Act 3, Scene 1 Summary

The scene begins with a brief element of comic relief: in his attempt to get back into Othello’s good books, Cassio hires musicians. They set up under the General’s window, hoping to give the newlywed couple a pleasant, enjoyable surprise. Upon awakening, Othello asks his clown to send away the musicians.

Cassio wishes to speak with Desdemona. He asks the clown to send word for Emilia, who he thinks might be able to help him. Iago enters, and Cassio lets him in on his plan to talk to Desdemona. Iago exits. Emilia enters and informs Cassio that Othello and Desdemona are debating the best way to address his poor conduct. Desdemona, she tells him, has already spoken “stoutly” on Cassio’s behalf to Othello. However, given Montano’s reputation and popularity in Cyprus, Othello has countered that reappointing Cassio might not be a good idea. Emilia bids Cassio to come in and speak to Desdemona.

Act 3, Scene 1 Analysis

Unlike other Shakespearean plays, Othello does not feature many comic interludes. This is one of the few scenes to feature a comic element. Though Iago might be the vilest of all Shakespearean villains, he is humorous, too. His rather witty repertoire provides many of the laughs in the play.

Act 3, Scene 2 Summary and Analysis

This is a brief scene that serves as a buffer between the act’s first and third scenes.

Othello hands over Iago some letters to be dispatched to Venice. He also tells Iago that he is considering fortifying Cyprus.

Act 3, Scene 3 Summary

The scene begins with Desdemona assuring Cassio that she will speak to Othello about reversing his demotion. At that very moment, Othello enters along with Iago. Cassio had intended to leave, but Desdemona had asked him to stay. An embarrassed Cassio leaves upon their arrival. Iago, true to his plan of creating discord between Othello and Desdemona, whispers to Othello that he doesn’t like what he is witnessing. Othello doesn’t pay heed to him at this moment. Instead, he shifts his attention to Desdemona, who persistently pleads on Cassio’s behalf. Finally, Othello relents; he says there is nothing he can deny her.

Iago then sets about planting seeds of suspicion in Othello’s mind about Cassio and Desdemona’s relationship. He is clever and does not directly accuse Cassio. Instead, he resorts to innuendoes and insinuations. He leaves it to Othello to connect the dots, and eventually gets Othello to believe that something is in fact going on between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello begins to suspect his wife, as Iago’s insinuations become stronger. Othello, at the same time, also accepts his insecurities regarding Desdemona. Just then, Desdemona enters. Seeing a worried Othello, she enquires if all is well with him. Othello admits to Desdemona that he is disturbed, but doesn’t give her any specific reason.

While leaving, Desdemona drops the handkerchief Othello had given her on their wedding night. Emilia finds the handkerchief, and in a brief soliloquy, she conveys its importance to the audience. Iago enters, and Emilia gives him the handkerchief. Iago knows that the handkerchief was given to Othello by his mother. Expectedly, he decides to use it as a prop for his lethal plot. Othello enters, Iago tells him that he is concerned that Desdemona might be unfaithful. He demands proof of Desdemona’s infidelity, and, at this, Iago cooks up stories about Cassio. He informs Othello that Cassio has Desdemona’s handkerchief. Othello is enraged to learn that his wife would give away something so invaluable, and is in turn convinced of Desdemona’s infidelity. Othello swears to kill Cassio and take revenge on Desdemona for her infidelity.

Act 3, Scene 3 Analysis

In this scene, Desdemona is seen pleading Cassio’s case to her husband; notably, this is the first time the audience witnesses a conversation about Cassio between the couple. She comes across as an independent, generous person. It is worth noting that Othello tends to express his love for Desdemona in more glowing terms when she is not around, possibly because her presence makes him conscious. This scene also sheds light on the paradox of Othello’s strength. On the outside, he is a strong personality and an able general, but on the inside he is insecure and rather susceptible to manipulation. He is consumed by jealousy to the extent that he swears to kill Cassio and Desdemona.

From his speech, the audience learns that Othello thinks of Desdemona as a problem that needs to be solved rather than as a person who he has a relationship with. He also fails to deal with the everyday aspects of conjugal life. This reveals their incompatibility. Iago was not required to prove his loyalty for Othello, who seems to have full faith in him. This is ironic since Othello is supposedly closer to Cassio and closer still to Desdemona. Yet, he is suspicious of two of his closest people. The end of the scene marks the climax of Othello, with Othello swearing to avenge Desdemona and Cassio for their disloyalty.

Act 3, Scene 4 Summary

The scene also begins with a brief comic interlude, with Desdemona asking the clown to fetch Cassio. Then she tells Emilia that she is worried about her missing handkerchief. Othello enters, takes Desdemona’s hands, and, rather strangely, admonishes her for its moistness. Othello then asks Desdemona to give her the handkerchief he had given her on their wedding night. Desdemona, having lost her handkerchief, fails to produce it. Othello tells her of the handkerchief’s magical power. The handkerchief, he adds, was given to Othello’s mother by an Egyptian sorcerer to charm his father; she’d used it to ensure his father would remain loyal to her.

Othello’s mother had given Othello the handkerchief on her deathbed. Othello by now seems obsessed with the object, and Desdemona tries in vain to change the topic. When she tries to bring up Cassio’s case, an infuriated Othello storms out. Both Emilia and Desdemona notice a distinct change in Othello’s behavior, which is now laced with jealousy. Emilia comments on the fickle nature of men. Cassio enters with Iago and tells Desdemona that he has not been pardoned. Othello, he fears, might not restore his rank. Knowing Cassio’s capability and worth, Desdemona feels sorry for him. She then informs the two men of Othello’s strange behavior.

Faking concern, Iago leaves to look for Othello. Emilia thinks that Othello is upset at something Desdemona may have done, or his behavior might just be a reflection of his essential jealous nature. Everyone leaves, except Cassio.

Bianca enters, and Cassio asks her to make a handkerchief similar to the one found in his room. Cassio still has no idea that the handkerchief belongs to Desdemona. Bianca assumes that the handkerchief is from another woman, and this infuriates Cassio. He also lets her know that he doesn’t love her. However, Bianca remains unperturbed and leaves with the handkerchief.

Act 3, Scene 4 Analysis

The brief comic interlude at the beginning of the scene serves to diffuse the tension that has been building up since the previous scene. When Desdemona tells Emilia about her missing handkerchief, Emilia lies and says she has no idea about it. The lie allows the audience to learn about Emilia’s character. She is just as insincere and deceitful as her husband, Iago, although she means no harm to Desdemona. In this scene, the audience also realizes that Othello has fallen from grace. He alleges infidelity on Desdemona’s part due to his own insecurities. There is palpable irony when Othello tells Desdemona that the handkerchief was given his mother to spellbind his father. Othello is after all giving in to the narrative preferred by Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, who believed that Othello must have seduced Desdemona using magic.

One cannot help but notice Othello’s lack of communication in his personal life, a flaw likely resulting from his ego. He does not tell Desdemona why he is upset; he simply assumes that his wife is involved in an illegitimate relationship with Cassio. Toward the end of the scene, a parallel is drawn between Cassio and Othello’s ideas of love. Cassio doesn’t believe in mixing personal and professional life, whereas Othello seems to be the exact opposite of Cassio: Othello, for instance, brought Desdemona to Cyprus, which was an official visit.