He says, 'By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it. And so Othello is forced to think about the handkerchief. Iago wants Othello to think about that handkerchief Othello hasn't seen Desdemona kiss Cassio, won't seen her naked in bed with Cassio, can't see the unseen essence of her honor, but the handkerchief is something which can be seen. Othello says, 'She is protectress of her honour too: / May she give that?' (4.1.14-15), and Iago replies that her honor is an 'essence that's not seen' (4.1.16), 'But, for the handkerchief -' (4.1.18). Pretending to not know the significance of the handkerchief, Iago remarks that if it's her handkerchief, she may give to any man. But of course Iago does not give him a direct answer Othello must make his own inferences. But, on the other hand, if Othello has given her a handkerchief, and . . . So, if Othello is thinking as Iago wants him to think, Othello is thinking that even if he caught Desdemona naked in bed with Cassio, that wouldn't prove anything. Next Iago leads Othello's thoughts to the handkerchief: 'So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip / But if I give my wife a handkerchief -' (4.1.9-10). (And maybe that guy pouring gasoline on your carpet is just trying to get it clean.) Is it possible, Iago asks, that she just gave Cassio an innocent kiss? Or could it be that she was just 'naked with her friend in bed / An hour or more, not meaning any harm?' (4.1.3-4). As the conversation progresses, we discover that Iago is torturing Othello by suggesting that it will be very hard to prove that Desdemona has done anything wrong. When we see Othello and Iago, they are in the middle of a conversation, and Iago is saying, 'Will you think so?' (4.1.1). Lodovico is surprised and shocked at Othello's behavior, but Iago suggests that Lodovico hasn't seen the worst of it. Othello, overhearing Desdemona say that she is glad that Cassio has been appointed the new governor of Cyprus, strikes Desdemona and humiliates her, then storms out. Lodovico, accompanied by Desdemona, delivers letters to Othello from the Senate of Venice.

Enter Lodovico, Desdemona, and Attendants.

Othello, thinking that he has just seen the proof of Desdemona's adultery, is heart-broken that Desdemona must die, but Iago gets him to name the time, place, and method of her murder. Iago continues his psychological torture until Othello falls into a trance.Ĭassio appears and wants to help Othello, but Iago sends him away and tells Othello that if he hides himself he will see Cassio talking about his encounters with Desdemona.Ĭassio returns and Iago arranges it so that while Cassio is talking about Bianca's foolish love for him, Othello thinks he's talking about Desdemona.īianca throws the handkerchief in Cassio's face, but invites him to supper, so Cassio follows her. Weller, an Eastern Washington University professor of English and Shakespearean scholar for more than 50 years.ĭetailed Summary of Othello, Act 4, Scene 1 Page Index: Welcome to my web site, now under development for more than twenty years.ĭr.

Othello act 4 scene 1