1. Othello
Act 4

2. Act 4, Scene 1
Iago drives Othello to the brink of insanity with jealousy
Othello falls into a trance
Iago has Cassio engaged in a conversation about Bianca
Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona

3. Iago does his best to insinuate that Othello is no longer worthy of command

4. Act 4, Scene 2
Othello questions Emilia, and she assures him that Desdemona has never been alone with Cassio
Othello calls Desdemona a “whore” to her face, and leaves her in confusion

5. Emilia suggests there is a plot against Othello and Desdemona; Iago denies this as a possibility
Roderigo accuses Iago of keeping his gifts
Iago tells Roderigo that the only way to keep Desdemona in Cyprus is to kill Cassio, then the Venetians will send Othello home

6. Act 4, Scene 3
Desdemona sings the Willow song, a song of lost love, and she and Emilia speak on the topic of women and infidelity

7. Juxtaposition Desdemona Naïve Innocent regarding men and women Emilia
Cynical
Charges that women have no less a right to be unfaithful than men

8. The Song: “Willow”
As she prepares for bed, Desdemona sings a song about a woman who is betrayed by her lover
Desdemona was taught the song by her mother’s maid, Barbary, who suffered a misfortune similar to that of the woman in the song

9. Barbary dies while she was singing it
The song’s lyrics suggest that both men and women are unfaithful
For Desdemona, the song represents a resigned acceptance of her alienation from Othello’s love
Desdemona questions Emilia about the nature and practice of infidelity