Our, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. "Pomp, and circumstance" are the glories and ceremonies of warfare. Snatching the handkerchief, Iago retains exclusive control over "directing" the unfolding jealousy of Othello. Now her face is as “black” as Othello’s, an image that draws again on the play’s complicated association between racial blackness and moral blackness. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." In Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello, Othello and Iago kneel down together and then rise. Othello’s metaphor suggests that Desdemona’s fall from grace would place her at his level. Iago tells him that he has seen Cassio with Desdemona's handkerchief. Othello swears off his profession, as well as marital bliss, because Iago has convinced him that Desdemona has been unfaithful. Othello’s words reveal a trace of dramatic irony. He believes that she has robbed him of his manhood, so he feels he must destroy her. Othello's exasperation with Iago's further supports that Othello has already become suspicious. Not only does she claim to have the power to reinstate Cassio, Cassio himself pledges to be her servant, not Othello’s. From Othello’s perspective, Desdemona may be stressing the urgency of the case out of her feelings for Cassio. Iago once again plants seeds of doubt while making himself look innocent by airing his suspicions and then arguing that they can't possibly be true. This small moment foreshadows the breaking down of their relationship. Act 3 Scene 3 . Notice, also, that until this moment, Othello has always been honest. Argue for a staging that would communicate to an audience one theme that you see in the play. Iago has convinced Othello that Desdemona had an affair with Lieutenant Cassio; however, Iago is pretending to downplay it by insisting that he only heard Lieutenant Cassio dreaming (audibly) about Desdemona. Desdemona tries to heal Othello’s ache with this symbol of their love, but he refuses it, and it falls to the floor. View This Storyboard as a Slide Show! DESDEMONA. -Graham S. As soon as doubt about Desdemona's faithfulness creeps in, Othello loses his sense of manhood and begins to be affected by the racial prejudice that he had formerly shrugged off. Renaissance men often suspected their wives of adultery because of the stigma around being a "cuckold." Notably, Iago, too, has no evidence that Othello has slept with Emilia, but the suspicion or doubt seems to have been sufficient to make him spurn Emilia and persecute Othello. Iago introduces the idea that Othello may have something to be jealous about which plants a seed of doubt in his mind. Othello’s point is that knowing just “a little” about Desdemona’s adultery is the greatest torture of all. He claims that his thoughts about Cassio might be unnecessarily upsetting. Desdemona pleads to Othello on Cassio’s behalf. Desdemona tells Cassio that she will do everything she can to have him reinstated as lieutenant, and will not stop pleading for him until he is restored. Act 3, Scene 3 Professor Bradley Greenburg of Northeastern Illinois University provides an in-depth summary and analysis of Act 3, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's play Othello. Othello's anxiety, though unfair, is understandable. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. In other words, he loves her too deeply to let her go. The act of kneeling is traditionally associated with a vow of loyalty, devotion, or submission. In an effort to win Othello’s good graces, Cassio sends musicians to play music beneath the general’s window. The garden of the castle. Iago pretends to be reluctant to reveal the fictitious affair between Cassio and Desdemona because stealing a person's honor is far worse than stealing his/her money. As he judiciously puts it, “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove.”. Cassio leaves when he sees Othello and Iago approach, as he is too embarrassed to stay and hear Desdemona argue for him. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!”, “This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. Othello asks Iago to send some letters to the Senate and then orders the Gentlemen to show him a fort. Abbreviations. The image he produces likens his violent urges to an “icy current” as well as to “bloody thoughts,” a pair of contradictory images. Iago cleverly employs personification here, identifying not Cassio as the foe but rather jealousy itself. His words also ironically reflect on Othello’s situation. Now that Othello knows of the fictional adultery, the rest of the play is devoted to the unfolding consequences. Othello's sudden curtness to Desdemona may indicate that he is already suspicious of her, just from seeing Cassio rush away. He characterizes his vengeance as “black,” drawing upon both racial and moral connotations. Iago understands that Cassio spoke to Desdemona about his reinstatement. All the while, Iago builds Othello’s anticipation. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Iago responds to Othello's demand for visible proof with the most circumstantial, unverifiable evidence. Desdemona’s case for reinstating Cassio is that his crime is one of ignorance, not cunning. Ever the master of irony, Iago’s goal here is to sow seeds of jealousy in Othello. Othello here states that the uncertainty of jealousy is actually worse than the possible crime, and expressly connects his worrying with the loss of military glory, of honor and manhood. Shakespeare structures this phrase to encompass both realities. Yet again, Iago is most deceitful precisely in the moments in which he pretends to be most moderate. The horrible conceit is Iago’s larger plan to exact revenge on Othello and Cassio. In Act III, Scene iii of Othello, Shakespeare portrays Iago using Ethos to persuade Othello that his wife has been cheating on him. Othello describes his anger as similarly ceaseless, without ebb. IAGO: Ha! Actually understand Othello Act 3, Scene 3. Synopsis: Desdemona’s interview with Cassio is cut short by the arrival of Othello. This exchange between Cassio and Desdemona places Desdemona in a higher tier of importance than Othello. Desdemona is with Cassio and Emilia. Copy. Cassio, the ignorant one, is condemned. Jealousy in Othello Act 3 Scene 3 by shakespeare. The garden of the castle. Jove, king of the gods in Roman mythology and known as Zeus in Greek, ruled the sky and heavens. Instant downloads of all 1386 LitChart PDFs Updated: 12/22/2020. Othello Act 1 - Act 3-3. by 361312b9. The reflexive pronoun construction "their own" refers to "their own eyes," which is to say that no one, aside from them, will be able to catch them. Iago knows this well and capitalizes on it. Othello finds this insecurity resurfacing in the context of Desdemona’s possible adultery. Iago cleverly frames his thoughts as untrustworthy and beyond his own control. Got it. Scene 3. . Othello uses a falconry metaphor to explain his torn feelings for Desdemona. As the scene draws to a close, Othello agrees to the plot Iago has devised. Cassio leaves hastily in order to avoid speaking with Othello. Iago to Othello ACT 3 SCENE 3 - TEMPTATION SCENE. By pointing to the man’s “guiltylike” movements, though, Iago introduces the idea that Cassio is guilty of some other indiscretion. Not only that, but My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, “Every teacher of literature should use these translations. Meanwhile, despite being misused by her own husband, Emilia nonetheless remains eager to please him. True to his character, Othello does not believe in Iago’s stance of jealousy. Emilia explains the significance of the napkin, giving meaning to the previous exchange between Desdemona and Othello. In act 3, scene 3, Iago poisons Othello's mind, insinuating that Desdemona's been cheating on him with Michael Cassio. Literary Analysis : Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Rhetorical and Literary Devices By: Kathy, Melinda, Kyle and Anthony line 93-94 & 100-107 line 374 Leading Questions: Timeline Anticipations are reached and manipulations of Iago's plan unfold without this scene the play and plot would be And Othello, overcome by jealousy, accepts it. Othello’s self-awareness in this passage is fascinating. . nature erring from itself — " (227). Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do. She promises to help him. The third act begins with a bit of comic relief; a clown is mincing words with a few musicians, then has a little wordplay with Cassio, who bids the clown to go and see if Desdemona will speak with him. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. Iago argues that the fortunate man knows his wife is adulterous, while the unfortunate man is plagued by the anxiety of unconfirmed suspicion. Act One Scene 3 of William Shakespeare's Othello Referring to the passage in page 155, I have analysed several points in conjunction to background knowledge, in attempt to answer the task set above. This page contains the original text of Othello Act 3, Scene 3.Shakespeare’s original Othello text is extremely long, so we’ve split the text into one Scene per page. Hugh Quarshie as Othello and Lucian Msamati as Iago in Iqbal Khan's 2015 production of Othello with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Learn more. Othello insists that only the collapse of form and order (chaos) would cause him to fall out of love with his wife, Desdemona. Othello thinks of the racial divide between Desdemona and himself. The garden of the castle. Her face was once “fresh as Dian’s”—an allusion to the Greek goddess Diana, whose virginity and moonlike skin are used to symbolize purity. Desdemona, who showed independence resisting her father's anger in 1.1, here proves herself willing to take an independent political stand against her husband. New York: Clark & Maynard. Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA If Iago’s false allegations of adultery between Cassio and Desdemona were true, Othello’s reputation would be destroyed. (Desdemona; Cassio; Emilia; Othello; Iago) Desdemona assures Cassio she will do all she can for him. Othello quotes act 3. SCENE III. Iago succeeds in recasting Othello’s courtship with Desdemona as evidence of her duplicitous nature. Notice that it is Othello, now jealous, who says it is too small and lets it fall. Othello: Act 3, Scene 3 Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA. As if to quell Othello’s concerns about her intentions, Desdemona assures him that her case to reinstate Cassio is not a “boon,” or personal favor. Examine the importance of Act 3: Scene 3 of Othello, considering its significance in terms of plot, character, theme and dramatic power Essay April 11, 2019 June 14, 2020 admin Marriage Othello is a play about a black ‘noble moor’ who has an ideal marriage. Students love them!”. Othello Act 3 Scene 3 Lyrics. In this moment he cannot decide whether Desdemona is faithful and Iago dishonest, or if Desdemona is faithless and Iago honest. Create your own! All Acts are listed on the Othello text page, or linked to from the bottom of this page.. ACT 3. That Desdemona characterizes her relationship to Othello in this way indicates the level of power she commands in both her marriage and the political sphere. However, his words and shifts are carefully calculated to inspire jealousy. Act 3 Scene 2 . Othello refers to himself as an “excellent wretch,” an oxymoron that characterizes his status as a foolish, out-of-control lover. And, once again, he follows a moment of backing off with an insinuation calculated to drive Othello still madder with jealousy—all carefully staged. Cassio asks the clown to entreat Emilia to come speak with … Now, to protect his own honor, he lies and says that he is not jealous. He understands how toxic his shift in perspective is—“‘tis of aspics’ tongues”—and yet he is helpless in controlling his emotions. Othello offers a dense metaphor for his rage. This moment represents the beginning of the play’s climax. Othello can no longer enjoy the "pomp, and circumstance" of his occupation because he believes he has been cuckolded (betrayed by his adulterous wife). "Men should be what they seem, or those that be not, would they might seem not" (III.iii.126-127) "My lord, you know I love you" (III.iii.117) Part of him wishes to let her fly free and do as she wishes. In Shakespeare's time, a vale (which is a broad, flat valley) was often used as a metaphor for the span of life between the peaks of life and death. Like What You See? IAGO O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! In a reiteration of the theme of emotion versus reason, Othello uses reason to suppress any potential flarings of emotion. The planting of the handkerchief, which Othello dropped, in Cassio's room shows how jealousy produces the effect it fears. As Othello describes it, however, Desdemona’s jesses—the cords that attach a falcon to its falconer—are his heartstrings. The images of Othello’s home life—his bed, his dining table—become political locations where affairs of state are discussed. Read every line of Shakespeare’s original text alongside a modern English translation. Cassio declares he's forever indebted to her, and Desdemona again … In saying this, Othello calls him back and says he should tell him everything. Act 3, Scene 3 Cassio has explained the whole situation to Desdemona, and she promises to not rest until she's convinced Othello to reinstate Cassio as his lieutenant and renew their friendship. It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on; (3.3.195-197) Iago’s pretty good at manipulating Othello, don’t you think? Using his brilliant rhetoric, Iago plants solid suspicion in Othello’s mind regarding the character of Desdemon… Teachers and parents! Othello's anxiety, though unfair, is understandable. Othello, Act 3, Scene 4. Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's OTHELLO, with notes, line numbers and search function. Meanwhile Iago, the cunning one, runs free. Othello sees a group of men approaching hem, and Iago thinks that’s Brabantio and his followers, so he suggests Othello to leave. Iago enters, and Cassio tells him that he means to speak to Desdemona, so that she may clear things up with Othello. Iago’s tactic in this exchange with Othello is to give away slight inclinations of distrust in Cassio. He then pretends not to have reasons for distrusting Cassio. Struggling with distance learning? (including. Desdemona decides that she wants to advocate for Cassio. In Elizabethan times, to be a cuckold was a severe embarrassment. From Othello.Ed. Emilia says that Cassio’s situation is upsetting her husband so much that it’s as if … This highly theatrical moment of vow-taking reflects the climax of Iago's plan. He seeks to eliminate the uncertainty by getting proof—by seeing reality. Othello makes reference to “the rack,” an infamous medieval torture device which stretches the prisoner’s limbs in opposite directions. The idea of reputation is the idea on which Iago will build all of his deceit. As Othello arrives, Cassio leaves because he is too ashamed to face him. Iago enters with Othello and tries to make him notice Cassio going away after meeting Desdemona. Iago fuels Othello’s concerns, claiming that nature’s course would guide Desdemona to choose someone of the same clime—or social status—and race. He has become lieutenant, and destroyed Othello's sense of his own honor in the process. He expresses his concern that his reputation would be ruined should he freely give his thoughts away. With those five words, spoken as an aside (but purposefully loud enough to be overheard by Othello in act 3, scene 3, of Shakespeare's Othello), Iago … This passage alludes to the Pontic Sea, today known as the Black Sea, a body of water without a balanced tide which flows in and out. Othello Act 3 Quotes -Iago-CassioExplication: He will send Desdemona to Cassio and will find Othello and figure out a way for Desdemona and Othello to talk so he can promote Cassio “I’ll send her to you presently,And I’ll devise a mean to draw the MoorOut of the way, that your converse and businessMay be … Othello wishes to know the “horrible conceit” about Cassio that Iago has “shut up in [his] brain.” In truth, the horrible conceit in Iago’s brain is a much deeper one than Cassio’s fictional adultery. Othello expresses his internal shift from love to hate. On one level, Iago speaks of himself hypothetically. Othello, however, interprets Cassio's dream as a "foregone conclusion" that Desdemona betrayed him. LitCharts Teacher Editions. Cyprus. Othello thinks that his decline into the vale of years may be a reason for Desdemona to cheat on him. Othello acknowledges that his love for Desdemona has the power to influence him negatively. The handkerchief is a symbol of Othello and Desdemona's love. In this couplet, Othello admits to the nuanced nature of his trust in others. This contradiction indicates the lack of clarity in his thinking. What does this symbolize? In this case, “strangeness” means “estrangement.” In other words, even though Othello has distanced himself Cassio, the distance is short because of the history the two men share. Explanatory Notes for Act 3, Scene 3. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. — Sarah, Owl Eyes Staff Shakespeare was not the only Renaissance Englishman to pair colors with emotions or personal qualities, though he is the first we know of to do so in print. Iago’s tactic is meant to cultivate Othello’s doubts about Cassio without behaving as if he intends to do so. Iago knows well that Othello saw Cassio exit, and yet he shrouds Cassio’s presence in intrigue. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. Othello makes a subtle reference to the cuckold’s horns. Read Act 3, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Othello, side-by-side with a translation into Modern English. Brainerd Kellogg. Othello agrees to her but he has started doubting her. Othello | Act 3, Scene 3 | … According to Iago’s lies, Desdemona found neither characteristics in Othello, suggesting a “will most rank.” In other words, Iago characterizes Desdemona as deceitful and manipulative. A cuckolded man (a man whose wife is cheating on him) faced both social humiliation and ruined credit. LO1 To explore how the balance of power shifts between Iago and Othello in lines 90 to 259 (AO2) LO2 To closely analyse the linguistic techniques that Iago uses to manipulate Othello (AO2) LO3 To consider the impact that Iago has on Othello’s state of mind in the first section of Act 3 scene 3 (AO2) By expressing a desire to let her live, Iago further coaxes Othello into choosing to kill her. [He puts the handkerchief from him, and she drops it.]. Othello here states that the uncertainty of jealousy is actually worse than the possible crime, and expressly connects his worrying with the loss of military glory, of honor and manhood. Desdemona is essentially tasked with maintaining the sanity of her husband. The growth of jealousy based on nonexistent evidence becomes one of the play’s central themes. Rather, it is in Othello’s best interests. Iago acts as if he was sorry that he ever told Othello about it. All my abilities in thy behalf. For her part, Desdemona insists on her obedience to him as a virtuous wife. Storyboard Text . “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. The audience, of course, knows well which line of thinking is accurate. The horns are from a medieval myth in which cuckolded men were thought to sprout horns as a result of their symbolic castration. Such harsh consequences led to frequent paranoia, also called horn-madness because of the metaphorical horns that supposedly sprout from the cuckold's brow. But Othello denied because he thinks his perfect is the best justify for himself. Desdemona believing in her husband’s goodness assures Cassio regarding his problem. They completely demystify Shakespeare. Iago once again manages to plant a seed of doubt in another person's mind without seeming to mean to. 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