Othello Act 4 PREP Flashcards
Q. What made Othello mad while he was reading the letter? (Question) ⭐️⭐️
: He just had to listen to Desdemona say she feels bad for Cassio and she also has a lot of love for him. He was already thinking about what his wife is doing with Cassio. This is enough to basically send him over the edge.
“Marry, patience, or I shall say you are all in all in spleen, And nothing of a man.” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 1
Speaker: Iago
Context: Othello is very angry over his belief of Desdamona’s unfaithfulness, and has just had a seizure because of it. Iago is trying to get him to calm down.
Significance: In this part, Iago is talking about how men should behave in society. He’s telling Othello that men need to be patient and not act on their emotions. But actually, Iago wants Othello to act on his emotions, even though he’s telling him the opposite.
“Nature would not invest herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction.” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 1
Speaker: Othello
Context: Iago is telling Othello that Cassio has been bragging about sleeping with his wife. Othello is growing angry and is physically impacted by this.
Significance: At this moment, Othello is saying that if the information didn’t affect him so strongly, he would be able to see that it was false. When Iago talks about this, Othello begins shaking and grows angry, having a physical reaction. Because he is so physically impacted by what Iago is saying, he knows that this must be true.
Q. What did Lodvico ask Iago in terms of Othello? (Question) ⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 1
: He thinks Othello is not mentally fit to serve his job, and there is something transformed to him. Iago tells him hitting his wife is the least of his concerns, though.
“If any wretch have put this in your head, Let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse.” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Emillia
Context: Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship. Emilia is defending Desdemona here.
Significance: Emilia says if any person tries to convince Othello about Desdemona in a bad way, She hopes God curses him because if Desdemona is not faithful, there’s no such thing as a faithful wife or a happy husband.
1) It’s significant because even though Emilia is Iago’s wife, she doesn’t have any idea that Iago is the one who spreads rumors and makes mischief.
2) And this is IRONIC because Emilia is cursing him without knowing it’s her husband who she wants God to curse him.
3) Emilia is passionate in terms of her languages. She should be able to convince Othello that Desdemona is faithful to him.
“Some of your function, mistress, Leave procreants alone and shut the door.” (Moment) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Othello
Context: Othello questions Emilia about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship, and asks Emilia to call Desdemona to come.
Significance: Othello wants complete privacy tonight with his wife. When she hears that Othello wants to have quality time with her, Desdemona might think something positive.
However, we know from the last scene, through dramatic irony, that the reason he wants a quiet time is not to apologize or seek forgiveness, but because he wants to strangle her. She does not realize this, and she is unaware that Othello is so consumed by rage that he wants to kill her.
“Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Othello
Context: Othello is confronting her, and tells her why he gets mad at her.
Significance: He is making it clear that he is upset and he is being very clear with what he is upset about. Desdemona says she hasn’t done anything wrong.
2 important things. 1) This is the first time in this play for Othello to tell her the reason he got mad at her to her face.
2) He is controlled by the emotions that he’s feeling. He is so irrational at this moment. Desdemona asks him why he thinks Desdemona is being unfaithful to him, but he doesn’t tell her, and avoids her.
Q. “Heaven truly knows what thou art false as hell” After this quote is said, How does Desdemona and Othello respond to that? (Question) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
She asks him to give her specifics if she has been unfaithful, tell her who, where, when she has been unfaithful. She is bold standing up to men at this moment. Othello responds to her to get away. If Othello just answered, he could have prevented everything. If Othello answered her Iago told him that he has been with Cassio, which would have opened up this whole conversation. But because Othello is too emotional, he tells Desdemoona to go away. She assumes the reason he got mad at her is something to do with his father.
“Had it pleased heaven To try me with affliction, had they rained All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head, Steeped me in poverty to the very lips.” (Moment) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Othello
Context: Othello is accusing her of being unfaithful, and she is asking for specifics.
Significance: Othello is saying that if God has punished him with physical difficulties, he would be okay with that. But when it comes to his heart, that is the most painful injury of all. That is something that could break him.
This is significant because this shows how hurt and broken he is from what he thinks Desdemona has done. He is heartbroken. This is not something he is going to be able to get passed.
“Was this fair paper, this most goodly book, Made to write “whore” upon?” (Moment) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Othello
Context: Othello is accusing her of being unfaithful, and she is asking for specifics.
Significance: He doesn’t have any positive things to say about her. God created her and basically wrote the word, whore to describe her. He basically created Desdemona.
This is significant because now he not only thinks that she is unfaithful with Cassio, but also he thinks that she is unfaithful with so many people without any proof.
“No, as I am a Christian, If to preserve this vessel for my lord From any other foul unlawful touch Be not to be a strumpet, I am none” (Moment) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Desdemona
Context: Othello is accusing her of being unfaithful, and she is asking for specifics.
Significance: During this time people were devoutly religious. Because she is making it clear that she is Christian and that is not something that a Christian would do at this moment, Othello needed to stop at this moment. But because he is no longer rational, even such a big statement as she is a Christian, he doesn’t listen to her.
“Yet could I bear that too, well very well. But there where I have garnered up my heart, Where either I must live or bear no life…” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Othello
Context: Desdemona begs Othello to tell her to explain why he gets mad at him, but Othello doesn’t tell her the truth he is all thinking about.
Significance: Here, Othello is saying that when it comes to his heart, it impacts him more than physical injury. If something breaks his heart, that is not something he knows how to deal with or look past.
This quote shows how broken this man is. If he wasn’t so broken, he might not be taken advantage of so easily. He could be rational, and have conversations about what was going on. But, in that moment, he is so overcome with sadness/ emotion that he thinks it is the end of the world. He is vulnerable and not rational, which is why Iago drove him to this point: to gain control over him.
“I will be hanged if some eternal villain Some busy and insinuating rogue Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, Have not devised this slander. I will be hanged else.” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Emilia
Context: Iago has arrived, and he is chatting with Desdemona and Emilia.
Significance: She is talking about how deceitful this person is, and she is willing to be hanged if Desdemona is actually unfaithful.
This moment is significant because it’s ironic that she is talking about how deceitful this person is even though this person is her own husband. She doesn’t know that person is her own husband. The thing is that Iago is being insulted to his face and wants to tell his wife off, but he doesn’t because he knows he will look very suspicious.
How does Desdemona respond when Emilia says there’s some evil who spread rumors? (Question) ⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
: Desdemona is saying even if there’s someone who is a cunning, deceitful, horrible person, she doesn’t want that person to be punished because she is a Christian.
“Unkindness may do much, And his unkindness may defeat my life, But never taint my love.” (Quote) ⭐️⭐️
In Act 4 Scene 2
Speaker: Desdemona
Context: She is asking for Iago’s advice on how to win her husband back.
Significance: She is saying that she recognizes how hurtful he is being and how cruel he is being. No matter how harsh her husband is being to her, her love is not going to change for him.
This quote is significant because it shows the weak side of Desdemona unlike before her boldness. In the beginning of this play, Desdemona has been described as a bold and progressive a woman. But at this moment, she is saying it doesn’t matter how cruel her husband is, she will still love him, which questions Desdemona has changed to weak.
