Iago’s repeated representations of their relationship as purely sexual). Iago suggests that they drink Othello’s health. Cassio is reluctant, explaining that he has “unhappy brains for drinking,” but Iago skillfully persuades him and sends Cassio to call in the gallants with the wine. Iago reveals his intention to ply Cassio with alcohol, making him “full of quarrel and offence.” He observes that Rodorigo and three other watchers are already very drunk, having been “flustered with flowing cups” by himself. Cassio returns, having been given a drink by Montano. Iago encourages him to have more, feigning cheery drunkenness on his own part. Cassio’s increasingly confused speech shows his growing inebriation, as do his repeated, comic denials that he is drunk. He leaves, and Iago observes to Montano that Cassio is a great soldier, but his “vice” of drinking is worrying. Rodorigo arrives, and Iago sends him after Cassio. There is a cry within and Rodorigo rushes back, pursued by an angry Cassio. Montano tries to stop Cassio and tells him that he is drunk. Cassio and Montano begin to fight, and Iago, still in control, sends Rodorigo to “cry a mutiny,” before beginning to call out for help.
Lines 153– 252: Othello arrives and stops the fight, assisted by Iago who is now playing the role of his loyal follower. Othello asks “Honest Iago” who began the fight, but Iago claims he does not know. Cassio “cannot speak” and Montano claims that he was acting in self-defense. Frustrated, Othello claims that his “blood” begins to “rule” his reason, showing that he can be moved to anger. He demands to know from Iago “who began it.” Feigning reluctance and appearing to defend Cassio, Iago blames him. Othello ironically praises Iago’s “honesty and love” in defending Cassio and strips Cassio of his officership. Desdemona interrupts them, and Othello’s soldierly tone is contrasted with his loving reassurances to his “sweeting” as he leads her back indoors.
Lines 253–375: Iago feigns concern for Cassio, who is devastated at the loss of his “reputation.” Ironically reinforcing the distance between appearance and reality, Iago tells Cassio that “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition.” He suggests that Cassio appeal to Desdemona to intercede with Othello. Cassio agrees and leaves. Alone, Iago dwells on the subtlety of his plan, pleased that no one could actually say that he “play[s] the villain,” as the advice he has given Cassio is good. He adds, however, that “When devils will the blackest sins put on, / They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,” reinforcing the black/white and good/evil motifs, as well as the theme of deception. He intends to tell Othello that Desdemona is only pleading for Cassio because she desires him. Rodorigo returns, complaining that he still does not have Desdemona. Iago reassures him and sends him away. Iago decides to get Emilia to persuade Desdemona to plead for Cassio while he sets up Othello to find Cassio “Soliciting” Desdemona.
ACT 3 SCENE 1
Cassio instructs some musicians to play beneath Othello’s window. In comic contrast to the events of the previous scene, the Clown engages in a series of bawdy quibbles before Iago interrupts them. Cassio tells him that he has sent to ask Emilia if she can arrange “some access” to “virtuous Desdemona.” Iago offers to draw Othello out of the way so Cassio may speak more freely, and Cassio observes how “kind and honest” Iago is. Emilia brings the news that Desdemona has already spoken to Othello about Cassio. Cassio still wishes to speak to Desdemona, however, and Emilia agrees to help him.
ACT 3 SCENE 2
Othello instructs Iago to meet him later.
ACT 3 SCENE 3Lines 1–99: Desdemona reassures Cassio that she will speak to Othello. Emilia ironically comments that her husband is as grieved by the situation “As if the cause were his,” establishing her naivete. Desdemona vows to “intermingle” everything Othello does with “Cassio’s suit” and Cassio leaves. As Othello and Iago approach, Iago suggests that Cassio looked “guilty-like” as he left. Desdemona greets them and says that she has been talking with “a suitor,” an unfortunately ambiguous word choice. She urges Othello to call Cassio back, but his replies to her entreaties are brief and distracted, suggesting that Iago has already begun to affect his perception. The women leave.
Lines 100–309: Iago continues to work on Othello, creating jealousy and doubt while appearing supportive and loyal. His techniques are clever and subtle: he never makes any direct statements and is always ambiguous, seeming to praise and deny where he is doing otherwise, and always answering Othello’s questions with ones of his own. He ironically warns Othello against “the green-eyed monster” of jealousy, but tells him to watch Desdemona when she is with Cassio. He reminds Othello that Desdemona is capable of deception: she deceived Brabantio to marry him. He begs Othello not to think any more about it, but suggests that if Desdemona pleads on Cassio’s behalf “With any strong or vehement importunity, / Much will be seen in that.” Othello, filled with pain and anger, gives his first soliloquy of the play (the audience has more access to the inner thoughts of the “villain” of the play than its eponymous “hero”). Even in so short a time, Iago has succeeded in making Othello doubt Desdemona’s fidelity. As Desdemona approaches, however, we see that he still loves her, and that he finds it hard to believe that she is false.
Lines 310–528: Desdemona perceives that Othello is “not well.” She offers him her handkerchief, but he pushes it away and she drops it. As they leave, Emilia picks up the handkerchief, observing that it was Othello’s first gift to Desdemona. She reveals that Iago has repeatedly asked her to steal it, although she does not know why. Iago enters and Emilia gives him the handkerchief, but he will not tell her why he wants it and sends her away. Alone, he reveals his intention to leave it in Cassio’s lodging. As he contemplates how he has already changed “the Moor” with his “poison,” Othello returns, muttering agitatedly. Iago feigns concern as Othello contemplates Desdemona’s supposed betrayal. He angrily demands that Iago prove that Desdemona is “a whore.” Iago feigns hurt, ironically observing that to be “direct and honest is not safe.” He asks Othello what proof he wants, using increasingly coarse sexual imagery to torture and anger him. Iago claims to have shared a room with Cassio recently and overheard him plotting with Desdemona in his sleep. Othello declares that he will “tear” Desdemona “all to pieces.” Iago tells Othello that he has seen Cassio “wipe his beard” with Desdemona’s handkerchief. The calm reason we associate with Othello seems to leave him as he calls for “blood, blood, blood!” and swears revenge. He kneels before Iago, emphasizing the shift in power between them. Iago swears allegiance to “wronged Othello” and agrees to kill Cassio.
ACT 3 SCENE 4Lines 1–104: Desdemona and Emilia search for Cassio’s lodgings, accompanied by the Clown, whose bantering creates a contrast with the violent emotions of the previous scene. Desdemona sends him to find Cassio. Emilia denies all knowledge of the lost handkerchief when Desdemona questions her, complicating her characterization with a potential shift from naivete to deceit. Desdemona is worried that Othello will be put to “ill thinking” by the loss, but reassures herself that he is not a jealous man. Othello arrives and, in an aside that marks his withdrawal from their relationship, comments on how hard it is to “dissemble” as he tries to act normally. Desdemona, unaware, continues to petition for Cassio. Othello asks for her handkerchief and tells her its history: it was given to Othello’s mother by an Egyptian “charmer” who told her that “while she kept it” it would “subdue” Othello’s father “Entirely to her love.” If she lost it, however, Othello’s father “should hold her loathed.” Othello warns Desdemona that to lose the handkerchief would mean “perdition” and, noting her distress, demands to see it. Desdemona denies that it is lost and returns to the subject of Cassio. Othello leaves abruptly.
Lines 105–177: Iago urges Cassio to “importune” Desdemona. He does, but a bewildered Desdemona tells him that she has incurred Othello’s “displeasure” and that “My lord is not my lord,” emphasizing the apparent change in Othello’s identity. Iago goes to find Othello. Desdemona convinces herself that Othello is troubled by state business, reasoning that she has never given him “cause” to be jealous. She tells Cassio to wait while she finds Othello.
Lines 178–217: When the women have gone, Cassio is approached by Bianca who flirts with him. He gives her Desdemona’s handkerchief and asks her to copy the embroidery. She jealously assumes that it is a “token” from another woman, but he denies this, saying that he does not know whose it is, he just found it in his chamber. He promises to see Bianca soon.
ACT 4 SCENE 1Lines 1–175: Iago continues to subtly increase Othello’s fury through his use of sexual innuendo as he tells Othello that Cassio has the handkerchief and implies that he has confessed to sleeping with Desdemona. Although still uncertain, Othello’s disjointed language shows the breakdown of his self-control. He falls down unconscious as Cassio arrives, and Iago claims that Othello has epilepsy, warning that he breaks into “savage madness” if woken from a fit, thus further undermining Othello’s reputation. He suggests that Cassio return later. Othello wakes and Iago tells him to hide and listen in while he speaks to Cassio. Othello withdraws and Iago reveals that he is actually going to speak to Cassio about Bianca, knowing that reference to Bianca’s love for him will make Cassio laugh. Cassio arrives and, briefly out of Othello’s hearing, Iago refers to Bianca, causing Cassio to laugh. Their bawdy conversation continues, observed by Othello, whose asides reveal he believes them to be speaking about Desdemona. Bianca arrives unexpectedly and angrily returns the handkerchief to Cassio, insisting that it must be “some minx’s token.” She and Cassio leave.
Lines 176–302: Othello is convinced and declares that he will kill Desdemona. Iago urges him to “strangle her
