Act 4 Scene 3 Analysis and Evaluation 1

Act 4 Scene 3 Analysis and Evaluation

1. Emilia’s opinions about fidelity/ marriage

“But I do think it’s their husbands faults if wives do fall” (90 -91) Emilia is more experienced and knowledgeable about men than Desdemona. She has a cynical view of human relationships and offers a pessimistic description of the realities of marriage and fidelity. This is perhaps due to her unhappy marriage to Iago. However, her views can also be interpreted as subverting the sexual politics of the time period as they offer a much more gender-balanced perspective of male-female relationships which challenges the double standards relating to male and female sexual conduct. According to Emilia, if women are ever unfaithful to their husbands then it must be as a result of being provoked by them to do so. For example, they may mistreat them or control them or abuse them. For Emilia, women can forgive their husbands for treating them badly, but women are also entitled to get some revenge too. For Emilia, women have the same thoughts, feelings and emotions as men and share the same desires and passions. It is only natural that women may also seek out affairs if their husbands mistreat them. It is hypocritical of men to expect to be able to be unfaithful to their wives while expecting them to be loyal, pure and innocent.

Techniques v. Characterisation v. Dialogue

2. Desdemona’s opinions about fidelity/marriage

“Beshrew me if I would do such a wrong for the whole world” (81 -82) Desdemona has a much more positive and optimistic view of romantic relationships and marriage, but she is also more naïve and idealistic. Although she finds Othello’s recent behaviour puzzling, worrying and frightening, she is determined to repair their marriage and please him in any way she can. She still loves Othello despite his harsh and unpleasant treatment. She loves him despite his faults. Desdemona cannot believe that any woman would ever be so disloyal as to betray her husband by making him a cuckold. Under no circumstances would she ever commit such an act. She is appalled and dismayed at the idea that such women even exist. Desdemona’s view of marriage and fidelity is much closer to the way that Renaissance society expected women to think and behave.

Techniques v. Characterisation v. Dialogue

3. The significance of the Willow song

“Sing willow, willow” (46) There are clear parallels between Desdemona and the maid in the song. The willow tree is traditionally a symbol for lost love. The weeping referred to in the song refers to the sorrow and melancholy that Desdemona is feeling as she believes that her love and marriage to Othello might be over. She is almost in mourning for what she has lost. The words of the song also refer to a woman who has been accused of being unfaithful to her husband describes her despair and misery and the terrible predicament that she is faced with. The maid died while singing this song. It is almost as though Desdemona senses her impending death and knows that there is nothing that she can do to prevent it. She seems resigned to her tragic fate and is not trying to fight it.

Techniques v. Characterisation v. Dialogue v. Symbolism v. Foreshadowing

Note: foreshadowing in this scene The mood of this scene is very sombre and full of foreboding. There is evidence which seems to foreshadow Desdemona’s tragic fate and suggest that she is aware of her impending death: • Desdemona is engaged in a ritual of undressing and Emilia has laid wedding sheets on her bed. However, instead of preparing for her wedding night, she is preparing for her death bed. • She makes a comment to Emilia about using her wedding sheets to wrap around her in her coffin. • The melancholy and deathly “Willow” song • She believes that her itching eyes mean that she will soon be crying.