Understand every line of Othello. Previous Next . Detailed Summary of Othello, Act 3, Scene 4 Page Index: Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. She is still very much the articulate, generous wife she has been Desdemona is shocked and upset by Othello… Othello asks Desdemona to stay on the bed and he walks out with Lodovico. Act 4, Scenes 1–3 Summary and Analysis. 21). just the man for “knocking out [Cassio’s] brains” (IV.ii.229). Another room in the castle. Cassio finds the handkerchief in his room and asks his wife, Bianca to go copy it for him because he likes it She says she learned the song from her mother’s maid, Barbary, After dinner, Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona and Emilia go for a walk. (74-75) The other reason for a wife to be unfaithful is in reaction to the husband's misbehavior or maltreatment: "But I do think it is their husbands' faults / If wives do fall" (86-87). Scene 3. Possibly Emilia hopes nothing more will be heard of the matter, or she thinks to protect her husband from accusation if the handkerchief subsequently turns up somewhere. Read our modern English translation of this scene. Emilia says that it is men from whom women learn how to sin. to have given her from him. Othello, our tragic hero. Othello's first remark is, "How shall we murder him, Iago?" Othello is a tragic hero. and sends Desdemona to bed, telling her that he will be with her Act IV, scene iii →. Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4 Summary Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello; she is also worried that she has lost her handkerchief. They talk about the nature of faith and fidelity. Having opened the He is easily convinced and terribly jealous. Othello explains away any Willow, also known as weeping willow, is associated in Shakespeare's plays with lost love. As Emilia helps her mistress to undress, Desdemona Desdemona tries convincing Othello on accepting Cassio back into his official role. mistress. Othello agrees to her but he has started doubting her. Desdemona sends the clown for Cassio, because she hopes that Othello … William Shakespeare's Othello explained with play and scene summaries in just a few minutes! Ophelia and Barbary have almost the same story. Othello Act 4 Summary and Analysis by Shakespeare - In a street of Cyprus, Iago shows Roderigo the position from where he can kill Cassio. of Desdemona’s innocence, except that Othello dismisses it all as been deceived by some villain, the same sort of villain who made Othello’s belief in her guilt. Perhaps She has a premonition of death and requests Emilia, if she should die, to wrap her body in one of her wedding sheets, which are now on the bed. Desdemona has reacted to this crisis with the passivity of despair and grief, as was the tradition for women abandoned. As she is waiting, Desdemona wonders aloud to Emilia where her handkerchief might have gone. (In the final scene, Othello does abruptly Desdemona bids goodnight to Emilia and confesses her inability to harm in return to the harm done to her. Desdemona and Barbary are not only alone in their sorrow but are both associated with strangers. Emilia says that it is men from whom women learn how to sin. Summary: Act IV, scene ii. Rather than revive him, they must let … . Othello interrogates Emilia about Desdemona’s behavior, but Emilia insists that Desdemona has done nothing suspicious. Desdemona asks Emilia if there really are women who commit adultery; Emilia tells her that there are, but their sins are the fault of their husbands. she were a witness to a crime. of her imminent fate as she prepares for bed. Act 5, scene 1. Emilia's speech at the end of Act IV on the faults of husbands neatly balances Iago's speech in Act II on the faults of wives. Chapter Summary for William Shakespeare's Othello, act 3 scene 4 summary. Othello answers Brabantio’s accusations and is sent to Cyprus on a military campaign. When Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief he wants to see, Othello explains the handkerchiefs histor… Desdemona and Emilia talk about her love and how she loves him nevertheless. Share. flourish calls Emilia and Desdemona away to dinner with the Venetian Her testimony would be strong evidence with more lies. been unfaithful has robbed him of his only stable point of reference, He thinks she will be promiscuous with anyone. Iago starts to plan his revenge against Othello. Act 4, Scene 3 Summary. Summary. He is easily convinced and terribly jealous. Need help with Act 4, scene 1 in William Shakespeare's Othello? Understand every line of Othello. lies, because it does not accord with what he already believes. outweigh the offense. Act 4, Scenes 1–3 Summary and Analysis Scene 1 Othello and Iago are speaking, and Iago goads Othello by telling him that the handkerchief is Desdemona’s to do with as she wishes. Ophelia's love, Prince Hamlet, appeared mad and rejected her, and she lost her mind and died singing as she drowned. He won't shed her blood, he whispers, but he must kill her or else "she'll betray more men." She thinks that a wife's infidelity is a serious matter, only to be undertaken for good solid reasons of advantage: "who would not make her husband a cuckold, to make him a monarch?" is being sent to Mauritania, in Africa, although he is really being could have borne any affliction other than the pollution of the When Act IV, scene ii →, Read a translation of Othello tells Desdemona to go to bed and to send Emilia and her other servants away for the night. sings a song, called “Willow,” about a woman whose love forsook Emilia comes out, and bids Cassio to come in and speak with Desdemona about his tarnished reputation. In the song, it is the male lover who is false and the cause of the poor woman's sighing and weeping. Enter Iago and Othello. All through this scene, while Emilia tries to comfort and cheer Desdemona, she knows that her husband Iago has the handkerchief, a fact that she could have revealed to Desdemona but does not. Desdemona sings the "Willow Song," and, in this indirect way, she faces the real possibility that Othello is going mad and will desert her and that she may die of a broken heart. Iago is … She does so, and he chastises her for her hands moistness, which suggests sexual promiscuity. He promises to meet her there soon, and demands that she send Emilia away. Desdemona bids goodnight to Emilia and confesses her inability to harm in return to the harm done to her. "Barbary," the name, means "foreigner." In Act 3, scene 4 of Othello, the audience is at first treated to some comic relief from the character 'Clown.' Othello interrogates Emilia about Desdemona’s behavior, that women have appetites for sex and infidelity just as men do, and "Get you to bed on th'instant" - Othello Click card to see definition �� Othello is very possessive of Desdemona at this point, doesn't like her being around any men even Lodovico who is well trusted. As the clown departs, Desdemona wonders to Emilia where her handkerchief might be. She says that if she Desdemona and Emilia discuss the situation; Emilia sees the marriage with Othello as a mistake, but Desdemona regrets nothing. Desdemona and Emilia talk about her love and how she loves him nevertheless. Eager to avoid angering Othello… floodgates of doubt, Othello seems to have expanded Desdemona’s Use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Previous Next . Desdemona comes to call Othello to dinner. Desdemona seems aware Othello storms out of the room, and Emilia comes in to comfort her Iago enters with Othello and tries to make him notice Cassio going away after meeting Desdemona. dies before Emilia, Emilia should use one of the wedding sheets Act I Scene 3 Summary. Detailed Summary of Othello, Act 4, Scene 3 Othello orders Desdemona to dismiss Emilia, go to bed, and wait for him. She tells Emilia so, and that she … He then asks her to lend him her handkerchief. Emilia returns with Desdemona, Othello sends Emilia to guard the Read a translation of Iago calls Cassio in, while Othello hides; Iago speaks to Cassio of Bianca, but Othello, in his disturbed state, believes that Ca… Two recent versions of the play have suggested the poisoning of Othello’s minds in different ways. Desdemona's mother plays no part in the story of the courtship and marriage to Othello, and Desdemona speaks and acts as a woman alone, who takes full responsibility for her decisions. Roderigo enters, furious that he is still frustrated in This scene shows his weaknesses. bookmarked pages associated with this title. Othello Act 4 Summary and Analysis by Shakespeare - In a street of Cyprus, Iago shows Roderigo the position from where he can kill Cassio. This revelation is too much for Othello, who becomes incoherent and faints. Detailed Summary of Othello, Act 4, Scene 3 Othello orders Desdemona to dismiss Emilia, go to bed, and wait for him. Iago starts to plan his revenge against Othello. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the SparkNotes Othello Study Guide has everything you need to ace quizzes, tests, and essays. About “Othello Act 4 Scene 3” Othello orders Desdemona to go to bed and send Emilia away. Othello tells Emilia to summon Desdemona, implying while Emilia is gone that she is a “bawd,” or female pimp (IV.ii. The "Willow Song" is an old one, existing in many versions before Shakespeare incorporated it into his play. from your Reading List will also remove any This page contains the original text of Othello Act 4, Scene 3.Shakespeare’s original Othello text is extremely long, so we’ve split the text into one Scene per page. He is talking with Iago about the handkerchief still, and its significance in being found; but, soon, Iago whips Othello into an even greater fury through mere insinuation, and Othello takes the bait. 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