Mrs. Opaleski-DiMeo – English IV Honors

Othello

Close Reading of Act IV

Act IV, Scene 1

1.This is a scene filled with a lot of action. Notice how it begins. What does it have in common with earlier scenes? What is Iago doing to Othello in the first 45 lines? What does he hope to gain from Othello he does not already have? [Act IV, scene 1, lines 1 –49]

2.How does Iagoengineer an apparent “confession” by Cassio? [Act IV, scene 1, lines 50 –170]

3.In the final sequence we have visitors from Venice. Remember the contrast between the civilized city and the rough frontier of Cyprus. On the island, human passions and sins are much closer to the surface. What will the emissary from Venice, Lodovico, think of how people have changed in Cyprus? He delivers a letter to Othello. On stage Othello will read the letter with his new orders while he listens to and responds to the conversation between his wife and Lodovico. How would this be staged?[Act IV, scene 1, lines 215 – 282]

Act IV, Scene 2

1.The next scene represents a logical step in the unfolding of the plot. Sooner or later Othello will have to confront his wife with the charges. This is the point where Iago’s plot is most vulnerable – how so? What could make the whole conspiracy fall apart?

2.Re-read the language in lines 1-105. What is the dominant feature of this exchange?How many times does Othello repeats the word committed? What is the purpose of this redundancy? What word/phrase does Desdemona repeat? For what effect?

3.In the next sequence, line 106 – 245, Iago returns.Compare and contrast his exchange with Desdemona to the one they have in Act II. What has changed? What is the importance of kneeling in this scene?

4.Finally Iago’s evil deception is “uncovered” at the end of the scene. Who first discovers his villainy, and how is Iago able to escape the consequences?

Act IV, Scene 3

  1. This short scene really adds nothing to the storyline, but it is one of the most powerful and poignant that Shakespeare ever wrote. There is a sense of domesticity in the scene as two women talk idly about things. What purpose does this scene play in the overall drama?