Act 3.4

Question 1

• what happens in the first part of act 3.4 lines 0-12
• who is on stage

Answer 1

• Desdemona asks the clown to go and find Cassio.
• on stage are Desdemona and the clown.

Question 2

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 13-41
• who is on stage

Answer 2

• The clown agrees to look for Cassio but only after making some puns which question Cassio’s honour
• Desdemona asks Emilia where her handkerchief is, and Emilia says she doesn’t know.
• Desdemona says she would rather have lost her money. and that the loss of her handkerchief would make Othello jealous if he were a jealous person.
• As Othello enters at the end of this section, Desdemona says she will not leave him until Cassio is reinstated.
• Othello comments in an aside on how hard it is to act lovingly to Desdemona.
• Othello comments on her hand’s youthfulness and fertility, but his words reveal his suspicions.
• on stage is the clown, emilia, desdemona and othello

Question 3

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 41-69
• who is on stage

Answer 3

• Desdemona reminds Othello of his promise.
• she tells Othello she has sent for Cassio.
• Othello complains of a cold and asks to borrow Desdemona’s handkerchief, insisting on the one he gave her,
• She says she doesnt have it, which he sees as a fault.
• He says it has magic properties which will bring destruction if it is lost and describes the handkerchief’s mystical qualities.
• on stage is Desdemona, Othello

Question 4

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 70-92
• who is on stage

Answer 4

• Othello insists on Desdemona producing the handkerchief.
• Desdemona continues to press Othello about Cassio and says his worry about the handkerchief is a ploy to divert her.
• In the end Othello storms out.
• On stage is Desdemona and Othello

Question 5

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 93-126
• who is on stage?

Answer 5

• Emilia asks again if Othello is not jealous and Desdemona says that she has never seen him like this before.
• She is distressed at the importance of the handkerchief.
• Iago and Cassio enter discussing Cassio’s reinstatement.
• Cassio explains to desdemona the hoplesness of his situation.
• Desdemona regrets that Othello is not in the right mood for her appeals, but concludes by saying she will do all she can for Cassio
• on stage is Emilia, desdemona and iago

Question 6

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 126-158
• who is on stage?

Answer 6

• Iago says that if Othello is angry it must be serious and so he will go and find him.
• desdemona assumes it is a state matter and regrets that she argued with him.
• Desdemona says she never gave him a reason to be jealous and Emilia points out that jealous people dont need a reason.
• Desdemona prays that Othello wont be jealous
• on stage is Iago, emilia, desdemona.

Question 7

• what happens in act 3.4 lines 159-184
• who is on stage

Answer 7

• Desdemona decides to continue Cassio’s suit.
• Desdemona and Emilia go and Bianca enters.
• Cassio greets her and she berates him for avoiding her
• He explains that he has been worried, and promises to devote time to her and asks her to copy the handkerchief
• Bianca assumes he has got it from a new lover.
• Cassio dismisses her suspicions and swears he is being truthful.
• He tells her he found it and likes it and wants it copied before its reclaimed.
• on stage is Desdemona, Cassio and Bianca and Emilia but desdemona and emilia leave at the start of this section.

Question 8

what happens at the end of act 3.4 lines 185-195
- who is on stage?

Answer 8

• Cassio asks Bianca to leave him because he is waiting to see Othello and it wont help his cause if he’s seen with a woman.
• Bianca reluctantly agrees to go- she has to put up with this treatment.
• on stage is Bianca and Cassio