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Othello · Act IV · Scene I

The Fit, the Theater and the Slap

Honor and ReputationJealousyPrejudiceTruth and Lies

Scene summary

In Cyprus, Iago speaks to Othello of secret kisses, of a woman who spends an hour naked in bed with a friend "without harm", and of the handkerchief, and says that Cassio has been saying he was "lying". Othello hears "lying" and understands "lying with her": repeating "the handkerchief, the confessions", he falls into a fit. When Cassio arrives, Iago says the general has had an epileptic fit and sends him away. Standing again, Othello agrees to hide and listen to Iago talk with Cassio about Bianca, warning that he will be cunning in the use of patience, but also brutal.

Iago asks Cassio to talk about Bianca, a woman who loves him, and Cassio laughs; Othello, hidden at a distance, takes the laughter as a confession about Desdemona and completes Cassio's gestures aloud. Bianca arrives, indignant, throws to the ground the handkerchief that Cassio had given her to copy, and leaves; Othello recognizes it as his own. Cassio goes after her, and Othello comes out of hiding and asks how he should kill him. He says Desdemona must rot, laments what she has that is admirable ("it is pity, Iago") and asks for poison. Iago proposes strangling her in the bed she has infected, and takes charge of Cassio.

A trumpet sounds: Lodovico, the Duke's envoy, and Gratiano arrive, with a letter that, according to Lodovico, calls Othello back to Venice and hands the government over to Cassio. Desdemona, Lodovico's cousin, asks him to mend the rift between Othello and Cassio. Othello, reading the letter, cries "Fire and brimstone!" and, after saying he is glad to see her "mad", strikes her in front of everyone. Lodovico is scandalized; Othello sends Desdemona away, agrees to return to Venice and invites Lodovico to dinner. When Othello leaves, Lodovico asks Iago whether this is his habit, and Iago refuses to say what he knows, asking Lodovico to watch the general.

Analysis

The pun here is between lie with and lie on (ll. 33-38): Othello hears "lying" and reads "lying with her".

In Iago's speech about the "great cities" and their "civilized monsters" (ll. 66-67), monstrosity takes on an urban and animalized sense.

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