HyunJoo (Ruby) Lee - Othello Act 3 Reading Guide
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PHYSICS 125
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Jan 10, 2025
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Othello Act 3 – 20 points1.Cassio asks Desdemona to plead his case to Othello2.Desdemona freely and happily accepts to speak to Othello on Cassio’s behalf3.In the meantime, Iago continues to poison Othello’s mind and Othello demands visual proof that Desdemona is cheating onhim4.Iago quickly seizes the opportunity by planning a family heirloom handkerchief that Othello gave Desdemona in Cassio’sroom5.At Iago’s urging, Othello asks Desdemona for the handkerchief6.Desdemona panics and lies and says she does not have it7.This lie arouses Othello’s doubt and distrust in DesdemonaTranslate these key passages to help you better understand the plot of this story and what is motivating the characters.Act 3.3. Line 1DESDEMONA to Cassio: Be thou assured, good Cassio, I willdoAll my abilities in thy behalf…Line 6But I will have my lord and you againAs friendly as you were.Desdemona is telling Cassio that she will try her best to helphim get his job back with Othello. She also hopes that Othelloand Cassio will become friends again like they were in the past.Desdemona shows her loyalty to both of them by wanting to fixtheir relationship.Act 3.3 Line 40OTHELLO: Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?IAGO: Cassio, my lord! No, sure I cannot think it,That he would steal away so guilty-like,Seeing you coming.Othello is suspicious and wonders if Cassio was leavingDesdemona when he entered. Iago pretends to be surprisedand reassures Othello that Cassio wouldn't act so guilty. This ispart of Iago’s manipulation, making Othello more suspicious ofCassio and Desdemona without directly accusing them.Act 3.3 Line 68DESDEMONA to Othello: Why, then tomorrow night, or TuesdaymornOn Tuesday noon, or night, on Wednesday morn.I prithee, name the time, but let it notExceed three days.Desdemona is eager to help Cassio and is trying to find a timewhen she can speak to Othello about reinstating him. She’sflexible about when it can happen but insists that it should bewithin the next three days. This shows her urgency andcommitment to helping Cassio.
Act 3.3 Line 93OTHELLO to Desdemona: I will deny thee nothing.Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this,To leave me but a little of myself.Othello agrees to Desdemona’s requests, but he asks for somepersonal space. This shows his internal struggle and growingemotional distance, as he begins to feel more insecure andoverwhelmed. He wants her to help him, but he also feels theneed to hold on to his own sense of self.Act 3.3. Line 120OTHELLO to Iago: “Think, my lord?” By heaven, thou echo’stmeAs if there were some monster in thy thoughtToo hideous to be shown…Line 132If thou dost love me,Show me my thought.Othello is getting more suspicious of Iago. He feels like Iago ishiding something terrible, almost as if there's a dark thought thathe’s too afraid to share. Othello asks Iago to tell him the truth,showing how much his jealousy and doubt are starting to takeover. He wants to know exactly what Iago is thinking, eventhough he’s not sure yet what Iago might be hinting at.Act 3.3 Line 195IAGO to Othello: Oh, beware, my lord, of jealousy.It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mockThe meat it feeds on.Iago warns Othello about jealousy, calling it a "green-eyedmonster." He’s suggesting that jealousy is dangerous and willmake a person doubt everything, even things that aren’t true.This is a key moment where Iago manipulates Othello, plantingthe idea that jealousy can twist his thoughts and emotions.Act 3.3 Line 218OTHELLO to Iago: Nor from mine own weak merits will I drawThe smallest fear or doubt of her revolt, ForShe had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago,I’ll see before I doubt…Othello is still trying to trust Desdemona and insists that hewon’t let his insecurities cause him to doubt her without areason. He acknowledges that Desdemona chose him willingly,so he wants solid proof before he questions her faithfulness.This shows Othello is trying to not be swayed by jealousy.Act 3.3 Line 238IAGO to Othello: Look to your wife; observe her well withCassio;Wear your eyes thus, not jealous nor secure:I would not have you free and noble nature,Out of self-bounty, be abused. Look to’t.Iago is encouraging Othello to watch Desdemona and Cassiocarefully, suggesting that he should be cautious but not overlysuspicious. He pretends to be concerned for Othello, implyingthat Desdemona might be manipulating him. However this ispart of Iago’s plan to make Othello more and doubtful of hiswife’s loyalty.Act 3.3 Line 334EMILIA: I am glad I have found this napkin.This was her first remembrance from the Moor.My wayward husband hath a hundred timesEmilia has found Desdemona's handkerchief. She reveals thather husband, Iago, has been asking her to steal it, and nowshe’s planning to give it to him. She doesn’t understand whatIago plans to do with it, but she’s willing to do whatever he
Wooed me to steal it, but she so loves the token …I’ll have the work ta’en out,And give’t Iago. What he will do with itHeaven knows, not I;I nothing but to please his fantasy.wants to make him happy. This moment shows how Emilia isunknowingly playing a part in Iago’s scheme, though she’smotivated by a desire to please him.Act 3.3 Line 373IAGO: The Moor already changes with my poison.Iago is referring to the emotional damage he’s causing toOthello by feeding him jealousy and doubt about Desdemona.Iago feels confident that his manipulation is already having aneffect on Othello’s behavior and thoughts.Act 3.3 Line 411OTHELLO to Iago: Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore!Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;Othello is now upset and demands proof. He is raged by Iago’saccusations and wants to see evidence before he believes whatIago has been suggesting. It shows how much Othello’s trust inDesdemona has been broken.Act 3.3 Line 470IAGO to Othello: I lay with Cassio lately,And being troubled with a raging tooth,I could not sleep …In sleep I heard him say, ‘Sweet Desdemona,Let us be wary, let us hide our loves!Iago tells Othello a made up story about Cassio sayingsomething suspicious in his sleep. He claims that Cassiomentioned Desdemona and suggested hiding their love, makingit sound like they are having an affair. This lie is part of Iago’splan to make Othello doubt Desdemona’s loyalty.Act 3.3 Line 537OTHELLO to Iago: Within these three days let me hear thee sayThat Cassio’s not alive…Line 541Damn her, lewd miinx! Oh, damn her, damn her!Come, go with me apart. I will withdrawTo furnish me with some swift means of deathFor the fair devil.Othello demands that Iago tell him that Cassio is dead, showinghow far he has gone in believing Iago's lies. Othello’s angertoward Desdemona has grown so intense that he starts planningher death, referring to her as a "beautiful devil." This marks aturning point in Othello’s character, where his love forDesdemona is twisted by jealousy and manipulation.Act 3.4 Line 120EMILIA to Desdemona: ‘Tis not a year or two shows us a man.They are all but stomachs, and we all but food;They eat us hungerly, and when they are fullThey belch us.Emilia is speaking to Desdemona about the way men treatwomen. She compares men to stomachs, saying they consumewomen when they want something from them and then discardthem once they’ve gotten what they want. This reflects Emilia’scynical view of relationships between men and women, showinghow women often feel used or unappreciated.
Act 3.4 Line 180EMILIA to Desdemona: But Jealous souls will not be answeredso;They are not every jealous for the cause,But jealous for they’re jealous. It is a monsterBegot upon itself, born on itselfEmilia is saying that jealousy doesn’t always come from realreasons. Sometimes, people just feel jealous for no reason atall. She compares jealousy to a monster that gets bigger andstronger the more you feed it, showing how jealousy can keepgrowing on its own.
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