Desdemona - Act 3 Scene 4

Throughout Act 3 Scene 4, Desdemona has significance in emphasising Othello’s tragedy from before his breakdown and after his rebirth. Her role is mainly to be a tool for Iago to manipulate Othello’s tragedy; however as an individual character she is a reminder for the audience of Othello as a general of Venice before his breakdown in Act 3.

As a character that seems to have little contact with Iago, she begins to use language of “jealous creatures” and “monster”, a motif of Iago’s “green-eyed monster” in describing jealousy shows that his manipulation has extended even to Desdemona to emphasise his ability to change characters’ perceptions. Also, her lying to Othello about the losing handkerchief is an illustration of the deceit and dishonesty that Iago uses for manipulation, emphasising Othello’s tragedy as Desdemona reflects his rebirth into Iago’s ideals.

However, despite a slight change in language, Desdemona’s character does not change much to what the audience see her as in Act 1. Unlike some other characters, Desdemona still appreciates her sentimental values over materialistic values. Referring to the handkerchief, “I had rather have lost my purse full of crusadoes”, contradicting Iago’s value of money and possession to remind the audience of Othello’s original ideals. Also, “my lord is not my lord” highlights that Othello is a changed man and that she does not recognise his attitudes. Therefore, Desdemona’s role in emphasising Othello’s tragedy is to contrast his character before and after his rebirth.

During Desdemona and Othello’s conversation in Act 3 Scene 4, fragmented verse is used to quicken the pace of speech. Specifically, lines 47-52 “Lend me thy handkerchief/Here my lord/ That which I gave you/ I have it not about me/ Not?/ No faith, my lord” where the two finish each other’s lines off, the speed of dialogue becomes rapid to increase tension and foreshadows an eruption of emotions after such a build-up. Therefore, Desdemona emphasises Othello’s tragedy as she highlights his loss of patience with her in comparison to their easy-flow of conversations before his breakdown.

The handkerchief is significant in this scene for its symbolism as a turning point in the play. As Desdemona loses the handkerchief, Othello is made more suspicious as she tells him “I say it is not lost”, firstly causing him to lose his patience at her rejection of bringing it to him but also, as she persistently talks of Cassio, ignorantly leads Othello to the conclusion that she has given it to Cassio (not lost). Therefore, Desdemona’s role in emphasising Othello’s tragedy in Act 3 Scene 4 is to add tension to Othello’s already-suspicious mind, building up to the doubt and loathing he develops of his wife from jealousy.

Holly and Emma