OTHELLO PLOT SUMMARY ACT 4
4, 1
1. Iago shows the successful infection of Othello – Othello’s epileptic fit 1-48
2. Iago tells Cassio that during fits Othello is mad (Elizabethans saw epilepsy as possession by the devil) 49-59
3. Iago sets up Othello to overhear his conversation with Cassio, tells Othello that Cassio will be talking about sex with Desdemona and will mock him 60-93
4. Iago’s 7th soliloquy – explains to the audience that Cassio will be talking about Bianca, but Othello will be deceived and go mad 94-102
5. Iago and Cassio discuss Bianca – Othello’s asides show him convinced by Iago. Bianca, jealous, arrives with handkerchief, throws it at Cassio 102-168
6. Iago persuades Othello to murder Desdemona, strangling her in her bed 169-212
7. Lodovico arrives from Venice with orders for Othello’s return. Othello shows how changed he is (dramatically and linguistically), strikes Desdemona 213-265
8. Iago persuades Lodovico that Othello is mad and violent 266-284
4, 2 – the ‘brothel’ scene
1. Othello treats Desdemona as a prostitute and Emilia as the bawd (keeper of the brothel). He accuses her of being a whore and asks her to swear her innocence so that a) she is guilty of both sins and b) he is justified in murdering her 1-93
2. Desdemona asks Emilia to put the wedding sheets on her bed 94-105
3. Desdemona’s sole soliloquy 106-8
4. Desdemona asks Iago to help. Emilia realises Othello has been lied to by a ‘villain’ (but not that it’s Iago) 109-170
5. Roderigo arrives, angry that Iago hasn’t kept his promise and threatens to go to Desdemona to confess. Iago flatters and persuades him to murder Cassio 171-243
4, 3 – the ‘willow’ scene
Willow symbolises betrayed love, grief and death. Itching eyes foretell weeping.
Song is a dramatic device where the singer comments on their own situation (irony).
1. Othello sees Lodovico out after supper; tells Desdemona to go straight to bed. Irony – Desdemona has her wedding sheets on her bed, hoping to remind Othello of their wedding night. Othello is about to strangle her in the same sheets 1-9
2. Rest of scene is private, domestic and the only female-only long section in play. Throughout Desdemona shows innocence, obedience, naivety and love for Othello. Desdemona tells Emilia about her mother’s maid and ballad she sang about betrayed love. Songs in Shakespeare are a dramatic device designed to show theme of play in a poetic register. Singers often comment on their own situation and here Shakespeare uses prophetic irony – Desdemona comments on her own tragic end 11-57
3. Desdemona proves her innocence by asking Emilia about men 58-82
4. Emilia shows practical, realistic nature and view on position of women – men are to blame if women stray because men treat women so badly 83-104
Key speeches in Act 4
• 4, 1 169-212: Iago’s manipulation of Othello to murder Desdemona
• 4, 2 230-265: Othello’s public humiliation of Desdemona
• 4, 2 30-90: Othello’s treatment of Desdemona as prostitute
• 4, 2 129-146: Emilia comes close to the truth about Iago
• 4, 3 60-104: Emilia and Desdemona on the position of women
Key extracts
• 4, 1 1-47: Iago’s success in persuading Othello of Desdemona’s infidelity
• 4, 1 93-143: Iago’s skill in manipulation
• 4, 1 169-212: Othello’s attitude to Desdemona
• 4, 1 218-265: Othello’s attitude to Desdemona
• 4, 2 41-89: Othello’s attitude to Desdemona
• 4, 2 109-147: Emilia’s character
• 4, 3 14-56: theme of betrayal
• 4, 3 57-104: Emilia’s character/the role of women
Preparing for Act 5
Act 1: Iago expresses hatred of Othello to Roderigo and shocks Brabantio
Othello defends himself to Brabantio
Othello defends himself to the Senate
Act 2: Arrival in Cyprus – Iago persuades Roderigo to disgrace Cassio
Iago gets Cassio drunk; he fights Roderigo and Othello demotes him + Iago becomes Cassio’s mentor
Act 3: Cassio asks Desdemona for help in getting him reinstated
Iago manipulates Othello into jealousy and they make an unholy pact
The handkerchief scene
Act 4: Iago sets up Othello to overhear Cassio talking about Bianca (Desdemona). Othello agrees with Iago to murder Desdemona + he strikes her in public
The brothel scene
The willow scene
Who expects what in Act 5?
