Act IV
Hypothetical Arguement |
Cassio is Guilty |
Iago uses a hypothetical argument by asking him if Othello thinks that Desdemona and Cassio kissed. He asks the question that he doesn't want to be asked. He also says, what if they were in bed together naked, and they weren't doing anything? He is putting this in Othello's head by insisting that Othello is the one making the assumptions.
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Cassio seems guilty of having an affair with Othello's wife because Iago suggested that he saw Cassio with Desdemona's handkerchief. Also Iago tells Othello to hide in the dungeon to hear Cassio talking to him.
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Serpent's Curse
The serpents curse is when you are cursed more than all different types of animals. Emilia tells Othello that if anyone is telling him all of these lies about Desdemona, they will have the serpents curse. Since Emilia is Iago's wife, she technically cursed him because he is the jerk that is putting all of these horrible lies in Othello's head.
Iago's Reversal FortuneIn Act IV scene 2, Iago's theory gets turned around.
1. Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona and Cassio, if they were being sneaky or acting strange when they were talking together. Emilia tells him that she heard every word that they said and that nothing is going on. 2. Emilia also tells Othello that Desdemona is honest and hasn't disobeyed him in anyway. She tells him if his wife is being dishonest, then there is no real love at all. |
Strongest Example of Foreshadowing"Get you to bed on th' instant, I will be returned forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there, look ’t be done" (Act IV, Scene 3).
Othello is sending Desdemona to bed and tells her to dismiss the maid. The climax starts building up because Othello doesn't want Emilia there and he wants Desdemona to himself. This is when he will strangle Desdemona. |
Why Wives Fail
Its the men's fault if their wives cheat on them because they aren't getting treated right. Men can go off and cheat and it isn;t a big deal to them, but if their wives do it, it's bad. They also cheat because they want revenge.
Devil/Hell References
"Oh, ’tis the spite of hell, the fiend’s arch-mock, to lip a wanton in a secure couch , and to suppose her chaste."
"Let the devil and his dam haunt you!" "Ay, let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for she shall not live." "Oh, devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman’s tears, each drop she falls would prove a crocodile." "If any wretch have put this in your head let heaven requite it with the serpent’s curse for if she be not honest, chaste, and true there’s no man happy. " "Come, swear it, damn thyself. Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves should fear to seize thee. Therefore be double damned, swear thou art honest!" "Turn thy complexion there, patience, thou young and rose-lipped cherubin,—Ay, there, look grim as hell!" "You, mistress, that have the office opposite to Saint Peter and keep the gate of hell!" |