Othello by William Shakespeare (Act 4 Scene 1-3, pg. 171-219)

Othello by William Shakespeare (Act 4 Scene 1-3, pg. 171-219)

Summary: In Act 4, Iago continues to taunt Othello with descriptions of Desdemona and Cassio’s “actions,” which causes Othello to pass out. When he awakes, he sees Cassio and Iago speaking, but cannot hear of what. When he draws nearer, he hears Cassio speaking of how Bianca had thrown herself at him the other day, but thinks that Cassio is speaking of Desdemona rather than Bianca. He is infuriated, and vows to murder Desdemona. With Iago’s suggestion, he decides to strangle her in the bed she has allegedly contaminated. At that moment, Lodovico arrives with orders from the duke telling Othello to return to Venice immediately and to appoint Cassio in his place. Upon seeing Desdemona, Othello hits her. Later, Othello speaks with Emilia about Desdemona, and she insists that she does not suspect any misdemeanors on Desdemona’s part. However, Othello is not moved, and calls Desdemona a whore to her face. Meanwhile, Roderigo confronts Iago, saying that he sees no change in Desdemona’s actions towards him. Iago then tells him that Othello and Desdemona will soon be leaving unless a delay can be caused, and suggests that Roderigo kill Cassio. That night, before going to bed, Desdemona speaks with Emilia, saying that women wouldn’t cheat on their husbands for the whole world. Emilia disagrees.

Unfamiliar Vocabulary:

Venial: forgivable, pardonable
Peculiar: exclusively theirs
Strumpet: a prostitute or woman too sexually active; slut
Prithee: please
Requite: pay something back; avenge oneself
Cistern: large tank
Callet: strumpet
Fulsome: obscene
Cozening: cheating
Votaress: nun
Harlotry: strumpet
Incontinent: immediately OR usu., uncontrolled
Affection: passion

Character Analysis: Othello

Throughout the course of the play, Othello has been the protagonist: the venerable general of the Venetian army. However, as Iago has artfully orchestrated, Othello’s confidence and nobleness have been gradually yet undeniably undermined by false suspicions planted in his mind by Iago himself. Although Othello has not actually witnessed any conclusive evidence proving that Desdemona has in fact been cheating on him, with Iago’s help, he seems set on expecting the worst, and is almost determined now to verify the affair. For example, partly due to his complete trust in Iago, Othello is quick to jump to the conclusion that Cassio is referring to his wife when he speaks of romantic gestures, even though he was in fact speaking of Bianca. Also, when he discovers that Cassio has his wife’s handkerchief, he becomes furious and immediately jumps to the conclusion that his wife willingly gave it to him, when in fact Iago had placed it in Cassio’s quarters. As Abraham Lincoln once said, “Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?” By becoming Othello’s most trusted advisor, he has with just a few subtle implications changed Othello from a trusting, noble man to a cynical, bitter one.

The effects of this change have affected not only his actions, but also, his language. Shortly before falling into a coma, Othello launches into a traumatic outburst, saying, “Lie with her? Lie on her? We say ‘lie on her’ when they belie her. Lie with her –Zounds, that’s fulsome! Handkerchief – confessions – handkerchief. [To confess and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged and then to confess – I tremble at it. It is not words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips – is’t possible? Confess – handkerchief – O, devil!]” As one can see, Othello’s eloquence has deteriorated into a loss for words.

Furthermore, as previously noticed in the beginning of the play, Iago’s words were often crude and animalistic. However, Othello’s words have also now become as such. For example, he says, “O, she will sing the savageness out of a bear!” and, “If that the earth could teem with a woman’s tears, each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.” Also, he shouts indignantly to Lodovico, “You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!” Later, he says directly to Desdemona, “The fountain from the which my current runs or else dries up – to be discarded thence, or keep it as a cistern for foul toads to know and gender in… O, ay, as summer flies are in the shambles, that quicken even with blowing!” As shown by these lines, the transformation has changed Othello completely, from the way he treats people and his outlook on life to the words he uses.