1. ACT III - ANALYSIS Othello

2. Act III One of the most climactic events in Act III revolves around the handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona as the first token of his love. This handkerchief is one of the major symbols in the tragedy.

3. A symbol is something that comes to represent something else. What does the handkerchief symbolize to Desdemona? Iago? Othello?

4. Othello tells a fascinating story about the handkerchief – that it was dyed with virgin’s blood by an enchantress and given to his mother. The charmer insisted that if his mother ever lost the handkerchief, his father would become unfaithful. Is Othello telling the truth? Why might he tell this story?

5. Emilia becomes a foil to Desdemona when it comes to how they view men. Desdemona reveres and respects Othello as her ‘lord’ Emilia says of men, “’T is not a year or two shows us a man: / They are all but stomachs and we all but food; / They eat us hungerly, and when they are full / they belch us.” (page 57) If Emilia feels this way about men, why do you think she gives her husband the handkerchief? Character Development in Act III

6. Characters in Act III Many characters are shown in a different light throughout Act III. Iago has become Othello’s lieutenant (which is what he wanted in the beginning!) Why does he still want to indict Desdemona in infidelity and torture Othello with emotions of jealousy and rage?

7. In the beginning of the play Othello was... Now, he is best described as... Calm Rational Even-Keeled Easily Angered Suspicious Jealous Othello has also changed since the beginning of the play... How?

8. Motifs One of the most prominent motifs in Act III is monster and demon imagery. Iago says jealousy is the “green-eyed monster” When Iago won’t tell Othello what his specific suspicion is, Othello says it is “as if there were some monster in this thought / too hideous to be shown” When Iago falsely tells Othello that Cassio was crying out for Desdemona in his sleep, Othello cries “Monstrous! Monstrous!”

9. The audience is well aware that Iago is a sort of ‘monster’ Because of the powers of jealousy, Othello, too is becoming somewhat ‘monstrous’ At the end of Act III, he has agreed to have Cassio murdered. As we read Act IV, pay attention to how Othello is being transformed by jealousy