Download Othello by William Shakespeare

OTHELLO BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Interpretation of Act IV, Scene I
SUMMARY

Iago will joke with Cassio about the prostitute, Bianca, so
that Cassio will laugh as he tells the story of Bianca’s pursuit
of him. Othello will be driven mad, thinking that Cassio is
joking with Iago about Desdemona. The plan works. Othello
suggests that he will poison his wife, but Iago advises him to
strangle her in the bed that she contaminated through her
infidelity. Iago also promises to arrange Cassio’s death.
Lodovico enters at the end of the scene with news that
Othello has been called back to Venice and Cassio will be his
replacement in Cyprus. When Desdemona hears the news,
she expresses her happiness and Othello strikes her.
Lodovico cannot believe that the Othello he has just seen is
the same self-controlled m an he once knew.
ACT IV, SCENE I
The Danger of Isolation--Theme
Othello stands alone while Iago
talks with Cassio.
Othello is also isolated by his
physical stature and the
color of his skin.
Quote
[Aside] “By heaven, that should
be my handkerchief!”
(p.135)
ACT IV, SCENE I
Unmanliness—Theme
In other words, Iago is
calling Othello
unsoldierly/unmanly.
Quote
Iago calls Othello’s
epileptic fit “a passion
most unsuiting such a
man.” (p. 132)
ACT IV, SCENE I
REVENGE—Theme
Othello wants to murder his wife
because he suspects she’s having
an affair.
Quotes
“I will chop her into messes.” (p.138)
“Get me some poison, Iago; this
night.” (p. 138)
“Do it not with poison; strangle her in
her bed, even the bed she hath
contaminated.” (p. 138)—Iago
ACT IV, SCENE I
The Handkerchief—Symbol
A symbol of Othello’s love to
Desdemona.
Othello sees the handkerchief as
a symbol of Desdemona’s
infidelity.
Quote
“Handkerchief—confessions—
handkerchief!—To confess ,
and be hanged for his labour,-first, to be hanged, and then to
confess.” (p.128)
ACT IV, SCENE I
Animals—Motif
Animal references are used
with regard to Othello. They
reflect the racism of
characters in the play.
Quotes
Iago says, “He foams at mouth,
and by and by Breaks out to
savage madness.” (p. 129)
Iago calls Othello an “old black
ram.” (p. 134)
ACT IV, SCENE I
Figurative Language
“She will sing the
savageness out of a
bear!” (p.137)—Metaphor
Quotes
“There, --give it your hobbyhorse: wheresoever you
had it.” (p.135)—
Alliteration
“Honest Iago.” (p.126)—Irony
ACT IV, SCENE I
Imagery
While Othello is having an epileptic
fit, Iago describes him as one
would describe a wild animal.
Quotes
“The lethargy must have his quiet
course: / If not, he foams at
mouth, and by and by / Breaks
out to savage madness. Look, he
stirs: / Do you withdraw yourself a
little while, / He will recover
straight: when he is gone, / I
would on great occasion speak
with you.” (p.129)
Imagery
Cassio is referring to Bianca.
Readers imagine Bianca
as a person who is
stalking/haunting Cassio
everywhere he goes.
Quotes
“She was here even now;
she haunts me in every
place.” (p. 134)
THANK YOU
Created By:
Ms. Wojtkiewicz
&
Ms. Athey