Othello act 4 scene 2

1. What does Othello ask Emilia at the beginning of the scene, and how does Emilia respond?

Othello asks Emilia whether Desdemona has been having an affair, ‘yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.’ Emilia tells him that she has not seen them together and reacts by saying ‘but then I saw no harm, and then I heard each syllable that breath made up between them.’ Emilia constantly says ‘never’ as she knows that nothing is happening as she is with Desdemona every second of the day so does not see how this could happen. She believes that Desdemona would never do such a thing as she can see how much love she has for Othello, therefore she tells Othello this and tells him how much Desdemona loves him.

1. What does Othello say to Desdemona and how does Desdemona respond? Is Othello treating Desdemona fairly?

Othello calls Desdemona a ‘subtle whore.’ But Desdemona does not really respond as she is so naive, therefore she has no idea what is going on. This then means that she does not know why her husband is saying these horrible words about her. From an audiences perspective we would say that Desdemona is being treated unfairly as we know that Iago is making things up about Desdemona’s affair. Therefore she is being treated badly by her husband as he has been made to believe that it is true. But from Othello’s view she is being treated fairly and she is getting what she deserves as he believes that she is having an affair with Cassio. Therefore he believes that she is in the wrong. 

1. When Desdemona and Emilia tell Iago about Othello’s behaviour, how does Iago respond? What does Iago say he thinks is the cause of Othello’s anger? What does Emilia think is the cause?

Iago responds to the situation of Othello’s behaviour in panic, as he has realised that they are going to be able to work out that it is him that has set the plot up about Desdemona’s affair with Cassio. Therefore he is worried that he is going to get caught out and this will make Othello very angry. He blames Othellos cause of anger on ‘the business of the state does him offence, and he does chide with you.’ This means that the letter that Othello was given has angered him and he has a bad day at work, therefore this is Iagos excuse to get himself out of trouble. But Emilia says ‘ I will be hung’d if some eternal villain, some busy and insinuating rogue, some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office, have not devis’d this slander: ill be hung’d else.’ This proves that Emilia has realised that someone has lied to Othello as she is inquisitive enough to work this out. Although if she did know it was Iago she would not be able to say anything as women is inferior to men so she would not have a voice to say anything about her thoughts. 

1. Why is Roderigo angry and how does he threaten Iago? In response, what does Iago say Roderigo must do and why? According to Iago, what will be Roderigo’s reward if he follows Iago’s advice?

Roderigo is angry at Iago as at the start of the play Iago said that he was going to give the jewels to Desdemona but he did not do this which caused Roderigo to be very annoyed at him. Another reason why Roderigo is angry at Iago as at the start of the play Iago promised that Roderigo would get Desdemona but has not completed his one job that he was supposed to do. Therefore he tells Roderigo that Othello and Desedemona are leaving and the only way to get them to stay is killing Cassio, ‘non can be so determinate as the removing of Cassio.’ Therefore Roderigo is not very happy with this so he threatens Iago by saying ‘I will seek satisfaction of you.’ This means that he wants to beat him up as he is very annoyed at Iago. But the audience know that he won’t beat him up as he would not have told him he would have just hit him straight away.