Act V, scene i: Cyprus. Word Count: 1445 . Iago is stirring the deep rooted jealousy and hatred in Othello.He is misleading him into such a state of mind which demands nothing but revenge. The "Willow Song" is an old one, existing in many versions before Shakespeare incorporated it into his play. She has a premonition of death and requests Emilia, if she should die, to wrap her body in one of her wedding sheets, which are now on the bed. Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4 Summary Desdemona sends for Cassio to tell him that she has spoken with Othello; she is also worried that she has lost her handkerchief. Last Updated on June 20, 2020, by eNotes Editorial. She asks Emilia if that means she's going to cry soon, but Emilia says it doesn't mean anything. Possibly Emilia hopes nothing more will be heard of the matter, or she thinks to protect her husband from accusation if the handkerchief subsequently turns up somewhere. Act 4, Scenes 1–3 Summary and Analysis. She follows that comment up with a story of her mom's maid, Barbary. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Othello agrees to her but he has started doubting her. "Barbary," the name, means "foreigner." Ophelia's love, Prince Hamlet, appeared mad and rejected her, and she lost her mind and died singing as she drowned. Desdemona sings the "Willow Song," remembering the maid Barbary whose lover went mad and abandoned her, and she died singing this song. Search all of SparkNotes Search. Act 3, Scene 4 Desdemona chats with the clown and asks him to bring a message to Cassio that he should come visit her. Scene ii: Othello tries to get Emilia to tell him what he is now convinced of; that Desdemona is cheating. Ayesha Dharker and Joanna Vanderham explore Act 4 Scene 3 of Othello with the director of the 2015 production at the Royal Shakespeare Company, Iqbal Khan. Desdemona's mother plays no part in the story of the courtship and marriage to Othello, and Desdemona speaks and acts as a woman alone, who takes full responsibility for her decisions. Iago complains that instead of employing him as his lieutenant, Othello … Emilia knows something is seriously wrong, but Desdemona's mind is preoccupied with the problem of her husband's love. After dinner, Othello suggests a walk with Lodovico and orders Desdemona to get ready for bed. Desdemona sends the clown for Cassio, because she hopes that Othello … Understand every line of Othello. Iago has Roderigo poised and ready to pounce on Cassio, and kill him; if either of them is killed, it is to Iago's benefit, although he would like to have both of them disposed of, so that his devices might not be discovered.Roderigo and Cassio fight, and both are injured; Othello hears the scuffle, is pleased, and then leaves to finish off Desdemona. Emilia's speech at the end of Act IV on the faults of husbands neatly balances Iago's speech in Act II on the faults of wives. Othello Act 4, Scene 1. Desdemona decides that she wants to advocate for Cassio. He kisses her, she wakes up, and he encourages her to confess her sins. Read our modern English translation of this scene. Iago is internally afraid that in case Roderigo comes out alive After dinner, Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona and Emilia go for a walk. Emilia had stood silently in the background (as a lady's maid should) when Othello demanded to see the handkerchief and Desdemona could not produce it (Act III, Scene 4), so she is aware that the handkerchief itself forms part of Othello's accusation. Summary. Iago is internally afraid that in case Roderigo comes out alive Act 4, Scene 1. boscorelli/Shutterstock.com. (74-75) The other reason for a wife to be unfaithful is in reaction to the husband's misbehavior or maltreatment: "But I do think it is their husbands' faults / If wives do fall" (86-87). Next. She died singing it. This leads Emilia into a bit of a rant. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. The men exit, leaving the women to chat and get ready for bed. Othello | Act 4, Scene 3 | Summary Share. Iago has Roderigo poised and ready to pounce on Cassio, and kill him; if either of them is killed, it is to Iago's benefit, although he would like to have both of them disposed of, so that his devices might not be discovered.Roderigo and Cassio fight, and both are injured; Othello hears the scuffle, is pleased, and then leaves to finish off Desdemona. Obviously the mood perfectly reflects that of Desdemona, whose love is so strong that she approves Othello's frowns, just as the "poor soul" (41) in the song approves her lover's "scorn" (52). Act 4, scene 1. Since men change their women sportingly, women should have the same option. In the play's final scene, Othello enters his bedchamber with a candle and finds Desdemona asleep in their bed. Desdemona declares again that she can't believe there's a single woman in the world who would cheat on her husband. And besides, women have the same sexual needs as men. The play opens in the powerful city state of Venice, famous as a center of trade and banking and for its military might. Othello falls into a trance of rage, and Iago decides to hammer home his false ideas about his wife. Act 4, scene 1. ), Desdemona abruptly changes the subject to Lodovico and what a nice guy he is. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. He is talking with Iago about the handkerchief still, and its significance in being found; but, soon, Iago whips Othello into an even greater fury through mere insinuation, and Othello takes the bait. (Nice. CliffsNotes study guides are written by real teachers and professors, so no matter what you're studying, CliffsNotes can ease your homework headaches and help you score high on exams. Find a summary of this and each chapter of Othello! Understand every line of Othello. Scene 1. She loves him so much that she cannot tell whether his love is lost or is yet recoverable. Enter Iago and Othello. Act 4, Scenes 1–3 Summary and Analysis. LODOVICO Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship. When Othello learns about the handkerchief, he decides that Desdemona is cheating on him, and because of that, she has to die. Cassio declares he's forever indebted to her, and Desdemona again emphasizes that she'll do everything she can. Previous Next . Ophelia's love, Prince Hamlet, appeared mad and rejected her, and she lost her mind and died singing as she drowned. Act 4, Scenes 1–3 Summary and Analysis. Iago is playing mind games with Othello as usual, forcing him to imagine Desdemona and Cassio in bed together. He is talking with Iago about the handkerchief still, and its significance in being found; but, soon, Iago whips Othello into an even greater fury through mere insinuation, and Othello takes the bait. Detailed Summary of Othello, Act 3, Scene 4 Page Index: Enter Desdemona, Emilia, and Clown. Summary. Act 4, Scene 1. Eager to avoid angering Othello… Iago enters with Othello and tries to make him notice Cassio going away after meeting Desdemona. Desdemona and Emilia discuss the situation; Emilia sees the marriage with Othello as a mistake, but Desdemona regrets nothing. Check out our revolutionary side-by-side summary and analysis. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. She has a vague premonition of death and requests of Emilia, "If I do die before thee, prithee shroud me / In one of those same sheets" (24-25). bookmarked pages associated with this title. Desdemona's only response is to say she hopes she can use others' bad behavior as a guide of what. Desdemona remains loyal to him but cannot get a song out of her head which she heard sung by her mother’s maid ‘called Barbary’ who was in love with a man who went mad, ‘it expressed her fortune and she died singing it’. Desdemona tries convincing Othello on accepting Cassio back into his official role. Othello tells Desdemona to go to bed and to send Emilia and her other servants away for the night. Roderigo immediately addresses Iago’s disdain for Othello: “Thou told’st me thou didst hold him in thy hate,” he says. Othello Act 4 Summary and Analysis by Shakespeare - In a street of Cyprus, Iago shows Roderigo the position from where he can kill Cassio. Summary. Another room In the castle. Cassio asks the clown to entreat Emilia to come speak with … Iago starts to plan his revenge against Othello. Othello is a tragic hero. He then treats and talks to Desdemona as though she were a whore. The third act begins with a bit of comic relief; a clown is mincing words with a few musicians, then has a little wordplay with Cassio, who bids the clown to go and see if Desdemona will speak with him. Summary ; Act 4 Scene 1; Study Guide. Chapter Summary for William Shakespeare's Othello, act 3 scene 4 summary. Act 4 Scene 3 Emilia helps Desdemona get ready for bed and expresses her concern about Othello’s behaviour. She wants the clown to make it clear that she's been good to her word about asking Othello for Cassio's reinstatement. SCENE III. Emilia and Desdemona make a clear contrast in their approach to marriage and fidelity. The senate discuss the war with the Turks. Desdemona sends the clown for Cassio, because she hopes that Othello … Willow, also known as weeping willow, is associated in Shakespeare's plays with lost love. The play opens in the powerful city state of Venice, famous as a center of trade and banking and for its military might. Related Questions. Iago described the marriage as that between "an erring barbarian and a super-subtle Venetian"(I.3, 355-356), an opinion many Venetians would have held and that Desdemona would have been well aware of. The remainder of the scene is between Desdemona and Emilia. The subject to Lodovico and orders Desdemona to get ready for bed who dismisses them as not relating her. Iago one scene to talk him into believing his wife Iago enters, and she lost her mind and singing. `` willow song '' is an old one, existing in many versions before Shakespeare incorporated into... And what it means brings us to Othello to restore Cassio to come in and speak Desdemona... 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