“ Nothing, my lord”
That slight pause after the nothing is enough to put doubts into Othello’s head. Iago continues and he describes Cassio as “guilty-like”. Desdemona, then at exactly the wrong time talks about Michael Cassio having his job back.
Desdemona’s innocence is proving to be her undoing because the first doubt in Othello’s mind has been planted. He begins to wonder why Desdemona is talking so much about Cassio. Are they having an affair? He dismisses it though and tells Desdemona that Cassio is free to come to him and plead his case.
Othello and Iago are both wearing suits but Othello has many medals on his breast, where as Iago only has a few. Othello is to look physically bigger than Iago but Iago when he talks about Cassio is to be talking at his side so Othello will not suspect that he is lying.
Lines 90-145: Iago talks to Othello about Desdemona’s and his courtship wondering if Cassio knew about it and further adds to Othello’s anxiety. Othello repeatedly asks Iago why he inquires about Cassio and to confuse matters and delay time, he repeats what Othello says. Othello is angered by this and tells Iago:
“ If thou dost love me, show me thy thought. “
Iago then retreats after this and reassures Othello of their relationship by saying that he loves him. Iago throughout this scene is very hypocritical as he hints to Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona and yet on line lines 126 and 130 he says that Cassio is an honest man, but still Othello never challenges him about this because of his trust in him. Iago even undermines Othello by saying that he is not bound to the rules that slaves are, Othello being an ex-slave.
Othello and Iago are now turned towards each other, Othello towering over Iago when he wants an answer from him as to intimidate him, but when Iago says that he is not a slave to him then Othello takes a step back as if he is embarrassed.
Lines 145-195: Iago tells Othello that he is perhaps wrong and that he is only guessing about the affair. To scare Othello, Iago tells him about how people perceive him, as to make an affair more believable. He then talks about how Othello should beware jealousy and he even goes onto describe it as to make a point. Iago makes his first breakthrough, in Othello’s speech starting on line 178 Othello really questions if they are having an affair and why? But Othello says at the end of this:
“I’ll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;”
Othello is asking Iago for proof.
As Iago talks about jealousy, Othello is to sit down in a nearby chair and start to slump in it as to show him in despair. He remains like this until he asks for proof at which point he will rise and stare down at Iago.
Lines 195-259: Iago replies to Othello’s request for proof by saying that he is glad he can show him how much he loves Othello by giving him this proof. Iago then displays more cunning by telling him to observe Desdemona and Cassio when they are together. Again he uses to his advantage that Othello is a stranger by saying that in Venice these things (affairs) happen. He plants even more doubt by saying that didn’t Desdemona deceive her own father in marrying you? On line 228 Othello reassures himself by saying that she is honest but Iago just insults him and takes control by saying:
“ Long live she so, and long live you to think so!”
Othello at the end of this asks Iago to observe his wife, which is exactly what Iago needs to create some more lies. Othello even questions why he married.
Othello and Iago are once again face-to-face talking but Iago’s body posture relaxes as the lies flow and when he insults him with the line “…and long live you to think so!” he crosses his arms and gives off a “Ha!” as to just illustrate the sarcasm and cheek.
Lines 259-301: Iago has now left the scene and Othello begins a soliloquy, which gives us access to his thoughts. He is convinced that Iago is honest and that he understands how people’s minds work. Othello then paints a very violent and harsh image; if he finds Desdemona to be a whore then he will have to hate her even though it would break his heart. Desdemona is depicted as a sexual predator. By line 266 he has almost become convinced himself that she is an adulteress as he is old and black and he begins to plot against her. Line 272:
“ I had rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of the dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others’ uses.”
This is another excessive image thought of by Othello, that he would rather be a toad than love his wife if she were to be an adulteress. Desdemona and Emilia then enter and Desdemona notices immediately that something is wrong with Othello. This proves to the audience that she loves and cares for him but Othello can’t see this. Desdemona tends to him and wipes his brow with a handkerchief that he gave to her as his first present to her. She then drops it and they walk off to dinner. This proves to be very important later on in this chapter. Emilia meanwhile has stayed behind and noticed the handkerchief; she picks it up and tells the audience of how Iago has asked for this on many occasions!
Othello will be sitting down now as he begins his soliloquy, he will start to sweat profusely because of the terrible images of Desdemona. His voice will be booming and full of anger until Desdemona enters the room. His whole posture and voice however changes completely when Desdemona comes to comfort him and take him to dinner, where once again he relaxes.
Lines 301-370: Iago now enters the scene and is told by Emilia that she has a handkerchief for him, Iago orders for her to hand it over and shows that he is a misogynist by calling her a whore and a foolish wife. Iago knows that he is doing wrong as he says “ Hast stolen it from her? ” and is again very disrespectful to his wife when she asks what will you do with it, he snatches the handkerchief and says “ Why, what’s that to you ”. Emilia leaves and then Iago tells the audience how he will plant it in Cassio’s room. He is also very pleased at how his “ poison ” is working. Othello then re-enters, still believing that Desdemona is innocent and is annoyed that Iago has told him of a possible affair:
“ I swear ‘tis to be much abused than but to know’t a little. ”
Othello has still not considered that perhaps Iago is lying and really nothing is going on, because everyone trusts Iago. Othello goes on to say that he still has a torch for Desdemona as he has not found or been shown any visual proof of the affair but again paints another excessive image by saying that he would rather the whole of the army camp had had an affair with her rather than having these thoughts implanted in his mind. He goes on to say farewell to his public life, as after everyone finds out about the affair he will have no public life or indeed no life at all. Iago then again starts acting very sarcastically towards Othello and says to him:
“ Is’t possible, my lord? ”
Othello is still unsure about the affair and once again repeats to Iago his request for “ocular proof” and if he is lying may he be damned forever.
This scene depicts varying emotions. At the beginning Emilia is seen to be flirting with Iago over the handkerchief, and to be sexually provocative when she says “I have a thing for you”, and then Iago will act with disgust as he mistreats his wife and snatches the handkerchief. Afterwards he will be happy as he now has the handkerchief. Then when Othello enters he is full of anger and despair that Iago has told him of this affair. His mood turns to sadness as he bids farewell to his public life and again reverts to anger as he threatens Iago that he will be damned forever if he is lying.
Lines 370-420: Othello’s anger then continues and he tells Iago to stop slandering his wife. Iago withdraws and calls himself a fool and pretends to be hurt by saying that it is not safe to be a good friend and he’s only looking after him. Iago then turns again, and tries to poison Othello once more by saying that love is a dangerous thing. Othello wishes that people were honest but now Iago begins to weave a new web of lies. He tells Othello that Desdemona’s virginity has been corrupted and finally Othello decides that he has to kill her but only if he has the proof. Othello is becoming very confused; he is not sure what to do and is even beginning to sound like Iago. Iago now starts ‘to go in for the kill’, he can see that Othello is eaten up by passion and very upset, so he confuses Othello even more by asking a number of rhetorical questions. Othello can’t think straight; he doesn’t know who to trust his wife or his friend of many years. Iago carries on fuelling the paranoia by planting images into his head of animals (the animals show that Othello is beginning to lose his sense of reason, as when you do lose your sense of reason you become animal like.) Iago tells Othello that it is impossible for them to be caught in the act, but would Othello really want to? He goes on to say that he can’t prove the affair directly but he will prove it, as if he’s doing him a favour!
This is again another emotionally charged scene; Othello is very angry and upset as he succumbs to Iago’s poison. Iago proves just how intelligent and cunning he is, he can see that Othello is confused and so he carries on confusing him. Othello is sitting down on his bed, head in hands in despair, occasionally raising his head to bark back angry comments at Iago, whereas Iago is seen standing over Othello to show the power change and how Iago has finally won. His voice is to be sly to the audience but reassuring to Othello as to make this seem unbelievable to the audience but at the same time believable to Othello.
Lines 420-end: Iago continues with his lies by saying how he has heard Cassio in his dreams fantasize and call out the name of Desdemona:
“In sleep I heard him say, ‘Sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves’.”
Othello finally admits to himself this must be happening and moans out “O monstrous, monstrous!” Iago is once again very cunning and covers his tracks by saying that it was only a dream; he is again toying with Othello. It has finally worked Othello hates Desdemona:
“I’ll tear her all to pieces!”
Iago has been waiting for this moment; and finally the handkerchief can be used. He tells Othello of how he has seen Cassio wiping his beard with the handkerchief; this enrages Othello even more.
He then tells us of how much he wants to kill Cassio:
“O that the slave had forty thousand lives!”
He wishes that Cassio had many lives so he could repeatedly kill him. Othello then says something that lets Iago believe that he has finally won:
“One is too poor, too weak, for my REVENGE”
Iago has finally convinced Othello of the affair and Othello is now demanding revenge, meaning the death of Cassio, Desdemona and most probably Othello himself. Othello says that all his love has been sent up to heaven and only vengeance is left. Hate is now the tyrant that will rule his life (these are again excessive images). He is literally going to become filled with hate and vengeance. The two of them then kneel down and Othello makes a new sacred vow, his revenge will swallow them up and never look back. He believes in what he is saying and therefore knows he can now not go to heaven. Iago tells Othello that he will do whatever Othello wants him to do which is very ironic and aid in the death of Cassio.
Othello puts Iago’s love to the test and tells him that he has three days to kill Cassio. Iago replies that he is all ready dead making a point about his love for him. Iago tries to reason with Othello for him not to kill Desdemona and go against his vow, but Othello replies that not only does he want her killed he wants her damned. Desdemona is now in the eyes of Othello the evil incarnate. Iago then leaves Othello and the reader with a distressing remark:
“I am your own for ever”
Iago clearly does not mean this.
For the final part of Act III Scene iii I would like it to be portrayed with great drama. The lighting is to be centred on the pair but with gloomy surroundings. This will run off from the setting, which is now moved on to the roof of the government mansion, as they have been moving through the house during the past two parts. As Iago talks about Cassio’s fantasies the audience should be able to see the despair and tears running down the face of Othello, but when he realises what must be done anger and hatred runs through him, his voice booms with anger and once again the audience can see how powerful he is with sight of his rippling muscles seemingly bursting out of his suit. Then when they make their vow and Othello damns Desdemona there is to be storm and lightning effects, to add atmosphere and drama to the scene. When Iago has said the last sentence “I am your own for ever” the two actors will hug, Othello with the look of hatred and despair on his face, Iago with an evil smile on his face. Then the light fades to nothing and the scene is finished.
