CASSIO + BIANCA

• Bianca:

  Act 4 Scene 1

  "This is some minx's token, and / I must take out the work? There, give it to your hobby-horse. / Wheresoever you had it, I'll take out no work on't."
• • Metaphor (Minx's Token):
  • The phrase "some minx's token" is a metaphor where "minx" refers to a woman of questionable character, which Bianca assumes is the source of the handkerchief. Bianca is implying that the handkerchief is a gift from another woman to Cassio, adding to her jealousy and frustration.
• • Sardonic Tone
  • Bianca's tone is sarcastic in the lines "I must take out the work? / There, give it to your hobby-horse." She mocks Cassio's request to copy the embroidery, implying that it’s a silly or meaningless task. The phrase "hobby-horse" can be understood as a reference to something trivial or a playful, light-hearted pursuit, further highlighting her annoyance.
• Irony:

  • The irony in this scene is that Bianca is completely wrong in her assumption. The handkerchief, which she believes is a token from another woman, actually belongs to Desdemona and was used by Iago as part of his scheme to make Othello jealous. Bianca's anger is thus based on a false understanding of the situation.
• Cassio

  "This is the monkey's own giving out. She is persuaded / I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery, not out of my promise."

  Act 4 Scene 1
• • Metaphor ("The monkey's own giving out"):
  • Cassio uses the metaphor "the monkey's own giving out" to belittle Bianca. He compares her claims to a monkey's chatter, implying that her beliefs and statements are foolish or insignificant. It's a dismissive and mocking way to refer to her.
• • Sarcasm and Mockery:
  • Cassio's tone is sarcastic, especially in the phrase "she is persuaded I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery". He mocks the idea that Bianca could believe he has promised to marry her, suggesting that any such belief comes from her own desires and flattering assumptions, not from any serious commitment on his part.
• Irony:

  • The irony is that Cassio is unaware of the full extent of Iago's manipulations. He is speaking freely about Bianca’s misguided belief, but the audience knows that his actions and relationships are being twisted by Iago, which is contributing to the tragic events that unfold later.
• Cassio:

  "I marry her! What? A customer! I prithee, bear some / charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome. Ha, /ha, ha!"

  ACT 4 SCENE 1
• • Rhetorical Request ("bear some charity to my wit"):
  • Cassio says "bear some charity to my wit" as a request for understanding or tolerance of his joke. The phrase "charity to my wit" implies that he wants Iago to interpret his joking as harmless and humorous, asking for leniency in his behaviour.
• Sarcasm:

  • The use of "What? A customer!" is sarcastic, as Cassio mockingly refers to Bianca as if she were a mere transaction or a business transaction. He is dismissing her as insignificant or unworthy of serious consideration for marriage.
• Irony:

  • There’s irony in Cassio’s words. He laughs off the idea of marriage with Bianca, but the situation is much more serious, especially from Bianca’s perspective. Cassio does not see the gravity of her feelings for him, which further highlights the tragic misunderstanding between them.