Othello Act 3 Day 1 Planting the Seeds

Othello Act 3 (Day 1) Planting the Seeds of Jealousy Aim: What is the turning point (climax) of the play? DO NOW: HOW DOES SHAKESPEARE FORESHADOW THE TRAGIC EVENTS AHEAD? REVIEW: FREYTAG’S FORMULA WHERE ARE WE IN THE PLOT? LESSON: SETTING UP THE TURNING POINT • THE LAST BIT OF THE RISING ACTION • Desdemona defends Cassio • Iago plants the seeds of doubt & suspicion • Othello teaches Iago how to destroy him • Iago changes his language to meet Othello’s needs

Review: Foreshadowing the Tragic Events What does Cassio mean when he says, “Give him defense against the elements, for I have lost him on a dangerous sea”? What is it foreshadowing? What does Othello mean when he says, “If it were now to die, twere now to be most happy? ” Why is this line a key line in the play?

Freytag’s Formula Climax Falling Action Rising Action Exposition Exciting Force Catastrophe Denouement Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Act 4 Act 5

Setting Up the Turning Point What is the setting of Act 3 scene 1? What is the mood? How does Iago get Desdemona & Cassio together? In act 3 scene 2 how do we know Othello is a busy man? Why is this a good time for Iago to act?

Planting the Seeds of Suspicion Why does Cassio leave Desdemona in such a hurry? “I am very ill at ease, unfit for mine own purposes. ” (line 34 -35) He’s too embarrassed & ashamed to face Othello until Desdemona speaks on his behalf Why does Iago point that out to Othello? (line 36 -43) “Ha? I like not that. ” = making a suggestion without giving any actual information. “What dost thou say? ” = catches Othello’s curiosity “Nothing, my lord. Or if – I know not what” = withholding info “…I cannot think it, that he would steal away so guilty like, seeing you coming” = Begins to imply that Cassio is guilty of something

Desdemona Defends Cassio Why is Desdemona so willing to speak up for Cassio? Why do you think she is so persistent? (Line 5 -15): Wants to fix Othello & Cassio’s friendship, doesn’t want Othello to lose such (Line 21 -30): Promises on her & Cassio’s friendship that she will not let Othello rest until she is able to make things right (Line 59 -75): Keeps pestering Othello almost like an impatient child to meet with Cassio (Line 76 -85): Says Othello owes it to Cassio to forgive him because Cassio helped Othello woo Desdemona and carried message between the Othello & Desdemona when they were dating

When does Othello begin to doubt Desdemona? Othello ends his conversation with Desdemona about Cassio telling her that he loves her (Line 100 -103): “Perdition catch my soul but I do love thee! And when I love thee not, chaos is come again. ” He is still deeply in love with her at this point. But this also foreshadows that things are about to turn to chaos It also reminds Iago of the lesson he learned in Act 1…. “My life upon her faith. ” In order to destroy Othello all he has to do is destroy the Othello & Desdemona’s love

Iago, The Conniving Student This is when Iago begins to manipulate & brainwash Othello He learns how to destroy Othello by listening to Othello He is always plotting & developing his plot as he goes The tragic element is that Othello, without knowing it, teaches Iago how to convince him that Desdemona is cheating on him

Iago Plays Mind Games with Othello (Day 2) AIM: WHAT IS THE TURNING POINT (CLIMAX) OF THE PLAY? DO NOW: PICKING UP WHERE WE LEFT OFF • Read (line 105 -120) • How does Iago begin to manipulate & put ideas in Othello’s head? LESSON: THE BEGINNING OF THE TURNING POINT • Beware the Green-eyed Monster of Jealousy • Iago changes his language to meet Othello’s needs • A Change in Othello’s Character

Iago, The Conniving Student Iago begins by putting ideas into Othello’s head (line 105 -120) – read Asking leading questions without giving Othello any real info Says Cassio had the opportunity to be alone with Desdemona when he brought Othello’s letters to her Othello becomes convinced Iago is hiding something (line 121 -130) However, Iago hasn’t really told Othello anything Why is it more effective to let Othello imagine what Iago “knows? ”

Iago, The Conniving Student What is most dangerous is that Othello trusts everything Iago says because he thinks Iago is honest and just (line 135 -141) Othello even tells Iago that he will believe anything he tells him when Othello says, “give thy worst of thoughts the worst of words. ” (line 154 -155) This is lesson #2 for Iago in his plot against Othello… Iago will use words to plant the worst thought in Othello’s mind

Iago Plants the Seeds of Jealousy (Line 195 -200): Suggests there is something to be jealous about…. implying that Des & Cassio are more than just friends “Why would jealousy be called the “green-eyed monster? ” How does jealousy effect people? Othello is still not convinced that anything bad is going on… What does Othello say he needs to believe Desdemona is cheating on him?

Lesson #3 for Iago (Line 206 -224) Othello says he isn’t jealous or suspicious Doesn’t fault other men for admiring his wife because she is so wonderful Won’t let his own insecurities (“weak merits”) ruin his relationship Because she chose him over all the other men Says the only thing will convince him is to see it for himself = needs proof “I’ll see before I doubt. ” As soon as Iago hears Othello say this, he begins to change the language he uses to manipulate Othello & give him visual “proof”

Iago Changes his Language to Give Othello Visual Proof (Line 224 -240) As we read, right down all the words that Iago uses that relate to SEEING or VISION so he can make Othello doubt his wife Iago suggests that if Othello looks, he will see the proof he needs

More Brainwashing He points out that Desdemona has a history of betraying men she love “She did deceive her father in marrying you. ” (238) Then uses the same reasoning with Othello that he used to convince Rodrigo that Des really loved Cassio Say Des will eventually want someone of “Her own clime, complexion, and degree, wereto we see all nature tends. ” (Line 270 -271) This plays on Othello’s own insecurity that he is not good enough for Desdemona Iago has him right where he wants him

Who is Othello Beginning to Sound Like? In his moment of insecurity, Othello asks Iago to have Emilia spy on Des Then he questions his marriage (Line 309 -318) What does Othello say about women & marriage? Marriage is a “curse” Cannot control women’s “appetites” = their physical desires “Rather be a toad…than to keep the thing I love for others’ uses. ” = is disgusted by the thought that she is sleeping with others “ ‘Tis a plague” How is this different from how he described the love between him & Desdemona in Act 1? Who is Othello beginning to sound like?

Othello Act 3: The Downfall Begins (Day 3) AIM: AFTER THE TURNING POINT, HOW DO THINGS BEGIN TO GO BAD VERY QUICKLY? DO NOW: HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IAGO HAS SUCCEEDED IN MANIPULATING OTHELLO? LESSON: THE BEGINNING OF THE END • The Clinching Piece of Evidence = The Turning Point •

Iago has Gotten Inside Othello’s Head Act 3. 3 Line 400 & 446 Can’t sleep “Farewell the tranquil mind. Farewell content. ” = the thought of Desdemona’s infidelity is driving him mad “I see sir, you are eaten up with passion. ” = Iago points out that Othello is letting his emotions take over…. know this is his time to strike This is when Iago asks Othello about the handkerchief

The Clinching Piece of Evidence How does Emilia get Desdemona’s handkerchief? Why does she give it to Iago? Do you think that she has any idea that Iago plans to do something underhanded with it? “What will you do with ‘t, that you have been so earnest to have me filch it? ” (360 -361) “If it be not for some purpose of import, give ‘t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad. ” (364 -365) Has 2 nd thoughts about giving it to Iago, wants to give it back to Des but it’s too late

The Clinching Piece of Evidence (Scene 3 lines 490 -506): What does Iago tell Othello after he asks Othello about the handkerchief? What is Othello’s Response? “All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. ‘Tis gone. ” This is the turning point of the play Othello asks Iago to kill Cassio (Line 334 -340) Othello says he will kill Desdemona (Line 341 -345)

The Clinching Piece of Evidence (Scene 4 lines 23 -30): How does Emilia respond when Desdemona asks about the handkerchief? What do you suppose she is thinking? (Scene 4 lines 35 -115) According to Othello, what is the history behind the handkerchief? Do you think he has ever revealed this before? Why do you think he is telling Desdemona all this?

How are the Ladies Feeling with all this drama? (Scene 4 line 24 -30, 140 -185) How does Desdemona react to Othello’s behavior? Doesn’t believe Othello is a jealous man. (lines 24 -30) Says Othello is not himself (Line 143) Thinks he is stressed with work (line 175 -185) What is Emilia’s opinion of men? How does Desdemona’s differ? (Lines 120 -125 & 180 -184) Don’t see men’s true character until a year or two They take their fill of a woman than get rid of her when they are done with her They are all jealous creatures & it makes them monsters (Scene 4 lines 190 -231) Why is Bianca angry with Cassio? How is her anger like Othello’s?