5.3.1
Key Events
The ‘Willow’ Scene
The ‘Willow’ Scene
This scene is sometimes labelled the ‘Willow’ scene. It is a scene of high tension and pathos. The two wives are forced into a bond of ignorance and passivity, as a contrasting parallel to that between their husbands.
Death song
Death song
- It is night and Othello orders Desdemona to go to bed.
- She is told to dismiss Emilia and wait for him.
- As she is being prepared for bed, Desdemona sings a death song.
- Emilia disagrees with Desdemona that adultery could never be justified, but blames men for women’s faults.
Desdemona and Emilia
Desdemona and Emilia
- There is a flow of warmth and tenderness between Desdemona and Emilia, which is ironic in many different ways.
- Emilia has taken on the dominant role of mother figure (as Iago has ‘father’d’ Othello), soothing, counselling and undressing, while Desdemona, in her white nightdress, is the pious and vulnerable child at bedtime, as well as the virgin sacrifice being prepared.
Gothic atmosphere
Gothic atmosphere
- Desdemona thinks she is preparing for love, but is in fact preparing for her death, which is emphasised by the Gothic atmosphere—complete with superstition, a wind and a phantom—knocking on the door.
The tragic song
The tragic song
- The tragic Willow song of her mother’s maid, which has prophetic references to the death of a woman caused by the betrayal of a lover, is Desdemona’s swan song.
1Context
1.1Introduction
1.3Othello
2Act One: Summaries & Themes
2.1Act and Scene Summaries
2.2Scene One
2.3Scene Two
3Act Two: Summaries & Themes
3.1Scene One & Two
3.2Scene Three
4Act Three: Summaries & Themes
5Act Four
5.1Scene One
5.2Scene Two
5.3Scene Three
6Act Five
6.1Scene One
6.2Scene Two
7Character Profiles
7.1Major Characters
7.2Minor Characters
8Key Themes
8.1Love & Tragedy
8.2Other Key Themes
9Writing Techniques
9.1Writing Techniques
10Critical Debates
10.1Criticism & Performance
11Approaching AQA English Literature
11.1Specification A
11.2Specification B
12Issues of Assessment
12.1The Exams
Jump to other topics
1Context
1.1Introduction
1.3Othello
2Act One: Summaries & Themes
2.1Act and Scene Summaries
2.2Scene One
2.3Scene Two
3Act Two: Summaries & Themes
3.1Scene One & Two
3.2Scene Three
4Act Three: Summaries & Themes
5Act Four
5.1Scene One
5.2Scene Two
5.3Scene Three
6Act Five
6.1Scene One
6.2Scene Two
7Character Profiles
7.1Major Characters
7.2Minor Characters
8Key Themes
8.1Love & Tragedy
8.2Other Key Themes
9Writing Techniques
9.1Writing Techniques
10Critical Debates
10.1Criticism & Performance
11Approaching AQA English Literature
11.1Specification A
11.2Specification B
12Issues of Assessment
12.1The Exams
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