OTHELLO ACT 3 SCENE 4 Flashcards
Summary
- Othello and Desdemona miscommunication- we can see he is starting to interalise Iago’s manipulations
- Intro to Bianca and how she gets the hankerchief
Themes
- Marriage
- Anger
- Violence
Importance
- Othello’s downfall is underway
- Context to treatment of women
Links to tragedy
- Treatment of women
- Perepteia
Why is how the scene begins relevant
- We have just witnessed a lengthy scene of sustained emotional charge which ends with a promise of bloody violence
- Reintroduction of clown for comedic relief- emotional whiplash
What does Desdemona say that shows she has brought about her own downfall
“Tell him I have moved my lord.” - naive and the opposite- she has made her own deathbed
Why is Emilia’s lie crucial here?
- “Where should I lose that hankerchief Emilia?” “I know not madam”
- It is arguably the last point where tragedy could have been averted
Where is there dramatic irony in Desdemona’s language (3)
- “my noble Moor/Is true of mind and made of no such baseness/As jealous creatures.”
- naive and innocence, we the audience know this isn’t true
- Contrasts with Emilia’s worldly knowledge (Is he not jealous?)
What is the significance of how Othello greets Desdemona
- “Well, my good lady [Aside] O hardness to dissemble.”
- He is playing right into Iago’s hand- acting respectfully and dignified to her face but the audience see a different side of him
2 quotes where Othello slut shames Desdemona
- “This hand is moist my lady.” (moist palm was believed to indicate youthfulness and sexual ardour)
- “A liberal hand.” (given away freely)
Where can we see Desdemona’s romanticised view of the world?
“For twas that hand that gave away my heart”: she is reminding him of their love and trust in the giving of the hand in marriage (to give away the hand was to give away the heart)
Why is the way Othello talks about the hankerchief important?
Aspects of tragedy: supernatural (mythological) and emphasises inevitability of the fate of their love (to lose’t or give’t away such perdition)
Significance of “There’s magic in the web of it.”
- Ironic since previously Othello was accused of witchcraft (falling into stereotypes)
- Metaphor for how brilliant Iago’s tangled plans are- reminds of his previous soliloquy
Significance of Othello’s speech here
- Broken up speech- contrasted to earlier when he was dignified and measured and making long monologues
- Now they’re simplistic, 1 syllable phrases because he’s letting anger take over him
“Heaven bless us/ say you”
- Desdemona: us- unity, she still believes they’re a team
- Othello: you- putting distance between them- he’s not allowing himself to trust her
“pray you let Cassio be recieved again.” signifcance
Desdemona is oblivious to the implication of her constantly bringing up Cassio- she is potentially in danger
Where can we see Othello being influenced by Iago
“Zounds!”
Emilia having a proto-feminist view
- “They eat us hungerly and when they are full they belch us.”
- Controversial- cynical of men saying they just use women - women meant to be subservient
- worldly view once again: she recognises that women are objectified and used
Where can we still see connection between Desdemona and Othello?
- “My lord is not my lord.”
- She knows something is wrong with him
How does Iago continue to stir up the drama?
- “Can he be angry?” - Iago has little input in this scene but when he does we can see how he manipulates the situation and how the consequences of his actions play out
Where is Desdemona painfully innocent
“Unhandsome warrior as I am.” - claiming she’s not pretty
How are Emilia and Iago mirrored?
“But jealous for they’re jealous. Tis a monster/Begot upon itself, born on itself.” - knows that jealousy is consuming
Dramatic irony from Desdemona
“Heaven keep that monster from Othello’s mind.”
What was Bianca’s role
Courtesan- a prostitute with predominantly wealthier clients
