Act 3, scene 3

Act 3, scene 3

1. Desdemona assures Cassio she'll help him

   • Iago and Othello walk in, Othello asks if it's Cassio who runs out immediately upon their arrival
     • Iago responds it's unlikely and why would Cassio "steal away so guilty-like / Seeing your coming"
     • Iago once again manages to plant a seed of doubt in another person's mind without seeming to mean to.
   • Desdemona showed independence in 1.1 against her dad, she's now doing the same against her husband

2. Desdemona asks othello to reinstate Cassio,

   • Othello asks for time
     • Desdemona replies "I am obedient"
     • Othello's discourteous language may suggest that he is already suspicious of her loyalty to their marriage

3. Once alone, Iago mentions his belief in an affair between Cassio and Desdemona

   • Iago says he may be wrong since Cassio is so honest
     • His fake doubts make his lies less apparent
       • Warns Othello of "the green-eyed monster"
         • Jealousy is a "green-eyed" monster because it takes you over and causes you to see what is not there.
         • Iago notes she deceived her father
         • Othello acts like he's not jealous, but is
           • Othello's been honest throughout, until now
         • Asks Emilia to watch Desdemona

4. Once Othello is alone, he becomes insecure

   • Believes Desdemona cannot love him due to his ill-manners, his black skin, his age
   • Curses marriage
     • Laments it is the fate of "great ones" to be cuckolded
   • Ohtello loses his manhood when he doubts Desdemona
   • Affected by racial prejudice, that he didn't care abour before

5. Othello drops handkerchief when Desdemona trynna soothe Othello

   • Emilia knows it's first present from Othello to Desdemona
     • Knows it's precious
       • Steals it
   • Symbol of their love

6. Iago grabs handkerchief from Emilia and sends her away

   • Shows he's in control over his wife
   • Plants it in Cassio's room

7. Othello would rather be deceived than suspicious

   • Grabs Iago by throat
     • wants "ocular proof"
   • connects his worrying with the loss of military glory, of honour and manhood.

8. Iago & Cassio shared a bed, Cassio had dream about Desdemona where he kept crying out her name and reaching for Iago

   • Othello: "I'll tear her all to pieces"
     • Immediately wants to kill her
   • Some argue Iago's homosexual due to this and that he in fact wants to get rid of Desdemona to have Othello for himself

9. Iago mentions seeing Cassio with handkerchief

   • Othello vows to seek revenge, Iago does the same
     • Iago new lieutenant
     • Climax of Iago's plans