Act III Othello Summary
Cassio starts off the act with a desperate attempt to win back Othello’s
favors. He sends a troupe of musicians to serenade the moor at his home,
but Othello won’t have any of it. The moor sends back a servant, referred
to as clown, to tell Cassio and his musician to GO AWAY. Cassio does
send the musicians away but he also requests that the clown send Emilia
to speak to him. Once the clown is gone Iago shows up and Cassio tells
him that “I have made bold, Iago, to send it to your wife.” Emilia shows
up and tells Cassio that Desdemona has been pleading his case and that he
should wait inside for Desdemona. Iago leaves saying that he’ll “devise a
mean to draw the moor out of the way, that your converse and business
may be more free.” That line is what leads directly into scene 2 which is
just Iago getting Othello out of the way by giving him business.
In scene 3 Desdemona, Emilia and Cassio are all discussing Cassio’s little
predicament when Othello and Iago enter. Cassio, being a nervous wreck,
slips out. This is when Iago pounces on his chance to plant the first seeds
of suspicion in Othello’s mind. He questions the moor about Cassio and
says things almost nonchalantly like I cannot think it that he would steal
away so guilty-like seeing you coming” Now that Othello is worried, Iago
leaves him to fester. When Emilia and Desdemona reenter and
Desdemona tries to help her husband and he pushes her away.This causes
her to drop a very special strawberry handkerchief. One that was made by
a witch with magic silk and virgins blood. The hanky was given to
Othello by his mother who said that as long as his wife had the hanky she
would have his heart. Ironically, Othello’s refusal of her love at this time
will ultimately lead to his whole deterioration. Emilia retrieves the hanky
for her rather ungrateful husband who plans to plant it in Cassio’s room.
Iago once more whispers in Othello’s ear. Seeds of doubt spread quickly
through the moor as he tries to pull more information out of Iago. Saying
“this honest creature doubtless sees and knows more much more than he
unfolds” Othello’s trust in Iago has turned him irrational and acting very
much out of character. However the final two blows are when Iago tells
Othello that he was in bed with Cassio when “in sleep I heard him say
‘sweet Desdemona’” He goes on to say that Cassio kissed him on the
mouth and that he draped his leg over him. Othello accepts this without
any questions. Last, but certainly not least, Iago tells Othello that he saw
Cassio wipe his beard with the precious strawberry hanky that Othello
gave Desdemona as a sign of love. Othello, now totally off his rocker
