Why is Act 3 Scene 3 considered to be a very important and effective scene in Othello?

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Othello English Coursework

Why is Act 3 Scene 3 considered to be a very important and effective scene in Othello?

Act 3 Scene 3 is about Othello being told that Desdemona is cheating on Othello with Cassio, Othello is lied to and decides to kill her. The build up to this is very important and effective.

        At the beginning of this scene Cassio has been fired by Othello and is telling Desdemona how he feels, “I being absent and my place replaced”. He is worried about being replaced. By saying this Desdemona assures Cassio that he will be on Othello’s case bugging him, “My lord shall never rest”, but this is just the build up which is added later on. Othello thinking she is cheating with Cassio. There is also dramatic irony, where she says “For thy solicitor shall rather die than give away”, and ironically this happens.

        In the next part of the scene Iago is teasing Othello making him think that Casio has done something wrong “Ha! I like not that”. This draws Othello’s attention, making Othello want to know what Iago is trying to hide. Desdemona is trying to persuade Othello to have dinner but Othello doesn’t want to, but she keeps pushing him further making him more angry, “Prithee no more”. This is when Othello really starts to find Desdemona irritating.

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        Iago continues to tease Othello, telling him lies and then starts to mimic Othello “What does thou think?” “Think, my lord!” and he mimics “Think, my lord” this makes Othello more suspicious of Iago, “As if there were some monster in his thoughts” Othello thinks Iago is hiding something. This scene has a lot of dramatic irony like when Iago says “For Michael Casio, I dare be sworn I think he is honest”, and this is true but Iago is lying.

        Later in this scene Othello tells Iago he doesn’t doubt Desdemona “For she had eyes, and chose ...

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