Othello Act 3

What is the turning point in Act 3? Why? When Othello vows to kill Desdemona, and passes the role of lieutenant over to Iago. That’s the point when he finally turns to jealousy.
What is Othello’s tragic flaw? How? Gullible, naif, or jealousy. He’s naif/gullible to Iago’s intentions, he has no idea what sort of things Iago is planning.
“Therefore be merry, Cassio, for thy solicitor shall rather die than give thy cause away.” Desdemona. Devoted and loyal friend/trustworthy. Foreshadowing her possible death.
“Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul, but I do love thee! And when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” Othello. Foreshadows that chaos will indeed come their way.
“It were not for your good, nor for my manhood, honesty, and wisdom, to let you know my thoughts. Iago. Iago is “warning Othello to make him more anxious but tries to seem like he’s doing it as an act of kindness.
“O, beware, my lord, of jealousy! It is the green-ey’d monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on.” Iago. Iago is using a metaphor to compare jealousy to a monster.
“The Moor already changes with my poison, dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons, which at the first are scarce found to distaste, but with a little act upon the blood, burn like the mines of sulphur.” Iago. Foreshadows that Othello will give in to jealousy and/or fall into Iago’s trap.
“Farewell the tranquil mind! Farewell content! Farewell the plumed troops and the big wars, that makes ambition virtue.” Othello. Othello is giving up. Foreshadows his downfall. Othello is depressed, he wants to commit suicide because of Desdemona’s actions, he is saying goodbye to his life and blessings.
“Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, they crown and hearted throne, to tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, for ’tis of aspics’ tongues!” Othello. Foreshadows that Othello will take vengeance and regret it in the end.
“…but my noble Moor, is true of mind, and made of no such baseness, as jealious creatures are, it were enough to put him to ill thinking.” Desdemona. This is dramatic irony, only we know that Othello is jealous and Desdemona doesn’t.
“But jealious souls will not be answer’d so; they are not ever jealious for the cause, but jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monster begot upon itself, born on itself.” Emilia. Gives us insight into Emilia + Iago’s relationship, clearly she’s had experience with jealousy.
What does Desdemona say she will do to help Cassio? She said that she won’t stop talking about the fact that Othello must reinstate him.
What literary device is used in the line “Therefore be merry, Cassio,/for thy solicitor shall rather die/than give cost away”? You could see that as foreshadowing.
How does Iago try to plant suspicion in Othello’s mind when they see Cassio leaving Desdemona? He says to Othello “I don’t like that!”. Othello asked “What?” and Iago keeps him on edge by saying “oh nothing”.
Desdemona states that if Cassio is not devoted to Othello, that she is then one who has “no judgement in an honest face”. Why is this ironic? This is ironic because she believes that Iago is honest.
According to Desdemona, how did Cassio assist Othello in his courtship of Desdemona? Cassio assists Othello by standing up for him if someone ever said anything insulting about Othello, Cassio would deny this.
What is the significance of Iago’s speech, beginning with “O, beware, my lord, of jealousy!”? Iago is warning Othello that jealousy is dangerous/green eyed monster.
Why is Othello concerned when Iago hesitates when he speaks? Why is this ironic? Othello says that “disloyal people” hesitate when they speak, however he believes Iago is too honest and loyal to do that, this is ironic because Othello recognizes that this is a trick but doesn’t think Iago would do that.
What does Othello say about jealousy? He says he’s not the jealous type, he will not live a life of jealousy.
What does Iago tell Othello about Venetian women? Iago says that Venetian women cheat on their husbands.
How does Iago suggest that Desdemona’s affections for Othello are unnatural? Iago says it’s unnatural because she could’ve married someone of the same age, same race, same social class, same country.
What does Othello ask Iago to have Emilia do? Othello asks Iago to have Emilia watch Desdemona for him.
Does Desdemona think of her husband as a jealous man? She says that he’s not the jealous type, so no.
What does Othello say is so special about the missing handkerchief? It is special because an Egyptian gave it to his mother and said “as long as you keep this your love will stay strong. When she died it was given to Othello to give to his wife. There’s a magical power within it.
Iago indicates that Othello is difficult to anger? Why? He watched his brother die, he didn’t become angry. He watched soldiers die, didn’t get angry.
What is Bianca’s relationship with Cassio? Bianca is Cassio’s mistress.
What does Cassio ask Bianca to do, what is her immediate response? Cassio asks Bianca to copy the handkerchief. Bianca respond with jealousy and suspicion by saying “this is another girls handkerchief, I think you’re with another woman”.
Who arranges for musicians to serenade Othello and Desdemona? Cassio.
Why does Iago tell Othello to wait a while to reinstate Cassio? To see if Othello’s wife keeps asking him to reinstate Cassio.
Who will kill Cassio? Iago.
Who will kill Desdemona? Othello.
Why does Emilia give Iago Desdemona’s handkerchief? Iago asked Emilia to get it for him.
Why is this handkerchief so important to Desdemona? Because it was the first gift Othello gave to her?
Explain: “Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons”. As in dangerous thoughts can destroy Othello from the inside.
Othello threatens to kill Iago, why? Because Othello wants proof.
What proof does Iago give Othello for Desdemona’s cheating? -Iago says that Cassio was having a dream about Desdemona. -Iago saw Cassio using Desdemona’s handkerchief.
How does Othello respond to Iago’s proofs? He believes them, he says he’ll tear her to pieces. He responds threateningly.
Who is named as Othello’s new lieutenant? Iago.
“The Moor already changes with my poison, dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons, which at the first are scarce found to distaste, but with a little act upon the blood, burn like the mines of sulphur.” …
August 30, 2019