Act III, Scene I use text on blog to help answer 1. Explain the action and purpose at the beginning of the scene.

Cassio is employing musicians to play beneath Othello’s bedroom window in order to soften the events of the previous evening. Cassio also asks that Desdemona come see him when she awakens.

2. What request does Cassio make of Emilia? Cassio asks Emilia to make it possible for him to speak privately with Desdemona.

Act III, Scene III 1. What is significant about the action at the beginning of the scene? What do we learn about the conversation between Desdemona and Cassio? The beginning is significant because we are joining the conversation after it has already been in progress. We learn that Desdemona wants to help Cassio and will speak to her husband on his behalf.

2. Explain the foreshadowing in the following lines: CASSIO: Ay, but, lady, That policy may either last so long, Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, Or breed itself so out of circumstance, That, I being absent and my place supplied, My general will forget my love and service. (Act III, Scene III, lines 15 – 20) Cassio alludes to the fact that Othello will forget about Cassio’s honesty if Cassio is not around to remind him of the faithful servant that he once was. As the audience will learn, Iago is able to poison Othello’s mind because Cassio is no longer by his side, and in fact, Othello does forget that Cassio was once his friend.

3. How does Iago take advantage of Cassio’s departure as soon as Othello enters the garden? Iago takes advantage of the situation by inferring that Cassio must feel guilty about something if he leaves so quickly when Othello approaches. Iago is trying to play into Othello’s issues with self-confidence and jealousy.

4. Explain the irony in Desdemona’s statement “I have no judgement in an honest face ….” (Act III, Scene III, line 54) The irony is that throughout the action and in all of Desdemona’s relations with Iago, she has not been able to recognize him as a dishonest man, and yet she claims that she is able to read honesty in a person’s face.

5. Explain Desdemona’s tone in her conversation with Othello concerning Cassio. Desdemona seems frantic in her concern for Cassio. When Othello tells her that he will have to wait to speak to Cassio, Desdemona does not let Othello ignore the issue. She continues to pose times that Othello will speak to Cassio. Her request for a specific time comes across as desperate.

6. After Desdemona compels Othello to speak to Cassio, she leaves. Othello states the following: OTHELLO: Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, But I do love thee! and when I love thee not, Chaos is come again. (Act III, Scene III, lines 100 – 103) Why do you think Iago is able to sow the seed of jealousy in Othello’s heart, if Othello loves Desdemona as much as he claims he does? How does Iago influence Othello’s thoughts?

Iago merely hints at the possibility of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness (without mentioning her name) and Othello allows that thought to take root in his mind and heart. Iago also points out that Cassio served as the in-between man during Othello’s courtship of Desdemona.

7. Explain the meaning in Othello’s speech: OTHELLO: Why, why is this? Think’st thou I’ld make a lie of jealousy, To follow still the changes of the moon With fresh suspicions?19 No! To be once in doubt Is once to be resolved. Exchange me for a goat, When I shall turn the business of my soul To such exsufflicate20 and blown surmises, Matching thy inference. ‘Tis not to make me jealous To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company, Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well; Where virtue is, these are more virtuous. Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt; For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago, 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! (Act III, Scene III, lines 199 – 215) Othello’s speech highlights his belief that in choosing to marry him, Desdemona affirmed her virtue. Othello’s speech, specifically when he speaks of “mine own weak merits,” touches on his own insecurities in his marriage to Desdemona. Understandably because of society’s view of Moors during the Renaissance, Shakespeare might be attempting to highlight Othello’s lack of faith in the institution of a marriage between a Moor and a white woman. Othello also opens the door for Iago to speak specifically of Desdemona. Until this point, Iago has not even needed to mention her name in his implications, but Othello has stated that until he has proof, he will believe nothing. 8. What does the image of the “green-eyed monster” signify, and how is it represented as a theme throughout the play? Read the following lines and explain the irony. IAGO: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-eyes monster, which doth mock The meat it feeds on. (Act III, Scene III, lines 165 – 167) These lines are ironic because it is jealousy that prompts Iago’s actions throughout the play. Iago is jealous of Casio’s appointment, and therefore, Iago devises a plan to destroy Othello and Cassio. The green-eyed monster is jealousy. Jealousy is a theme in the play in how it is initially the reason for Iago’s hatred of Othello. Later in the play, jealousy is one of Othello’s tragic flaws and contributes to the subsequent action in the play.

9. Read the following speech. How does Iago use Othello’s personality as a part of his plan to ruin the Moor? What advice does he give Othello? IAGO: I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason To show the love and duty that I bear you With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound, Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof. Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio; Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure: I would not have your free and noble nature, Out of selfbounty, be abused; look to’t. I know our country disposition well; In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience Is not to leave’t undone, but keep’t unknown. (Act III, Scene III, lines 216 – 227)

Iago uses Othello’s pride in his status as a husband and a noble man to highlight Desdemona’s possible deception.

11. Read the following lines from Act Three. How does Othello compare himself with Desdemona? What do we learn about Othello’s view of himself and Iago? OTHELLO: This fellow’s of exceeding honesty, And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit, Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,21 Though that her jesses22 were my dear heartstrings, I’ld whistle her off23 and let her down the wind To prey at fortune.24 Haply, for I am black And have not those soft parts of conversation That chamberers25 have, or for I am declined Into the vale of years—yet that’s not much— She’s gone. I am abused, and my relief Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage, That we can call these delicate creatures ours, And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad, And live upon the vapor of a dungeon, Than keep a corner in the thing I love For others’ uses. Yet, ‘tis the plague of great ones; Prerogatived26 are they less than the base; ‘Tis destiny unshunnable, like death: Even then this forked plague27 is fated to us When we do quicken. Desdemona comes …. (Act III, Scene III, lines 289 – 308)

21 a wild hawk; Othello compares Desdemona to a falcon in the next lines 22 leashes 23 let her go 24 as she wished 25 gentlemen Othello lacks self-confidence. He compares his fortune with those men who come from wealthier families. He does not believe that he speaks as well as other people because he is a Moor.

12. Desdemona’s handkerchief becomes an important piece of stage business. Why did Desdemona produce it? What happens to it? What does Emilia plan to do with it? Finally, who gets it, and what is to be done with it?

Desdemona is going to put it around Othello’s head, but he brushes it off, and it falls on the floor. Emilia picks it up after they leave and plans give it to her husband because he has asked her to steal it before. Emilia does not know what Iago is going to do with it, but we know that he is going to use it to advance his plan.

13. How would you characterize the relationship between Iago and Emilia? Emilia and Iago are married, but he does not seem to respect her. He calls her a wench and tells her that she is foolish. Some interpretations of the play suggest that Iago is flirting in his speech to his wife, but based on the evidence in previous scenes, some readers might be more likely to believe that Iago does not like women. He has not spoken kindly about them at any point during the play. In addition, if Iago believes that Emilia and Othello had an affair, the way he speaks to Emilia would not be flirtatious but demeaning.

14. Iago’s first step in his plan to dishonor Othello is to ruin the Moor’s opinion of Cassio. That being accomplished, Iago then attempts to make Othello jealous. Again, with only so much as a word, Iago is able to accomplish the task. After he retrieves the handkerchief from Emilia, how does he prompt Othello to discuss the proof again?

Iago begins to tell Othello about a dream that he witnessed Cassio having in which Cassio was talking in his sleep and describing a kiss between himself and Desdemona. In the same dream, Cassio cursed Othello. Then, Iago shows Othello the handkerchief that he had taken from Desdemona. Iago claimed that the handkerchief was in Cassio’s possession.

15. Why do you think Othello is willing to believe Iago without confronting his wife with the accusation? What do you believe Shakespeare is saying about the relationships between men and women during this time?

Othello is willing to believe Iago before asking his wife because Iago mentions to Othello that Desdemona has already been deceptive to her father. Perhaps Othello does not believe that she will be honest with him. Also, Shakespeare characterizes Desdemona as an independent and outspoken woman. Othello might not want to confront her because he is afraid of what the outcome might be if he is wrong. Shakespeare is illustrating that men are not likely to put much faith in women. Even though a man and woman may be married, the trust lies in relationships with men.

16. Analyze Iago’s view of love as is illustrated in his following statement: It is impossible you should see this Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys, As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross As ignorance made drunk. (Act III, Scene III, lines 448 – 451)

Iago’s view of love is very animalistic. In each instance that he has discussed love and women throughout the play, his view of both has been characterized with images of animals. The animals Iago uses to describe the action of the characters is brutal.

17. As Iago continues to fuel Othello’s mistrust, Othello begins to respond to Iago’s insinuations in short bursts of speech. Analyze Act III, Scene III, lines 373 – 530 and draw a conclusion about Othello’s state of mind. Answers the following questions: A. Which of the lines illustrate Othello’s emotional confusion between rationally analyzing the situation between Desdemona and Cassio and doubting Desdemona’s love and fidelity?

You may point out lines 400 – 404 or lines 427 – 434. Be sure that the students explain what in the lines points to Othello’s emotional confusion.

B. Which of the lines illustrate Iago’s ability to turn Othello into the “green-eyed monster”?

Students may point to Othello’s condemnation of his wife’s supposed behavior with Cassio, or perhaps they may view Othello’s negative view of himself (as represented in lines 431 – 432) as a sign of his jealousy

C. Which of the lines illustrate Othello’s weaknesses that allow him to fall into Iago’s trap?

Students should cite lines that illustrate Othello’s belief that Iago is trustworthy and honest

18. At the end of Act III, Scene III, Othello makes a request. What does he ask of Iago? What becomes of Iago?

Othello asks that Cassio be dead within three days. Othello makes Iago his lieutenant