Othello Act 4, Scene 3 questions

Desdemona and Emilia 
1. There are many differences shown in Act 4, Scene 3 between Desdemona and Emilia. Desdemona is very naive and passive and complicit in her own downfall due to not taking an active role herself to discover the truth.Desdemona simple acts as the perfect, obedient Elizabethan woman. Contrastingly  though Emilia takes an active role and wants answers to why Othello is behaving in such a way and treating Desdemona in this way. Emilia is opinionated and presented to be strong and decisive. Emilia described previously exactly the deception which is occurring in the play but is yet to conclude that it is Iago behind it all.

2. Emilia does not mention the hankercheif to Desdemona, this may be because they are very distant from each other due to being from different social classes. Desdemona is a senators daughter and is marries to Othello a well respected general but Emilia is only an employee for Desdemona. This makes Desdemona's and Emilia's relationship strictly professional. However there is one scene when Desdemona sings 'Sing Willow' with Emilia, where for the first time they become so near to becoming close. After the song Emilia tells naive Desdemona just who the world is. Emilia does not want to discomfort Desdemona but provide an older comforting voice.   Iago's and Emilia's relationship is very abusive. Iago does not pay any attention to Emilia and treats her poorly. Emilia gave the handkerchief to Iago to please him and is an arguable a last attempt to reconcile their marriage in a hope of one good night together. 

Thinking question:

“Desdemona is presented in the play as a sexual subject who hears and desires, and that desire is punished because the non-specular (not reflective; different) or non-phallic sexuality it displays is frightening and dangerous.”- Karen Newman: Femininity and the monstrous in Othello.

To what extent do you agree with this view? Discuss and write down your ideas.

In Othello is can be argued that Desdemona is presented as as sexual subject due to her conversation with Emilia that reveals a non specular sexual side to her that is not previously shown in the play. Desdemona before meeting Othello, was a pure, white virgin the "perfect" Elizabethan woman.  Now she is married with Othello she is presented as a non-specular Elizabethan woman due to taking an active role in her and Othello's sex life which in these times is un-heard of. Men by the ideologies of the time are strong, active and dominant and this continues into the bedroom. Desdemona takes a different and controversial role when she asks Emilia to: 'Lay on my bed my wedding sheets'. These sheets are significant and are a symbol of Desdemona loosing her purity and innocence. By Desdemona wanting these sheets on her bed shows a romantic but also a sexual; non-specular woman which is frightening and dangerous because of the society in which she lives. 

Othello and Iago

1. Adrian Lester believe Othello has been since the age of seven.

2. Adrian Lester believes Othello is not born into a 'sense of nobility'. Adrian Lester thinks this impacts the character as it makes him very aware to people around him and his appearances. 

3. Othello's status increases in Venice through marrying Desdemona a senators daughter and is set to inherit all of his wealth. 

4. Rory Kinnear says Iago is disgruntled with Othello because he made Cassio his lieutenant rather then Iago .This annoys Iago as he believes Cassio is being given everything on a plate. This is significant as Othello and Iago were very close and Iago was Othello's most trusted friend who shared many of the horrors of war together. 

5. Othello and Iago have in common that they have both experienced the horrors of war together and have both started from the bottom and worked their way up, according to Rory Kenner. 

6. In the video around 4.20, Rory Kenner lists some of the ways Iago aims to bring down Othello and Cassio through: he is the agent of destruction, legitimate grievances, insinuation, getting people on side to ensure the most horrendous revenge on Othello.