5.1.1

Key Events

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Iago's Mind Games

Here Othello and Iago are seen again, and as the scene unfolds we observe Iago playing mind games with Othello once more.

Iago

Iago

  • Iago tries to get Othello to imagine Desdemona and Cassio in bed together and then brings up the tragic symbol of the handkerchief.
  • Iago continues where he left off, forcing Othello to discuss the handkerchief and Desdemona’s honesty.
  • Iago manipulatively claims that Cassio has admitted the affair to him, provoking Othello to fall into a fit.
Cassio

Cassio

  • Cassio appears during Othello’s fit but Iago gets rid of him quickly.
  • When Cassio returns, it is to be an unwitting performer in a piece of drama engineered by Iago, with Othello as witness, whereby Bianca becomes a substitute Desdemona as the topic of conversation.
Bianca

Bianca

  • Suddenly Bianca appears in person at this point, and throws back the handkerchief in the sight of Othello.
  • Cassio runs after her, which gives Iago the opportunity to move Othello onto the point of agreeing that Desdemona and Cassio will die together that same evening.
Domestic violence

Domestic violence

  • Relatives of Desdemona, who are acting as officials from Venice, arrive with a letter for Othello.
  • In front of them Othello strikes her and they are shocked by his behaviour.
  • Lodovico is told by Iago that this is typical of Othello’s current behaviour.
Sadistic malice

Sadistic malice

  • Iago is lucky in that Bianca turns up to reject the handkerchief at the appropriate moment, and she unwittingly confirms Desdemona’s death sentence.
  • He even knows that Cassio can be counted upon to laugh excessively.
  • His addressing of Cassio as ‘Lieutenant’ is sadistic malice.
Reputation

Reputation

  • The arrival of the Venetians to relieve Othello and to promote Cassio - although logical, since the Turkish threat has been temporarily removed - seems to be an indictment of Othello and a confirmation of Cassio as his replacement in love and war.
  • Striking a woman was regarded as a cowardly and dishonourable at the time, especially in public, and this action damages both their reputations.
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1

Context

1.1

Introduction

1.1.1Specifications
1.2

Background

1.2.1Shakespeare1.2.2Love1.2.3Tragedy1.2.4Historical Context
1.3

Othello

1.3.1Setting1.3.2Social Issues
2

Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1

Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure2.1.2The Exam
2.2

Scene One

2.2.1Key Events2.2.2Key Themes2.2.3Key Ideas
2.3

Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events2.3.2Key Themes2.3.3Key Ideas
2.4

Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events2.4.2Key Events 22.4.3Key Themes2.4.4Key Ideas
3

Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1

Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events3.1.2Key Events 23.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy3.1.4Scene Two: Events
3.2

Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events3.2.2Key Ideas
4

Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1

Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two4.1.2Scene Three4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas4.1.4Scene Four
5

Act Four

5.1

Scene One

5.1.1Key Events5.1.2Key Ideas
5.2

Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events5.2.2Key Ideas
5.3

Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events5.3.2Key Ideas
6

Act Five

6.1

Scene One

6.1.1Key Events6.1.2Key Ideas
6.2

Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events6.2.2Key Ideas
7

Character Profiles

7.1

Major Characters

7.1.1Othello7.1.2Iago7.1.3Desdemona7.1.4Emilia7.1.5Cassio
7.2

Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio7.2.2Other Characters
8

Key Themes

8.1

Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love8.1.2Love 28.1.3Tragedy8.1.4Tragedy 2
8.2

Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private8.2.2Appearance & Reality
9

Writing Techniques

9.1

Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure9.1.2Genre9.1.3Form & Language9.1.4Language & Imagery
10

Critical Debates

10.1

Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy10.1.2Traditional10.1.3Modern & Contemporary
10.2

Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach10.2.3Marxist Approach
11

Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1

Specification A

11.1.1Specification A11.1.2Love Through the Ages
11.2

Specification B

11.2.1Specification B11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy
12

Issues of Assessment

12.1

The Exams

12.1.1AOs12.1.2Mark Scheme

Practice questions on Key Events

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  1. 1
    Examples of Iago's mind games:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Who appears during Othello’s fit in Act Four Scene One?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Events of Act Four Scene One (1)Put in order
  4. 4
    Events of Act Four Scene One (2)Put in order
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Scene Four

Key Ideas