Act 4 Summary

Question 1

Scene 1

Answer 1

• “To kiss in private”: Graphic, explicit display of sexuality
• Othello falls in trance
• Othello is subservient, taking orders from Iago
• Exchange of the handkerchief shows Desdemona’s supposed promiscuity
• Lodovico
• Othello strikes Desdemona, disrespectful action in Elizabethan audience
• Iago escalates Othello’s jealousy providing false evidence, giving Othello the “Ocular proof” he demands
• Iago suggest to Othello to kill Desdemona
• Audience considers this absurd
• Dramatic Irony when Cassio talks about Bianca, whereas he talks about Desdemona
• Othello listens to two lower-class men which contrasts with Act 1

Question 2

Scene 2

Answer 2

• Othello aggressively questions Emilia
• Loves and hates Desdemona
• Iago tries to cheer Desdemona
• Roderigo confronts Iago, suggests to kill Cassio
• Angry outburst from Roderigo

Question 3

Scene 3

Answer 3

• Othello sends Desdemona, Emilia and her servants to bed as he plans to kill her
• Willow song: Sad song, females suffering
• Emilia highlights her knowledge of the world
• Desdemona emphasizes her innocence through her shock of the truth of the world.
• Emilia blames husbands for their wives infidelity
• Emilia fights for the equality and sexual needs of women
• Men are supposed to be leaders so women learns affairs from them
• Gender; uses females to get audience to agree with him about misogynistic world
• Emilia’s speech: responds to misogyny