Othello and Iago in Mid-Conversation: Handkerchief and Unfaithfulness - Essay Sample

Introduction

Act 4 showcases when Othello and Iago are in a mid-conversation. Iago tells Othello that it is not a crime for a woman to be found naked with a man if there is nothing that happens. Iago goes ahead to say that if he were to give his wife a handkerchief, it would be upon her to do as she pleases with it. The conversation is about the persistent insinuations of the unfaithfulness of Desdemona, and the argument of Iago continues to work Othello into an incoherent frenzy. He is focused on the handkerchief and keeps asking for information from Iago about the comments of Cassio. Iago says that Cassio revealed to him that he was laying with Desdemona, which makes Othello fall in a trance.

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When Cassio enters, Iago tells him how Othello has fallen into a second fit of epilepsy in the last two days. Iago lures Othello when he wakes up from the trance to hide nearby and observe the face of Cassio during the conversation. Iago tells Othello that he will make him tell the story of when, where, and how often he has slept with Desdemona as well as the next time he intends to do so. Othello is driven mad by the thought that Cassio is joking about the affair with Desdemona.

The plan goes as expected, and Cassio happily tells about the details of Bianca’s love for him. He even makes gestures in an attempt to reveal the sexual advances that Bianca made. It is during the conversation that Cassio talks about how he no longer wishes to see Bianca but is interrupted by her entrance with the handkerchief. Bianca accuses Cassio of giving her a love token that was given to him by another woman. Bianca also goes ahead to tell him that if he would do not show up for supper with her during that evening, he would not be welcome again.

Othello is disgusted as he recognizes his handkerchief, but he gets late to come out of hiding because, by that time, Bianca and Cassio were gone. He is angry as he wonders how he would murder his former lieutenant. Othello seeks to lament his love for Desdemona, but Iago reminds him of the purpose ahead of him. It becomes difficult for Othello to reconcile with the adulterous actions of his wife, along with her delicacy, class, and beauty. He suggests that the best option would be to poison her. However, Iago advises him to strangle her instead in the same bed that she has contaminated with infidelity and also promises to arrange for Cassio to be murdered.

Othello is offended when he hears Cassio say that he will not marry Bianca because she is a whore. He says, “Me, marry her? That whore? Please give me a little credit! I’m not that stupid. Ha ha ha!”. Othello is offended because he has been having an affair with her, and it hurts him to know that she has also been sleeping with Cassio, a man who does not care about her whatsoever. Othello had been convinced that Cassio was sleeping with his wife, but he was talking about Bianca. Othello is mad that Desdemona has been engaging in adulterous acts, yet he was a self-controlled man that was known by others.