Act 3

• Summary


  ● Desdemona issympatheticwith Cassio’s situation and promises to speak to Othello on his behalf. She wholeheartedlydefendsCassio to her husband, and asks him for a pardon.● Immediately after, Iago begins to convince Othello explicitly that there is something between Cassio and Desdemona:“Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio”(Act III Scene III). Othello is now thoroughlysuspiciousbut has no proof.● Desdemona drops herhandkerchiefand Emilia takes it, saying Iago asked her to steal it“a hundred times”(Act III Scene III).Othello returns to Iago, angry that he let himself be swayed by Iago. He insists the Iago provide some“ocular proof”(Act III Scene III) before he goes any further.● Iago claims he has heard Cassiosleep-talkingabout Desdemona, and that he has seen him using Desdemona’shandkerchief. This is proof enough for Othello, and he decides that he willkillhis wife and Iago will kill Cassio.● Desdemona isupsetthat she has lost the handkerchief as it was a gift from Othello. She again tries toconvinceher husband to forgive Cassio, but this onlyhardens Othello’s heartagainst her.
• Key Quotes & Analysis

  Act III Scene III:“For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago; / I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove; / And on the proof, there is no more but this,-- / Away at once with love or jealousy!”The theme ofseeingis important inOthello. This is partly because of its focus oncolour; Othelloisawarethatasa“Moor”helooksdifferenttotheVenetiansaroundhim,sowhenhesaysthathiswife“had eyes, and chose me”thesubtextis that she chose himdespite his ethnicity. This is a subtle indication of Othello’sinsecurities, as he feels that Desdemona had tooverlookhisethnicityin order to marry him, and he is constantly aware of hisdifference.
• Key Quotes & Analysis

  Act III Scene III:“I am glad I have found this napkin: / This was her firstremembrance from the Moor: / My wayward husband hath a hundred times / Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token, / For he conjured her she should ever keep it, / That she reserves it evermore about her / To kiss and talk to.”This is another example ofdramatic irony: Emilia does not realise the impact of her actions, but the audience knows that in stealing the handkerchief and giving it to Iago, Emilia unwittingly seals her mistress’s doom.
• Key Quotes & Analysis

  Act III Scene III:“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, / Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof: / Or by the worth of man's eternal soul, / Thou hadst been better have been born a dog / Than answer my waked wrath!”Othello comes back to the importance ofsightand of havingvisual proofof Desdemona’s infidelity. Hisinsistenceon evidence is a testament to hishonestyandnobility, but it also leaves himopen to manipulationbecause when Iago falsely produces evidence, Othello immediately determines to murder his wife. The exclamation at the end of this quote tells us that Othello shouts at Iago here, indicating hisrising temperandanger.
• Key Quotes & Analysis

  Act III Scene III:“Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell! / Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne / To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught, / For 'tis of aspics' tongues!”This is where we start to see thebreak-downof Othello’smental statethrough hislanguage. His increasing anger is evident here through his repeatedexclamations. He is losing control over language, just as he loses control of his temper.