Scene 3 – Critical Analysis


ACT 3


inexperience in matters of love, lacking the ‘soft parts of conversation’. It’s clear that he no longer thinks for himself, but echoes Iago’s words. His vivid imagination is prodded by the devious ensign to conjure up a ‘monster in his thought’. Ironically, Othello cannot imagine that Iago is deceiving him.


Othello’s language highlights his degradation in this traumatic scene. Unable to see reality, he acts as judge and executioner without giving Cassio or Desdemona a chance to voice their side of Iago’s story. Othello’s use of bestial imagery (‘toad’, ‘aspics’ tongues’) mirrors Iago’s coarse speech (‘hot as monkeys’). He has descended to his ensign’s level.


Nobody suspects the truth about Iago. whose ‘honest’ character is repeatedly mentioned – particularly by Othello. Only the audience is aware of Iago’s duplicity. Dramatic irony is used to anticipate future developments. Othello exclaims ‘when I love thee not,/ Chaos is come again’. He has indeed become ‘bound’ to Iago for ever because he has been blinded by Iago’s skill in awakening the ‘green-eyed monster’ of jealousy within him. The use of sight imagery highlights this. Othello demands ‘ocular proof’. Iago advises him to ‘Look to your wife’ while Othello tries to hold on to his sanity by consoling himself that ‘she had eyes, and chose me’. As we watch the tense cat-and-mouse exchanges between the Moor and his ensign, Shakespeare succeeds in simultaneously fascinating and disturbing his audience.


Critical Analysis


‘In his play Othello, Shakespeare presents revealing insights into appearance and reality.’ Discuss this view, supporting your opinions with reference to Act 3 Scene 3. Write a paragraph (about 150–200 words), supporting your answer with reference to the play.


Prompt! Š Characters are easily misled by appearances. Š Personal fears and insecurities affect perceptions of truth. Š Language can be manipulated to obscure actuality. Š Circumstantial evidence – especially if unverifiable – often obscures reality. Š Self-deception blinds Othello and Desdemona to Iago’s true nature.


Sample Paragraph 1


I think Shakespeare shows us the madness that comes when people start to believe in lies. Othello beleves all of Iago’s false lies about Cassio and his bride Desdemona. I think Iago was clever because he hopped onto anything that he could use such as when Emilia found the hankerchef or napkin that Othello gave Desdemona as a pre- nup gift. Shakespeare is just showing us just how clever Iago is because he is going to put it in Cassio’s room so that he will find it and this will be more evidence against him of them having an affair along with the dream he made up all of which was pure lies. He tells Othello about Cassio’s dream and Othello starts to shout for blood. He has now excepted Iago’s story. l think he just doesn’t know the truth anymore. (140 words)


Examiner’s Comment


Š Basic response that fails to take on the question of insights.


Š Some references to Iago’s deception of Othello.


Š Poor expression and some spelling errors (‘beleves’, ‘hankerchef’, ‘excepted’).


99


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