Othello Act 3, Lecture notes of English Literature

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Othello

Act 3

15 th October 2021

Learning Purposes

• Further explore the character of Iago
• Examine how Iago has been manipulating characters from the beginning of the play

RECAP

• Quiz questions
• Discussion of previous events FUTURE LESSONS
  • Developing understanding of play
  • Developing awareness of Shakespeare
  • Pre-Christmas assessment

Act 3, Scene 1 (summary)

• Cassio sends musicians to play for Othello, but one of Othello’s servants is given instructions to send them away.
• Cassio requests a meeting with Emilia so he can get access to Desdemona.
• Iago speaks to Cassio and tells him that he will get Emilia to come and speak to him, and that he will make sure Othello is out of the way so that Cassio can speak to Desdemona privately.
• Emilia comes to speak to Cassio. She advises him that Desdemona and Othello have discussed his case, but Othello is worried about the consequences of rehiring Cassio, as Montano is very well liked in Cyprus.
• Emilia invites Cassio into Desdemona’s rooms to wait for a meeting with her.

Act 3, Scene 2 (summary)

• Iago, Othello and Gentlemen walk together through the town.
• Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver back to Venice.
• Othello decides to go and look at the town’s buildings. This scene is only 11 lines long. What is the significance of this scene?

Read Act 3, Scene 3 (lines 167 – 215)

1. What does Othello say that he needs before he will begin to doubt Desdemona?
2. Iago repeats the warning made by Brabantio in Act 1, Scene 3. What are both of these characters suggesting about Desdemona?
3. How does Othello feel about Iago, and why is this significant?

Read Act 3, Scene 3 (lines 302 – 330)

In this section, we see Iago implicating his wife in his scheme. Emilia is unaware of why her husband is requesting the handkerchief, and he will not give her an answer when she asks. For what reasons might Iago lie to his wife?

How has the theme of jealousy been

presented in Act 3, Scene 3?

Write a plan for the answer to this question. Plan to write 3 detailed paragraphs. You must include quotations from Act 3, Scene 3.

Plenary

1. Which character is concerned with their reputation?
2. Which character could be described as duplicitous?
3. What is the name of Desdemona’s father?
4. What is Iago known as by the other characters?
5. Which character stabbed Montano?