Othello Act 4 Scene 1 Seminar

By: Jacob K., Yanni R., Farhad M., Gennelle C.

• This is important in showing the evolution of Othello’s character as for the entirety of the play so far with the exception of one he has never gone into an aside. In this context he is hiding while eavesdropping on a conversation between Iago and Cassio.
• This shows character evolution because he is starting to fulfill his role of a tragic hero. He is shown throughout the entire first half of the play as an honest brave war hero who is deeply in love with his wife and has full trust in her and holds her in high regard, he is now reduced to in this scene as an eavesdropper hiding while listening for proof of his wife’s unfaithfulness

• After Othello slaps Desdemona and leaves the scene, Lodovico talks to Iago asking if this is the "Noble Moor whom our full senate call all-in-all sufficient?" (4.1. 262-263) which implies a question that is this the same person the senate trusts
• Continuing the sense of doubt he has, Lodovico asks "Are his wits safe? Is he not light of brain?" (4.1. 267)
• Iago successfully acts out as a loyal friend of Othello with the end of the scene, Lodovico saying " I am sorry I am deceiv'd in him" (4.1. 280)which means he thinks Othello has been tricking them all with his previous actions.

• The importance of these statements is that Iago uses the opportunity to put on a face or appearance as if he is protecting the integrity of Othello by not speaking what he knows
• The reality is, it is his tactic to get Lodovico to be more curious, leading him to think Iago is what he appears to be, misinterpreting his decline to answer as a form of agreement with what he says

• At the beginning of the scene, it is known that Iago is talking to Othello
• It is just Iago furthering his plan by repeating to Othello what his wife had done; we can see this as a form of brainwashing in the form of repetition and isolation.
• Throughout the opening lines, Iago’s villany through manipulation is well represented by pushing through with the lies despite the fact that he knows Othello has the possibility of having a seizure
• These lines show progression of the level of stress applied by Iago to Othello (4.1. 0-43):

• Iago yet again manipulates Othello, this time into thinking he will talk to Cassio about Desdemona:“For I will make him tell the tale anew, where how, how oft, how long ago, and when he hath and is again to cope your wife”(4.1. 84-86);
• In reality it is actually Bianca he his going to be talking to: “Now I will question Cassio of Bianca”(4.1. 93)
• With Othello spared of the proper details, he is left to think of the vulgarity happening between his wife and Cassio; showing success of Iago's manipulation especially through Othello's asides (4. 1. 109-155)
• These show the deeper workings of Iago's manipulation; Othello's jealousy develops and causes changes due to psychological manipulations

• A common role wives are expected to have in society at the renaissance time is to be submissive to their husband
• Looking back at the platform set by Othello for Desdemona, we see a carryover effect by saying "I have deserv'd not this" after being slapped; shows self worth and innocence
• Though standing up for herself, she contradicts her words through her actions by continuing to follow Othello's wishes; A sign that she truly loves him

• Act 4 scene 1, shows change in Othello and with that change, his views of his wife drastically changes along with his treatment of her
• The scenes gave the readers an understanding of how Othello changed as a person; from a gentleman to a misogynist
• He also slaps her in front of Lodovico and treats her as if she is a low type of person by calling her “mistress”(4.1. 247)
• By doing so, Othello has become very much like Iago

Othello Act 4 Scene 1 Seminar

Syllabus

• Othello's tragic flaw
• The Man of Many Faces: Iago
• Literary Devices used
• Themes Explored

Themes Explored

• Appearance Vs Reality
• Manipulation
• Women's Gender Roles and Treatment

Appearance Vs. Reality

Background info.

• Iago continues to appear trustworthy to Othello
• Newly arrived Lodovico thinks Iago has no involvement in Othello’s change, showing loyalty which is actually false; this is then thought to be true by Lodovico due to the implications of the actions of Iago(4.1. 262-280)

Women's Gender Roles

and Treatment

Appearance Vs Reality

Background Info.

Literary Devices

• Desdemona is slapped in this scene
• With the gender roles present in this time, what we notice is Desdemona seems to be different given the elevated platform set to her by Othello “I have deserv’d not this”(4.1. 238)
• Othello's change also brings upon a change on how he treats his wife

Women's Gender Roles

and Treatment

Manipulation

Background Info.

• Throughout the scene, Iago further poisons Othello’s mind with lies with him repeating Cassio & Desdemona’s “affair” (4.1.0-43)
• These we know leads to Othello’s jealousy, then falls into his epilepsy (4.1.43)
• Iago tells Othello he will talk to Cassio about Desdemona; which is actually bianca they are talking about (4.1. 84-86, 93);
• We can see Iago's manipulation continually working which leads to an identity change due to his manipulation yet we are shown glimpses of Othello’s remaining Love for Desdemona (4.1. 174-204)
• This Identity change brought upon by Iago's manipulation causes Lodovico to be wary of Othello's actions

Manipulation

Heaven/Hell Imagery

"By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.

Thou saidst—Oh, it comes o'er my memory,

As doth the raven o'er the infectious house,

Boding to all—he had my handkerchief." (4.1.19-22)

"Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is ’t possible?-Confess? Handkerchief? O, devil! (4.1.39-43)

"Oh, devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears,

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile.

Out of my sight!" (4.1.241-243)

Manipulation

Aside

• This is used to express the anger Othello feels towards Desdemona for her supposed infidelity
• During the era the play would take place in it was a very religious time, bringing up heaven or the devil would be used when talking with great passion or anger as using them would make a sentence more powerful

• An unauthoriz’d kiss!”-Othello (4.1. 2)
• “But if I give my wife a handkerchief-”-Iago (4.1.10)
• “Noses, ears, and lips. Is’t possible?-Confess? Handkerchief? O Devil!”-Othello (4.1.42-43)
• “Lie with her? Lie on her?.....O Devil!”- Othello (4.1 35-43) These lines show his villany took a toll to Othello’s physical condition, with him having a seizure through their discourse

Manipulation

Animal Imagery

Iago:"There’s many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster." (4.1.64)

Othello: "A horned man’s a monster and a beast." (4.1.63)

• Also, for (4.1. 174-204), we can say that the manipulation of Iago in the past scenes have worked; Othello’s conflicted feelings of Desdemona goes away as soon as he hears Iago reason with him- “Ay, let her rot and perish” (4.1. 177)
• As a product of Manipulation, Othello has changed drastically; Not only was Lodovico deceived by Iago's appearance but his manipulation caused Othello to have a change in his actions which leads to Lodovico seeing only the changed side of Othello

• Animal imagery is brought up many times throughout the play mostly by Iago, this was done do show his villainy
• The significance of animal imagery in this scene is that Othello also starts using it, this shows his characters evolution and how he is starting to show the characteristics of a tragic hero
• Two animals mating is seen as something instinctual, Othello is upset by this because he thinks Desdemona is instinctually cheating on him with Cassio to feed her sexual appetite. This adds to the jealousy that Othello feels as he considers himself less of man as he is not enough for her, this jealousy he feels festers and leads to ultimately him fulfilling his role as a tragic hero

Repetition and Symbolism

"Lie with her? lie on her? We say “lie on her” when they belie her! Lie with her—that’s fulsome. Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To confess, and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged, and then to confess—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is ’t possible? Confess!—Handkerchief!—Oh, devil!—"(4.1.35-43)

DramaticIrony

"I am a very villain else." (4.1.125)

• Othello repeats the word handkerchief before having an epileptic seizure. This is significant because it shows the feeling of betrayal that he feels from Desdemona.
• High emphasis is placed on the handkerchief as it was only given to a woman as a sign of loyalty and affection from her husband especially so in Othello’s family as it is believed to be enchanted also, it was the handkerchief that finally got Othello to be convinced of his wife’s cheating when he was told Cassio used it to wipe his beard.

• Iago jokes around being a villain to Cassio, he would not know but the audience would that Iago is in fact a villain.
• This shows how Iago makes sure he is seen to the other characters during the play, as an honest loyal man, this why Cassio laughs it off. This public image of him is what helps him in the downfall of Othello, as Othello has no reason to doubt his close honest and loyal friend of many years
• How Iago is truly villainous, he knows what he is doing is wrong but continues to does so out of the powerful hate he has for Othello

Metaphor

"Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught,

And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,

All guiltless, meet reproach." (4.1.44-47)

• Iago compares his plan for the downfall of Othello to poison.
• Iago’s plan is like a poison on Othello’s life that is slowly killing him overtime. This is important to the Story as it shows the villainous nature of Iago and how the entire thing was started because of his overreaction to not being named lieutenant by Othello.

The Man Of Many Faces

Iago's actions:

Angering Othello

Cassio's False Words

The Instigation of Desdemona's Death

Lodovico's Mindset

Act 4 Question 1,2, and 4.

Angering Othello

Othello's Tragic Flaw

Cassio's False Words

Quotes

• Iago tries to get Othello angered by telling what his wife is doing is not a crime if nothing occurs.

• Iago then goes on talking about how giving the handkerchief to Desdemona, now belongs to her and she may do whatever she may please with the handkerchief like give it to Cassio.

• Iago tells Othello on how Cassio told Iago that he had slept with Desdemona.

• After Iago says this Othello is shocked and can not believed that this occured that he falls in a trance.

"Or to be naked with her friend in bed An hour or more, not meaning any harm?"

- Iago to Othello

"With her, on her, what you will." -Iago to Othello

"My lord is fallen into an epilepsy. This is his second fit; he had one yesterday. " -Iago to Cassio

Jealousy

Quotes

• Cassio leaves and Othello wakes from his trance, Iago tells Othello that while he was in his trance Cassio had passed by and he told Cassio to pass by later on so they may speak.

• Iago tells Othello to hide and Iago will ask Cassio to re-tell the story about Desdemona.

• When Cassio returns instead of Iago speaking about Desdemona he refers to Bianca.

• Iago signals to Othello to come close to listen to the story, and Othello percieves that Desdemona brought Cassio to their bedroom. Which is the same time that Bianca comes in and Othello notices the handkerchief in which she brought.

• By Iago making Othello perceive that Cassio is speaking about Desdemona it progresses the story to planning on killing Desdemona and Cassio.

"[Aside] Look how he laughs already!" - Othello

"So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me, so hales and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha!" - Cassio

"Did you percieve how he laughed at his vice?" - Iago

"Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work? A likely piece of work that you should find it in your chamber and not know who left it there! This is some minx's token, and I must take out the work? There, give it your hobby-horse, wheresoever you had it. I'll take out no work on't." - Bianca

The Instigation of Desdemona's Death

Quotes

• Iago first affirms what Othello saw which is the proof that Bianca had Othello's handkerchief.

• Othello still having feelings for Desdemona, Iago notices and states that if he is still fond over her why he doesn't just allow Desdemona to cheat.

• Which Othello then reverts in asking himself how she could cheat on him making him think on how to kill Desdemona.

• Othello tells Iago that he would be killing Desdemona with poison but Iago said that it does not suit Othello to poison her but to strangle her would be better.

• Iago then states that he would be killing Cassio, in which Lodovico, and Desdemona then enter the scenario.

"And did you see the handkerchief?" -Iago

"Oh, a thousand times worse, a thousand times—and what a sweet personality she has!" - Othello

"If you still feel so affectionate toward her, then why not give her permission to cheat on you? If it doesn’t bother you, it won’t bother anyone else." -Iago

Othello:

"Hath he said anything?"

Iago:

"He hath, my lord; but be you well assur'd

No more than he'll unswear."

Othello:

"What hath he said?"

Iago:

"Faith, that he did-I know not what he did."

Othello:

"What, what?"

Iago:

"Lie-"

Othello:

"With her?"

Question 4

Lodovico's and Iago

Question 2

Question 1

Quotes

"Maybe the letter mov'd him; For as I think they do command him home, Deputing Cassio in his government." -Lodovico

"...Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight I do entreat that we may sup together. You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!" -Othello

"...That I may save my speech.Do but go after, And mark how he continues." - Iago

How does Iago suggest it should be done?

Iago believes that Othello should kill Desdemona by strangling her on the bed in which supposedly Cassio and Desdemona slept on.

What causes Othello to think Iago is wise?

Othello thinks that Iago is wise because Iago is known to be wise by others, and it is because Iago is one of Othello's friends and Officers.

Iago:

"With her, on her, what you will."

• Othello receives a letter from Venice and the letter states that Othello will have to go back to Venice and leave Cassio in his place.

• Which angers Othello knowing that it is Casio that will take his place he becomes angered and strikes his wife.

• Lodovico not expecting such aggression from Othello is in awe for what he did with Desdemona.

• When Othello leaves Iago tells Lodovico about how Othello has changed but does not tell Lodovica what he has seen or known.

• Iago tells Lodovico to watch Othello and what he does.

What is Iago hoping to accomplish by proclaiming Desdemona's innocence?

Iago hopes to get Othello becomes angered and jealous so he can show his anger against Desdemona and other people will be doubt Othello being calm and not an angered, jealous person.

Othello:

"Lie with her! lie on her! We say lie on her, when

they belie her. Lie with her! that's fulsome.

Handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief! To

confess, and be hanged for his labour; first, to be

hanged, and then to confess. I tremble at it.

Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing

passion without some instruction. It is not words

that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips.

Is't possible?--Confess? Handkerchief? O devil!"

Iago:

"I never knew a woman love man so."

Cassio:

"Alas, poor rogue! I think, i'faith, she loves me."

Othello (Aside):

"Now he denies it faintly, and laughs it out."

Othello:

"How shall I murder him, Iago?"

Jealousy:

"Feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages.

Epilepsy:

"A neurological disorder marked by sudden recurrent episodes of sensory disturbance, loss of consciousness, or convulsions, associated with abnormal electrical activity in the brain."