Othello: Act 3 Flashcards
What is the summary of Act 3 of Othello?
Iago tells Cassio that the best way to get his position back is to talk with Desdemona and get her on his side.
Cassio takes advice and gets Desdemona alone with him and asks for her help.
Desdemona helps because she knows him and thinks he’s a loyal friend of Othello.
When Iago and Othello comes, Cassio leaves because he doesn’t want to face Othello personally.
Iago takes opportunity to plant the seed of doubt. He points out to Othello that Cassio left when Othello came near.
Desdemona tells Othello that he should make a mends with Cassio.
Iago plants another seed of suspicion in Othello’s mind.
He acts like something is wrong, but he doesn’t mention what.
So Othello has to drag it out of him.
Iago says he doesn’t know anything for sure, but Othello should watch Desdemona because the signs of her cheating with Cassio, are all there.
Cassio knows Desdemona and delivered messages between Othello and Desdemona when they were getting to know each other.
Venice women like to cheat.
Desdemona fooled their father when he was falling in love with Othello, so he knows she’s a good lier
Iago tells Othello to be aware of jealousy, because they don’t know for sure.
Even though there is no evidence, Othello starts doubting himself, he’s black, getting old, and not a smooth talker, so he thinks she might be cheating on him with Cassio.
Desdemona tells Othello says people are waiting for them to come and eat with them.
Othello has a headache.
She tries to rap his head with their hancerchief, and he pushes it away, and she drops it.
After they leave, Iago’s wife Emilia picks it up.
Because Iago has asked her to steal it.
Iago makes her hand it over and tells her to leave.
Othello comes back in and is obsessed with his jealous suspicion and furious with Iago for starting them.
Othello demands proof.
Iago says he heard Cassio talking in his sleep about having sex with Desdemona.
Then he acts Othello if his wife has a handkerchief with strawberries on it.
Iago says he saw Cassio wiping his beard with it.
Othello says he’s convinced and will kill them both for revenge.
Iago promises to help.
Othello asks Desdemona where the handkerchief is.
Desdemona asks Othello to reinstate Cassio, because she had promised to do this and partly to change the topic from the handkerchief.
This makes Othello even more angry, since she keeps bringing up Cassio.
He tells her to get the handkerchief, and when she doesn’t he becomes enraged and walks off.
Cassio comes to Desdemona to ask her again for help, and Desdemona tells him he’ll have to be pacient.
A prostitue named Bianca, who is in love with Cassio, comes to him and asks why he hasn’t visited her.
He gives her the handkerchief which he found in his room and asks her to copy the embroidery.
