Day 1:
IV.i
Iago & Othello
The two are discussing Desdemona’s specific actions with Cassio (reminiscent of his chiding Brabantio?)
Iago seems to be defending Desdemona (claiming they may not have entirely acted)
Iago claims it’s her right to give a handkerchief to whomever she wants
Othello brings back the idea of a reputation and that being lost
Iago drives conversation on about what Cassio may have referred to (images of them in bed)
Othello goes into a trance
Cassio enters, but Iago sends him off for the moment
Othello thinks Iago’s making fun of him when he “awakes”
Iago challenges his behavior as unmanly
Iago tries to downplay – claiming knowing her is better than being made a fool
Iago sends Othello to hide and watch (he can’t hear) Iago speak with Cassio about Desdemona
Othello Watching
Iago brings up Bianca to Cassio
Cassio defends Iago’s accusation that he intends to marry Bianca
His gestures are interpreted by Othello as him making fun of Desdemona
Bianca Enters
She returns the handkerchief claiming that he’s a liar and it must be from another woman
She seems to be done with him, but invites him for dinner
Iago ensures Cassio will be eating dinner there, claiming he’ll want to talk later
Cassio Leaves
Othello now wants to kill him himself
Iago uses Cassio’s misuse of the handkerchief to make Othello even more enraged
Though Othello’s angry and wants her dead, he still speaks of Desdemona’s good qualities
Iago pushes him – asking if he would rather just let her cheat
Othello asks for poison so she won’t disarm him
Iago pushes for him to strangle her in the bed she contaminated
Othello finds this more suiting
Iago offers to still kill Cassio for him
Trumpet and Venetians Enter
Othello is given a letter from Venice
Desdemona catches up with Lodovico
She informs Lodovico of the “rift” between Cassio and Othello
The letter sends Othello home so Cassio can be governor there
Othello sees her happiness as being for Cassio’s success not for going home
Othello hits her
Lodovico is upset by their display and wants Othello to call her back
He does – claiming she’s too good an actor
Othello leaves
Iago plays up his actions as not being uncommon
Day 2:
IV.ii
Othello & Emilia
Othello is grilling Emilia about Desdemona’s behavior around Cassio
Emilia defends her claiming that some evil person is spreading lies about her
When Emilia leaves, Othello thinks she’s covering for Desdemona
Othello, Desdemona & Emilia
Othello sends Emilia out to watch the door, claiming it’s for love
Desdemona defends herself the best she can against Othello’s accusations
Desdemona thinks he’s angry her father messed with his appointment in Cyprus
Othello goes so far as to call her a whore
Emilia & Desdemona
Desdemona is freaking out and can’t even explain what Othello just did
Iago enters and plays the fool – asking where he could have gotten such a ridiculous idea
Desdemona defends Othello b/c she thinks he’s been played
Emilia hates him for his assumptions
Emilia calls attention to Iago’s false idea that she slept with Othello
Desdemona asks Iago for advice to win him back
Iago pushes that it’s the politics stressing him out
Iago & Roderigo
Roderigo has figured out that Iago’s playing him
Roderigo cites jewels he gave to Iago to pass to Desdemona, which he expected “thanks” for
Roderigo will speak to Desdemona to get the jewels back, if she doesn’t have them he’ll duel Iago
Iago spins this to his favor
Iago claims that Othello and Desdemona will be sent to Mauritania if Cassio remains
He wants Roderigo to kill Cassio so that they stay and he can get Desdemona within a night
Iago claims there are more reasons for him to kill Cassio that they will speak of
IV.iii
Dinner Breaks Up
Lodocivo thanks them for their hospitality
Othello sends Desdemona to bed to wait for him alone
Desdemona wants to make him happy again
Desdemona claims that no matter what he does she still loves him
Desdemona has a depression song about dying from unrequited love in her head
Desdemona questions Emilia for cheating
Emilia gives some comic relief in her answers – claiming many would for the whole world, that husbands can drive their wives to cheating
Desdemona hopes to learn from the bad women’s example by never being like that
