Othello offers it once more, in vain, before leaving in a state of despairing rage. That Desdemona refuses the offer, having no reason to seek it, dismays Othello who starts to weep. Indeed, Othello is so sure of himself that he has Desdemona brought before him for the purpose of offering her salvation. Othello is so sure of himself that he dismisses Emilia’s contention, as a likely cover story, that Desdemona is as innocent of committing lechery as a new-born babe is innocent of harboring an inveterate malice. Shocked, Lodovico pleads Othello to make amends, but Othello is unrepentant. Confused, Desdemona makes a gesture of reconciliation only to be struck across her face. The supposition pleases Desdemona which in turn angers Othello. As Othello reads, Lodovico supposes, for Desdemona's benefit, that the letter is a summons for Othello to return to Venice which would, in the process, deputize the command of the Venetian forces in Cyprus to Lieutenant Cassio. He presents Othello with a letter from Venice. They are thus resolved when they are met by Lodovico, who is accompanied by Desdemona. Iago volunteers to dispatch of Cassio’s life. At Iago’s behest, Cassio chases after Bianca to appease her.Īt Iago’s suggestion, Othello decides to suffocate his wife in bed. Returning the handkerchief that Cassio had asked her to make a copy of, she leaves but not before accusing Cassio of having acquired it from his whore. Suddenly Bianca herself appears on the scene. By and by, Othello conceals himself and observes Cassio boasting and laughing, unaware that the doting foolish woman of whom Cassio speaks is Bianca. When Othello awakes, Iago urges him to conceal himself from view and to watch as Cassio relates his goings-on with Desdemona unto Iago. At this point, Cassio joins Iago and offers to lend assistance in reviving the General only to be dissuaded by Iago who argues that a coma is better left to run its course, and, seeing the General coming to, he persuades Cassio to absent himself from the General for now, but to stay nearby as Iago would like a word with him. Unconsoled, Othello struggles to keep himself from losing consciousness (so worked up is he) only to lose consciousness when Iago relates a made-up chat that he had had with Cassio during which Cassio boasts of his mastery of Desdemona’s affections. Having told Othello that he knows for a fact that Cassio is in possession of Desdemona’s handkerchief, Iago makes light of the situation, arguing that once ownership of the handkerchief changes hands from Othello to Desdemona that Othello should be content to let the fate of the handkerchief lie entirely to Desdemona’s discretion.
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