Othello Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1 Iago drives Othello to the brink of insanity with jealousy Othello falls into a trance Iago has Cassio engaged in a conversation about Bianca Othello thinks they are talking about Desdemona

Iago does his best to insinuate that Othello is no longer worthy of command

Act 4, Scene 2 Othello questions Emilia, and she assures him that Desdemona has never been alone with Cassio Othello calls Desdemona a “whore” to her face, and leaves her in confusion

Emilia suggests there is a plot against Othello and Desdemona; Iago denies this as a possibility Roderigo accuses Iago of keeping his gifts Iago tells Roderigo that the only way to keep Desdemona in Cyprus is to kill Cassio, then the Venetians will send Othello home

Act 4, Scene 3 Desdemona sings the Willow song, a song of lost love, and she and Emilia speak on the topic of women and infidelity

Juxtaposition Desdemona Naïve Innocent regarding men and women Emilia Cynical Charges that women have no less a right to be unfaithful than men

The Song: “Willow” As she prepares for bed, Desdemona sings a song about a woman who is betrayed by her lover Desdemona was taught the song by her mother’s maid, Barbary, who suffered a misfortune similar to that of the woman in the song

Barbary dies while she was singing it The song’s lyrics suggest that both men and women are unfaithful For Desdemona, the song represents a resigned acceptance of her alienation from Othello’s love Desdemona questions Emilia about the nature and practice of infidelity