Examine the significance of Act 3 Scene 3 in Othello

“If I have any grace or power to move you,

His present reconciliation take.”

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 46 – 47)

Desdemona is telling Othello that she thinks he should reinstate Cassio as his Lieutenant. Othello would have thought nothing of this at the time it was said. Othello is thinking back to this moment after Iago has warned him about Desdemona having an affair with Cassio and knowing what Iago thinks women from Venice are like; lying, stealing, cheating, Othello may think that Desdemona would want Cassio to have his job back because she is having an affair with him. This is making Desdemona look guilty of something that she has done as Iago is putting ideas into Othello’s mind. Othello becomes jealous of the fact that Desdemona cares for Cassio so much.

        The theme of jealousy has been seen throughout the play with Iago being jealous of Cassio and Roderigo being jealous of Othello. There are increasing amounts of jealousy throughout this scene leading up to Othello and Iago being that jealous they are driven to murder people close to them.

“Good God, the souls of all my tribe defend

From jealousy.”

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 117 - 178)

Here, Iago is telling Othello that everyone can get jealous, but people try to defend themselves against it. This should imply to Othello that it is a negative feeling and he should try to “defend” himself against it. There are many people who are jealous of each other and every one is shown during Act 3 Scene 3. Iago is jealous of Othello and wants to ruin his life. We are not given a clear reason as to why Iago is so jealous of Othello, we can only assume that is due to the fact that Othello has a happy marriage with Desdemona, whereas his relationship with his wife Emilia is far from perfect. Othello also has a high position in society, as he is the General in the service of the Duke of Venice. Iago only holds the position of Othello’s ensign. “I hate the Moor.” (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 350). This shows the audience from very early on in the play how he feels about Othello. Iago is not only jealous of Othello he is also jealous of Cassio. This may be because of the fact that both Cassio and Iago wanted the position of Othello’s lieutenant, but Cassio got the job, this made Iago jealous of him. In Act 2 Scene 3 we see Iago begin his plot of revenge by getting Cassio drunk whilst he was supposed be guarding Cyprus therefore he lost his job. We see Iago’s jealousy of Cassio continue in Act 3 Scene 3 as he reveals to Othello that Cassio is sleeping with Desdemona.

“In Venice they do let God see the pranks

They dare not show their husbands.”

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 204 - 205)

Here Iago is telling Othello that many women from Venice have affairs with other men. Iago is clever, as he does not mention either Desdemona or Cassio’s name, as Iago already knows Othello is suspicious of Desdemona and Cassio’s relationship being more than friendship. Iago is just talking about all Venetian women, but Othello automatically assumes he talking about Desdemona and Cassio. Iago plans to kill Cassio, he does not tell Othello this as he wants Othello to make the decision to kill Cassio, this may be because Iago does want the blame for the death or that he wants to appear in a good light to Othello. Iago is not the only person in Othello that suffers from jealousy; Othello is jealous of Cassio and his relationship with Desdemona. Desdemona tells Othello a number of times throughout the play how much she likes Cassio and how he has “an honest face”. (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 50). This would make Othello feel jealous, as it would make Othello think that Desdemona was attracted to Cassio. Roderigo is jealous of Othello because Roderigo is in love with Desdemona, but Desdemona chose Othello over him.

“With him? Why, ‘tis not possible!”

(Act 2 Scene 1 Line 211)

This shows the audience how Roderigo cannot believe that Desdemona would choose to marry someone like Othello over himself and it also shows a jealous side in him as he is implying that Othello is not good enough for Desdemona and that she deserves someone better.

        All relationships are built on trust, but in Othello the trust in many of the relationships is broken during Act 3 Scene 3. Othello is one example of a person who breaks the trust in a relationship. Othello does not trust Desdemona as he thinks she is having an affair with Cassio. He plans to take revenge on her by murdering her; hence the trust in the relationship is broken even more. Iago breaks many peoples’ trust in this scene, but most of all Othello’s, as he is plotting against him to ruin his life. Othello’s trust in Iago deepens within this scene as he takes everything Iago says as truth and believes opinion is fact. Othello has no proof that Desdemona is cheating on him, as he has not seen any suspicious behaviour or asked her about it, he just believes everything that Iago tells him, without questioning him. “Now I do see ‘tis true” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 444). This proves that Othello is convinced that Desdemona is having an affair. Iago also breaks the trust of his wife Emilia as he asks her to steal Desdemona’s handkerchief so he can play a harmless joke on Othello and Desdemona. This is not the case, he wants to use handkerchief as a catalyst to help break down Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. The handkerchief is extremely important to Desdemona, as it is the first gift that Othello gave her and it is a family heirloom of Othello’s. Iago uses the handkerchief, as a tool to break down Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. He tells Othello that he has seen Cassio using the handkerchief and Desdemona must have given it to him.

“a handkerchief

I am sure it was your wife’s – did I today

See Cassio wipe his beard with.

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 137 - 139)

In getting the handkerchief Emilia also broken Desdemona’s trust by stealing from her. “I am glad I found this napkin” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 292). Emilia seems pleased that Desdemona has left her handkerchief behind giving her a chance to steal it.

        The only relationship that seems to get stronger in this scene is the relationship between Othello and Iago. This may be because Othello feels like he owes Iago as Iago is the only person who has informed Othello on what he believes to be the truth about Cassio and Desdemona “If she be false” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 280) This is a doubt in Othello’s mind that he has about Desdemona faithfulness. Othello tells Iago that he is “bound to thee for ever.” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 215). This is ironic as it is so true but Othello meant it in a sense that he owes Iago everything because he told him the truth about Desdemona’s affair. The audience sees that Othello is bound to Iago forever because of how Iago has got Othello to believe anything that he wants him to believe and this is something Othello cannot escape from, as he is unaware that it is happening. At the end of the scene, we see that Othello and Iago make a pact to kill Desdemona and Cassio.

        In Act 3 Scene 3 we come to realise how clever and devious Iago is. He uses many methods to persuade Othello that he is telling the truth. He puts doubt into Othello’s mind when talking about Cassio at the start of the scene

“For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.”

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 125 - 126)

The word “think” implies that he is unsure about whether he is honest or not. This puts doubts into Othello’s mind about how honest Cassio is about how honest Cassio is. This quote has nothing to do with Desdemona but about Cassio losing his lieutenancy. Iago also implies that Desdemona is deceitful as he mentions to Othello that she deceived her own father in marrying Othello. “She did deceive her father, marrying you;” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 206) This may have made Othello think that if Desdemona is capable of deceiving her own father to be with a man, then she is capable of deceiving him to be with another man. Iago also uses false praise to convince Othello that he is telling the truth.

“Cassio’s my worthy friend—

My lord, I se you are moved”

(Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 225-226)

Because Iago has called Cassio his “worthy friend” Othello may have thought that Iago would not want to harm him and this is backed up even more so by the fact that Iago called Othello “lord” showing that Iago has great respect for him, when really the truth is the exact opposite. Iago also uses carefully worded questions and this enables Iago to make suggestions to Othello and make him think what he wants him to think. “Behold her topped?” (Act 3 Scene 3 Line 397). This is strong imagery and the rhetorical question would make Othello think about what he has just said and put an image in Othello’s mind of Desdemona and Cassio

        All this evidence shows the significance of Act 3 Scene 3 in Othello as we see the change in the characters from how they appear at the start of the play they reveal unattractive characteristics for example jealousy is shown in Othello and Iago. The trust being broken in many of the relationships, real personality traits are shown and many lies are told. All of these factors build up to the climax of Othello killing Desdemona and then himself and Iago murdering Roderigo and his wife Emilia.