1. Yingning, Michela, Savannah, & Lauren
Othello Act 3 Scene 4
Yingning, Michela, Savannah, & Lauren

2. Summary Desdemona wonders where her handkerchief is
Othello indirectly accuses Desdemona of adultery
Othello tells history of the handkerchief
Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief
Cassio further asks for Desdemona’s help
Bianca is introduced at the end

3. Plot Development and Significance
Iago’s plan is working and Othello has become distrustful of his own wife
Othello tells the history of the handkerchief
discovered that Desdemona does not have it
Desdemona advocates for Cassio ,further contributes to Iago’s accusations
Transformation of Othello’s character

4. Plot Development and Significance
II. Foundation set for the final conflict
Othello is enraged at Desdemona, his pride is hurt and wants to take revenge
Othello storming off gives Iago opportunity to further his manipulation
Cassio will be at Bianca’s later that night

5. Themes Deception Emilia lied to her best friend / mistress
Emilia did not confess where the handkerchief was even though it is causing huge problems
Iago acted as if he did not know Othello was angry
Iago acts as though he is genuinely helping Cassio and Desdemona

6. Themes II. Innocence Desdemona would do anything for Othello
she does not want to make her lord angry
she does not know what is making him mad
Iago manipulates the other characters without concrete justification

7. Themes
III. Prejudice
Othello judges Desdemona solely based on Iago’s accusations
Does not let or ask Desdemona explain herself
Iago hates Othello without just

8. Themes IV. Jealousy Othello thinks that Desdemona is cheating
Emilia thinks Othello’s anger and irrationality is a result of jealousy
Bianca accuses Cassio of having another mistress

9. Character Development
Desdemona
Upset that she cannot find handkerchief
Desdemona tries calm her husband
innocence causes her to say certain, taboo, things without noticing its alternate meaning
innocence also prevents her from seeing Othello’s jealousy

10. Character Development
Emilia
Emilia has many opportunities to tell Desdemona, but instead keeps it to herself
Emilia is loyal to Desdemona, but seeks the approval of Iago
wants Iago to love her

11. Character Development
Iago
pleased in this scene because his plan is coming together
deceives Desdemona and Cassio even though they are desperate to win back Othello
use the anger and vulnerability of Othello

12. Character Development
Othello
mind seems to be already made up
jumps to conclusions
immediately assumes that Desdemona is sleeping with Cassio and immediately becomes jealous
lashes out and screams demands at Desdemona
Irrational, does not find concrete evidence

13. Character Development
Cassio
desperately wants the forgiveness of Othello
continues to follow the advice of Iago; gullible
unclear if he is just sleeping with Bianca or actually loves her

14. Character Development
Bianca
confrontational
a prostitute, but she doesn’t see Cassio as another “client”
has a developed relationship with Cassio; classification is unclear

15. Setting
people would not normally have private disputes outside in this era
assumes Desdemona has committed adultery, which is frowned upon by society
women are not to be trusted
women are expected to obey husbands
men can release anger on women

16. Tone & Mood Irritation and Confusion
whimsical with the clown’s use of puns
juxtaposed with intense exchange that follows
indirect speeches build on conflict and confusion
Desdemona’s innocence caused Othello to become annoyed
Othello’s jealousy causes him to be irrational

17. Sequence of Events
Iago began to brainwash Othello earlier in the Act; Othello’s mind is filled with jealousy and hatred
Othello’s becomes more irrational and inclined to believe Iago’s accusations when Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief
Cassio gives the handkerchief to Bianca to mimic it, Bianca now has handkerchief possession

18. Dramatic Techniques Comic relief – Clown
Last several scenes had an abundance of high intensity events
Clown gives the audience a brief, comical break before going back to the intensity of the central plot

19. Dramatic Techniques II. Dramatic Irony
we know Iago is deceiving Othello, Desdemona, and Cassio
we know Emilia knows where handkerchief is
we know Desdemona is innocent
a soldier does not lie, but Iago is a soldier, and he deceives all the time

20. Symbolism & Motifs Handkerchief is a symbol of love
Desdemona’s faithfulness to Othello
Othello’s trust of Desdemona
Jealousy is a symbol of monster
Othello’s jealousy causes him to become irrational
Iago’s jealousy causes him to deceive with such immoral, monstrous acts

21. Literary Devices & Purpose
I. Imagery
i. OTHELLO: “Give me your hand. This hand is moist, my lady.” (80)
vivid image of characters’ exchange
picturing Desdemona’s hand as red, hot, and shaking
to illustrate how nervous Desdemona was about her current situation

22. Literary Devices & Purpose
II. Personification
i. DESDEMONA: “…I think the sun where he was born Drew all such humours from him.” (80)
demonstrate how trusting Desdemona is of Othello and how she believes that he trusts her
EMILIA: “Nor no jealous toy concerning you.” (86)
Emilia can see that Othello is jealous and she believes that Desdemona cannot

23. Literary Devices & Purpose
III. Alliteration
OTHELLO: “A liberal hand. The hearts of old gave hands, But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.” (81)
to emphasize that Othello thinks that Desdemona’s heart is not truly in their marriage

24. Literary Devices & Purpose
III. Alliteration
ii. CASSIO: “…That nor my service past, nor present sorrows, Nor purposed merit in futurity…” (85)
to demonstrate Cassio’s loyalty to Othello
iii. EMILIA: “They are not ever jealous for the cause, But jealous for they’re jealous." (86)
to emphasize that jealous people are never jealous for a specific reason, rather create their own reasons

25. Literary Devices & Purpose
IV. Metaphor
EMILIA: “'Tis not a year or two shows us a man They are all but stomachs, and we all but food They eat us hungerly, and when they are full, They belch us..” (84)
compare men to beast
the idea that women were treated unfairly expresses how Emilia loathes at the way men treat women, denotes her anger at Iago mistreating her

26. Literary Devices & Purpose
V. Hyperbole
CASSIO: “Whom I, with all the office of my heart Entirely honor.” (84)
show how dedicated Cassio is to serving Othello
ii. BIANCA: “…Eight score eight hours? And lovers' absent hours More tedious than the dial eight score times!..” (87)
illustrate the yearning that Bianca has for Cassio

27. Literary Devices & Purpose
VI. Anaphora
OTHELLO: “Is ’t lost? Is ’t gone? Speak, is ’t out o' th' way? (82)
anger when Desdemona lost the handkerchief
confirms his suspicions of Cassio’s and Desdemona’s relationship
ii. OTHELLO: “Fetch me the handkerchief— … … … “The handkerchief!” (84)
Repetitive to confirm his suspicions

28. Literary Devices & Purpose
VII. Flashback
i. OTHELLO: “ That’s a fault. That handkerchief Did an Egyptian to my mother give, … As nothing else could match.” (81)
to demonstrate how precious the handkerchief is to Othello.

29. Literary Devices & Purpose
VIII. Foreshadow
DESDEMONA: “I ne’er saw this before. Sure there’s some wonder in this handkerchief; I am most unhappy in the loss of it.” (84)
express the idea that no one may clue into Iago’s scheme
Illustrate how the loss of the handkerchief is key to an event to occur later on
Negative connotation with loss

30. Issues & Questions
Would Desdemona considers Othello the same way that Emilia considers Iago?
If Desdemona hadn’t lost the handkerchief, do you think that the story would’ve come to the same conclusion?
Does Cassio love Bianca?

31. Issues & Questions
4. Why do you think Desdemona was bringing up Cassio if she could see that Othello was only getting angrier? 5. Do you think Emilia is more loyal to Iago or to Desdemona?