ACT+3

Act 3 "Tricks up his sleeve"

Scene 1- Cassio starts this scene by paying musicians to play below Othello's window in order to please Othello. However, this effort does not work and Othello sends the Clown down to tell the musicians to stop playing. As the Clown and Cassio chat, Cassio pays the Clown to bring Emilia down to speak with him. Once the Clown has left, Iago, always entering on the perfect time, makes his presence known to Cassio. Iago chats with him and agrees to bring Emilia down to speak with Cassio. When Emilia enters, she agrees to help Cassio get alone time with Desdemona. This scenario is exactly what Iago wished for and everything is falling into place for Cassio to be caught with Desdemona.

Scene 2- This scene is short and is simply a small discussion between Othello and Iago. Iago is sent to bring letters to the ship's captain.

Scene 3- In this scene timing is everything. It begins with Desdemona, Emilia, and Cassio talking about Cassio's mishaps and how to fix his current predicament. Desdemona, charming and generous as ever, agrees to work hard to sway Othello's opinion in Cassio's favor. As Iago and Othello enter Cassio believes it would be best if he left. However, this action makes him appear sneaky and mischievous; which gives Iago the perfect window to make Othello jealous. Instead of Cassio leaving respectfully, Iago craftily turns the whole event into him sneaking around with Desdemona behind Othello's back. Even though Othello assures himself that Desdemona would never cheat on him, the idea is now in his head and he is unable to rid himself of it. After Iago hints to Othello about Desdemona's adultery, Othello begins to act very odd around Desdemona. Othello refuses to let Desdemona wrap his head with her handkerchief and in the process the handkerchief is forgotten on the floor. This is when Emilia finds the handkerchief and in order to please Iago she gives him the handkerchief. This gives Iago a method in which to prove the imaginary adulterous actions of Desdemona. Othello enters in an outrage after Emilia's exit. He has suddenly changed demeanor and become very jealous. He demands that Iago provide proof of Desdemona's cheating before he scandalously accuses her of such an action. Iago makes up stories about the secret love between Cassio and Desdemona. Iago agrees to help Othello by murdering Cassio.

Scene 4- Desdemona and the Clown chat allowing Shakespeare to use puns and double meanings for words. After the Clown exits Desdemona realizes that she has lost her handkerchief. As Emilia and her discuss this troubling event and its implications, Othello enters and again acts oddly around Desdemona. His suspicious behavior leads to him asking Desdemona where the handkerchief he gave her is. An argument about the handkerchief ensues and Othello leaves angered. Concerned about her husband's actions and strange emotions, Desdemona tells Cassio that she will try to help him but with Othello's current mood she is unsure as to what she will be able to do. Cassio, left alone on stage, is greeted by Bianca. Bianca is a prostitute that favors Cassio greatly. Cassio had found the handkerchief in his house and gives it to Bianca to copy the pattern. Bianca and Cassio agree to see each other later that night and Bianca agrees to copy the handkerchief pattern.