Act 3 Scene 4

The significance of Act 3 Scene 4 in the context of the whole play Othello

Act 3 Scene 4 occurs after Act 3 Scene 3, the longest and most significant scene in the play where Othello is shown to fall directly into Iago’s cunning trap and is so quickly influenced that he begins to doubt the loyal Cassio and his beloved Desdemona.

In Act 3 Scene 4, Othello approaches Desdemona, seeking evidence, and is pulled into a heated argument where he becomes even more angered due to Desdemona’s persistence for Cassio’s sake. This is significant as it reveals their deteriorating marital relationship as a result of Iago’s manipulation. Othello does not directly ask her about Cassio and misconstrues her words, showing that his character is quick to jump to conclusions, for example when Desdemona cries ‘I’faith, you are to blame.’ (line 93), Othello swears and exits, perhaps indicating that he thinks she is saying that he is to blame for her being with Cassio. Furthermore, he also assumes that she is with Cassio because she continues to talk about him. This deterioration carves the path leading to the destruction of both Desdemona and Othello later on in the play.

Another significant element of this scene is the symbolism of the handkerchief that Desdemona has supposedly ‘lost’. The handkerchief could represent three different things, firstly Othello’s exotic heritage, secondly the love shared between Othello and Desdemona and finally Desdemona’s chastity in Othello’s eyes. By ‘losing’ the handkerchief, the love has diminished between them and Desdemona is no longer pure in Othello’s eyes. However, the audience knows that it has not been lost, but taken away. The audience realises that everything is slowly and flawlessly falling into place, and Shakespeare confirms this when Iago is brought in and he says ‘Is my lord angry?’ (line 126), indicating that this is exactly what Iago wanted to happen.

The relationship between Emilia and Iago is also revealed. Emilia tells Desdemona that she does not know where the handkerchief was, when in fact she gave it to her husband. This shows a certain degree of loyalty to her husband. Additionally, it appears that she may know more than we think, when in line 149 she says to Desdemona, ‘Pray heaven it be state matters, as you think, and no conception nor no jealous toy concerning you.’

Act 3 Scene 4 reveals to the audience the loss of control in the relationship between Desdemona and Othello, as well as how this aids Iago with his ultimate plan. It is as if the characters are now digging their own graves by pulling themselves closer and closer into Iago’s trap.