Othello Act 3

“Yet, I beseech you … give me advantage of some brief discourse with Desdemona alone.” Cassio to Emilia. Cassio wanted Emilia to get him time with Desdemona alone so he could talk to her about getting his job back, as Iago had suggested.
“Why, stay and hear me speak.” Desdemona to Cassio. This is after Othello walked in and Cassio told Desdemona he was going to leave. She was confused and wanted Cassio to stay and talk to her.
“I prithee name the time, but let it not exceed three days.” Desdemona to Othello. She wanted Othello to let Cassio come back and speak with them but Othello didn’t want to call him back right away. She said that was fine but to pick a day soon, preferably before 3 days time.
“Why then I think Cassio’s an honest man.” Iago to Othello. This was right after Iago made a big deal about people acting like who they really are and not pretending to be someone else. This is ironic because Iago is not an honest person, and also led Othello right into Iago’s plan by creating doubt in his mind whether or not Cassio really was honest.
“Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy!” Iago to Othello. Iago was warning Othello about jealousy aka the “green-eyed monster.” By telling Othello about jealousy he is implying that there is a reason for Othello to be jealous.
“I’ll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove, and on the proof there is no more than this: Away at once with love or jealousy!” Othello to Iago. Othello wants Iago to give him proof about Cassio and Desdemona and if he can prove it then he will stop loving Desdemona and stop caring about her.
“Look to your wife. Observe her well with Cassio.” Iago to Othello. Iago is warning Othello to watch and be careful of Desdemona and Cassio to see whether or not the suspicions are correct.
“She did deceive her father, marrying you.” Iago to Othello. “She” referring to Desdemona. I
“Why did I marry?” Othello in an aside. He was becoming more and more upset over the thought of Desdemona cheating on him and he started to question why he got married in the first place.
“She’s gone, I am abused, and my relief must be to loathe her.” Othello to Iago. “She” referring to Desdemona. Othello has been taking what Iago said too far and is starting to believe that Iago was right (that Desdemona really had cheated on him). This makes Othello very upset and even say that he “loathes” Desdemona.
“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a *****. Be sure of it.” Othello to Iago. Othello is starting to have doubts about whether Iago is right about Desdemona cheating on him because it is so hard for Othello to believe. Othello was saying that Iago better have proof or else Othello will be extremely angry at Iago for causing Othello so much pain and agony.
“Nay, this was but his dream.” Iago to Othello. Iago was talking about Cassio’s dream about Desdemona and how he implied that they had been together.
“But such a handkerchief – I am sure it was your wife’s – did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with.” Iago to Othello. Iago was lying and trying to convince Othello that he saw Cassio with Desdemona’s handkerchief. This is one of Iago’s circumstantial evidences.
“Arise, black vengeance, from the hollow hell! … Oh, blood, blood, blood!” Othello to Iago. Othello was talking about how he wants revenge on Cassio. He was saying that all of the love he had for Desdemona was gone and replaced by anger and desire for revenge.
“Within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive.” Othello to Iago. Othello wanted Iago to kill Cassio in three days because Othello believed that Cassio slept with Desdemona.
“Now art thou my lieutenant.” Othello to Iago. Othello rewarded Iago for all of his advice and information with a promotion to lieutenant. This also could have been because Othello was angry at his previous lieutenant, Cassio, and wanted to get revenge by replacing him.
“I am your own forever.” Iago to Othello. This is Iago’s commitment to serve Othello after he told Iago to kill both Cassio and Desdemona and promoted Iago to lieutenant.
“is ‘t lost? Is ‘t gone? Speak, is ‘t out o’ th’ way?” Othello to Desdemona. He was asking her where her handkerchief is to test whether or not Iago was right and Desdemona was lying to him.
“Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think, and no conception nor no jealous toy concerning you.” Desdemona to Emilia. She was hoping that Othello was upset because of work or “state matters” and not upset with her.
“And when I love thee not, chaos is come again.” Othello to Iago. He was saying that if he ever stops loving Desdemona then the end will come. Chaos is a hyperbole in this sentence.
August 21, 2019