1. Act 3 Scene 3 Key Scene

2. Act 3 Scene 3 – Key Scene Iago says when Cassio leaves Desdemona: “Ha! I like not that.” Iago says when Cassio leaves Desdemona: “Ha! I like not that.” (3.3.35) Here he starts putting his plan into action. (3.3.35) Here he starts putting his plan into action. Othello is still kind and gentle with Desdemona (3.3.56). When he agrees to speak to Cassio “The sooner, sweet, for you” Othello is still kind and gentle with Desdemona (3.3.56). When he agrees to speak to Cassio “The sooner, sweet, for you” Desdemona shows her compassion and kindness in trying to get Cassio reinstated: “Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul.” Desdemona shows her compassion and kindness in trying to get Cassio reinstated: “Tell me, Othello. I wonder in my soul.”

3. He seems busy and preoccupied with his responsibilities: “leave me but a little to myself”. He seems busy and preoccupied with his responsibilities: “leave me but a little to myself”. Calls Desdemona “Excellent wretch!” affectionately. Calls Desdemona “Excellent wretch!” affectionately. “…when I love thee not “…when I love thee not Chaos is come again” Chaos is come again” This shows that without Desdemona he is unhappy. D seems to have saved him from a life of trauma and turmoil. This shows that without Desdemona he is unhappy. D seems to have saved him from a life of trauma and turmoil. Iago withholds enough to intrigue and frustrate Othello: “Why of thy thought, Iago?…Is he not honest?” Iago withholds enough to intrigue and frustrate Othello: “Why of thy thought, Iago?…Is he not honest?”

4. (3.3.107-116) “…a monster in his thought “…a monster in his thought Too hideous to be shown” Jealousy – a monster Jealousy – a monster There is painful dramatic irony in Othello saying “I know thou’rt full of love and honesty”. There is painful dramatic irony in Othello saying “I know thou’rt full of love and honesty”. Iago avoiding a direct answer is compared to how “a false disloyal knave” would avoid telling the truth. Iago avoiding a direct answer is compared to how “a false disloyal knave” would avoid telling the truth.

5. Othello gathers himself and says that he will not be plagued by jealousy as it is against his character: “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove…Away at once with love or jealousy!” (192-194) Othello gathers himself and says that he will not be plagued by jealousy as it is against his character: “I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove…Away at once with love or jealousy!” (192-194) Iago tells him to keep an eye on Desdemona Iago tells him to keep an eye on Desdemona But Othello says that he will stay calm and this will bother him “Not a jot” But Othello says that he will stay calm and this will bother him “Not a jot” He is trying to convince himself as much as Iago He is trying to convince himself as much as Iago Othello

6. Othello’s soliloquy (260-279) He compares Desdemona to a “haggard” - a wild hawk. If he cannot train her or control her he will let her go. He compares Desdemona to a “haggard” - a wild hawk. If he cannot train her or control her he will let her go. He wonders if the problem is “Haply for I am black” He wonders if the problem is “Haply for I am black” This is the first time he has doubted himself because of his race This is the first time he has doubted himself because of his race Or age: “I am declin’d into the vale of years” Or age: “I am declin’d into the vale of years” He simply states: “She’s gone, I am abus’d, and my relief Must be to loathe her” He simply states: “She’s gone, I am abus’d, and my relief Must be to loathe her” His imagery is ugly and crude saying he would “rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon” than a married man. His imagery is ugly and crude saying he would “rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon” than a married man. He repeats the idea of a “plague” He repeats the idea of a “plague”

7. Othello is disregarding his public duties as his guests wait for him Othello is disregarding his public duties as his guests wait for him He is snappy and abrupt with Desdemona. He is snappy and abrupt with Desdemona. It is at this moment he drops his handkerchief It is at this moment he drops his handkerchief Next time we see Othello his language has deteriorated: “ha, ha, false to me!” (3.3.334) Next time we see Othello his language has deteriorated: “ha, ha, false to me!” (3.3.334) He says that Iago’s information “hast set me on the rack” - a torture instrument He says that Iago’s information “hast set me on the rack” - a torture instrument Now he speaks of her in a crude way, saying he would rather all of the soldiers had slept with her as long as he did not know: “I had been happy if the general camp…had tasted her sweet body So nothing I had known” Now he speaks of her in a crude way, saying he would rather all of the soldiers had slept with her as long as he did not know: “I had been happy if the general camp…had tasted her sweet body So nothing I had known”

8. Shakespeare uses repetition of “Farewell” to show that he is saying goodbye to happiness and contentment. (346-357) Shakespeare uses repetition of “Farewell” to show that he is saying goodbye to happiness and contentment. (346-357) But he focuses on losing his “occupation” and talks in military image. It seems that he does not have the vocabulary to express his emotions. But he focuses on losing his “occupation” and talks in military image. It seems that he does not have the vocabulary to express his emotions. “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore” - he threatens Iago. “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore” - he threatens Iago. “I think my wife be honest, and think she is not; I think that thou art just, and think thou art not” Paradox expresses the chaos in his mind Paradox expresses the chaos in his mind

9. Othello’s’ rage makes him violent: “I’ll tear her all to pieces!” Othello’s’ rage makes him violent: “I’ll tear her all to pieces!” When Iago says that he has seen Cassio with the handkerchief Othello swears “revenge” When Iago says that he has seen Cassio with the handkerchief Othello swears “revenge” He wants all his love to disappear “to heaven” (441-451) He wants all his love to disappear “to heaven” (441-451) And in its place calls “Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” And in its place calls “Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!” This is similar to Iago’s words at the end of Act One. This is similar to Iago’s words at the end of Act One.

10. Noticeably ‘He kneels’. The power relationship has changed between Iago and Othello. Noticeably ‘He kneels’. The power relationship has changed between Iago and Othello. He promotes Iago and tells him he wants him to kill Cassio. He promotes Iago and tells him he wants him to kill Cassio. Othello exclaims “O blood, blood, blood!” Othello exclaims “O blood, blood, blood!” O compares his mind to the Black Sea and his “bloody thoughts” to an “icy current” O compares his mind to the Black Sea and his “bloody thoughts” to an “icy current”