is careless
about his actions (III.iv.102-133)
- Acts as everyone’s friend
Cassio - Othello
- They have a genuine friendship
- Othello thinks Cassio is cheating
with Desdemona
Cassio - Bianca
- Cassio is insincere to Bianca’s
love yet he speaks nicely and
treats her well. This contrasts to
how Iago treats Emilia.
“my most fair Bianca”(III,iv,163)
Setting
-
The street outside Othello’s
lodging
-
Superstitious society
-
Women were known to be less
than men (sexism)
-
Women were treated poorly
-
People still uses handkerchief
Mood
-
Humorous in the beginning
-
Suspenseful tone
The audience is interested to see if
Desdemona can clarify herself.
-
Cynical and snarky
Othello pretends to be nice and
questions Desdemona in a cynical
and snarky tone.
The Scene’s Timeline
Previous scenes:
Othello has been manipulated by Iago to suspect Desdemona’s loyalty but no
ocular proof was given.
This scene:
09.17.XX
10.13.XX
Othello got the proof of Desdemona’s disloyalty, the lost handkerchief.
After this scene:
Othello will get more proof of Desdemona’s disloyalty.
Othello will exact his revenge on Desdemona and Cassio for having an
“affair”.
Strength
-
-
Fits the timeline and plot.
Repeats the theme of “be
aware of who you trust”.
Creates a comic relief before
the climax which will occur
later in this scene.
Keeps the reader hanging and
guessing what will happen.
- Othello is jealous and we
do not know what he is
going to do.
Weakness
-
-
Timing inconsistency
“what! Keep a week away?”(III,iv,87)
This shows Cassio has been in
Cyprus for at least a week, but the
play has only showed 3 days.
Irrational:
Othello believes Desdemona has
given the handkerchief to Cassio but
he can not remember that
Desdemona had it moments ago.
Dramatic Techniques
Comic Relief before entering the Climax
- Clown’s pun of “lie and “lay”
Dramatic Irony:
Audience knows Desdemona is loyal when Othello set her on trial
Audience knows Iago is acting as everyone's friend while really having malicious
intent.
“Something of moment then. I will go meet him” (III,iv,133)
“There is no other way: ‘tis she must do it” (III,iv,97)
Symbolism
Handkerchief = The love between Desdemona and Othello
Dyed fluid of Maiden’s heart in the Handkerchief = Desdemona’s heart and virginity
strawberry on a white background = bloodstain on a wedding sheet that proves a
bride’s virginity
Moisture hand = what Othello thought as Desdemona’s inherent promiscuity
Rhetorical and Literary Devices
- Pun/diction for the word “lie”(III,iv,2-11)
Author’s intention:
This serves as comic relief between scene III and scene IV
- Repetition of “The handkerchief” (III,iv,85-92)
Anaphora: “Is’t lost?Is’t gone?Speak;is’t out of th’way?” (III,iv,76)
Author’s intention:
This shows how irritated Othello is while Desdemona is still trying to advocate
for Cassio. This shows that Desdemona is naive.
Rhetorical and Literary Devices
- Metaphor: “Men are stomach, women are food” (III,iv,98-99)
Author’s intention:
This gives audience insights about Emilia’s marriage
- Flashback/anecdote: The story of the handkerchief (III,iv,53-71)
Author’s intention:
Othello used this story to test or warn Desdemona. This story gives audience
insights about Othello’s background.
Rhetorical and Literary Devices
Exaggeration:“the sun where he was born drew all such humours from him” (III,iv,26)
Author’s intention:
This shows Desdemona believes that Othello is not jealous. It explains why
Desdemona doesn’t know the reason for Othello’s anger until her death.
Imagery: “I have seen the cannon./blown his ranks into the air”(III,iv,128-131)
Author’s intention:
This tells the audience about Othello’s battle experience and how calm and valiant
Othello is in battle.
Issues for Discussion
● Emilia could quickly sense that Othello is jealous
“Is not this man jealous?” (III,iv,94)
and she remarked similar comments about jealousy as Iago
“Begot upon itself,born on itself”(III,Iv,156)
“It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on”
(III,iii,168-169)
Is it Iago’s influences that cause Emilia to behave and think in this
way?
Issues for Discussion
●
Is the story that Othello tells Desdemona about the Handkerchief a
true story? Did Othello make up the story to test Desdemona? Or is
this story a warning that Othello will no longer love Desdemona if she
is disloyal? (III,iv,52-71)
"Desdemona's Handkerchief by Not Even
Past." Cowbird. N.p., n.d. Web. 04 Dec. 2015.
Picture Citation
"Ivanhoe." Ivanhoe. A Wordpress Game, n.d.
Web. 04 Dec. 2015.
"Othello! by Dogski." Othello! N.p., n.d. Web.
04 Dec. 2015.
"Othello." Loyal Books. N.p., n.d. Web. 04
Dec. 2015.