Othello Act 3 Planting the Seeds of Jealousy

Othello Act 3 - Planting the Seeds of Jealousy LQ: How is Act 3 the turning point (climax) of the play? To think about NOW: How does Shakespeare foreshadow the tragic events ahead? What has Shakespeare set up in each of the main characters that Iago might be able to exploit -Othello -Desdemona -Cassio -On Freytag’s narrative structure do you agree with where we are in the chart ?

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

Todorov’s narrative theory Protagonist Agent of Change EQUI LIBRIUM DISRUPTION QUEST with a CLIMAX RESOLUTION Antagonist Act 1 RETURN TO A (CHANGED) EQUILIBRIUM 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 -14): Wants to fix Othello & Cassio’s friendship, doesn’t want Othello to lose such • (Line 19 -29): Promises on her & Cassio’s friendship that she will not let Othello rest until she is able to make things right • (Line 60 -74): Keeps pestering Othello almost like an impatient child to meet with Cassio • (Line 76 -84): 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. ” • So I ago learns that in order to destroy Othello all he has to do is destroy the Othello & Desdemona’s love

Iago’s methods • Iago begins by putting ideas into Othello’s head (line 93 119) • Asking leading questions without giving Othello any real info • By use of repetition • 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 120 -127) • However, Iago hasn’t really told Othello anything • Why is it more effective to let Othello imagine what Iago “knows? ”

Iago’s Methods #2 • What is most dangerous is that Othello trusts everything Iago says because he thinks Iago is honest and just (line 121 -126) • 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 134 -135) • (Line 195 -207): Suggests there is something to be jealous about…. implying that Desdemona & 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?

Method #3 for Iago • (Line 180 -195) • 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 “ocular proof”

More Brainwashing • Iago points out that Desdemona has a history of betraying men she loves, with an echo of Act 1, Scene 3 • “She did deceive her father in marrying you. ” (209) • Then uses the same reasoning with Othello that he used to convince Roderigo that Desdemona really loved Cassio • Say Desdemona will eventually want someone of “Her own clime, complexion, and degree, were to we see all nature tends. ” (Line 234 -235) • This plays on Othello’s own insecurity that he is not good enough for Desdemona

Who is Othello Beginning to Sound Like? • In his moment of insecurity, Othello asks Iago to have Emilia spy on Desdemona • Then he questions his marriage (Line 262 -281) • 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?

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? ” (319) • “If it be not for some purpose of import, give ‘t me again. Poor lady, she’ll run mad. ” (320) • Has 2 nd thoughts about giving it to Iago, wants to give it back to Des but it’s too late

Iago has Got Inside Othello’s Head Act 3. 3 Line 348 & 395 • Othello now • 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 (2) • How does Iago set up Othello before indicating that he has some evidence - think about his view on women (Desdemona) 399 - 411 - the description of ‘Cassio’s dream’ 416 - 428 • (Scene 3 lines 435 -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 (448). ” • This is the turning point of the play • Look at the stage instruction of 454 • Othello asks Iago to kill Cassio (Line 375 - 476) • Othello says he will kill Desdemona (Line 480))

Homework – The Temptation Scene For Iago Find 5 quotes in the scene that demonstrate the methods he is using to ‘tempt’ Othello into jealousy For Othello Find 5 quotes that show his decline With each quote write a short explanation that says something about the character and the language used

The Clinching Piece of Evidence Scene 4 • (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 70) How does Desdemona react to Othello’s behavior? • Doesn’t believe Othello is a jealous man. • Says Othello is not himself • Thinks he is stressed with work • What is Emilia’s opinion of men? How does Desdemona’s differ? (Lines 100) • 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, 170) Why is Bianca angry with Cassio? How is her anger like Othello’s?