Othello, Act 4, Scene 3

William Shakespeare

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Iago has used Desdemona’s lost handkerchief and Cassio’s talk about Bianca to convince Othello that she is unfaithful. Othello has agreed to strangle her that night; Iago undertakes to kill Cassio. Venice recalls Othello, appointing Cassio governor. Othello has struck Desdemona before Lodovico.

In the last scene: Act 4, Scene 2

Othello accuses Desdemona of infidelity despite Emilia’s assurances; Desdemona denies it. She asks Emilia to lay her wedding sheets on the bed. Emilia suspects a slanderer, while Iago blames state business. Roderigo demands answers about his jewels; Iago proposes killing Cassio to delay Desdemona’s departure, claiming Othello is bound for Mauritania. Roderigo agrees to hear more.

SCENE III. Cyprus. Another Room in the Castle.

Enter Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona, Emilia and Attendants.

LODOVICO

I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.

OTHELLO

O, pardon me; ’twill do me good to walk.

LODOVICO

Madam, good night. I humbly thank your ladyship.

DESDEMONA

Your honour is most welcome.

OTHELLO

Will you walk, sir?—O, Desdemona,—

DESDEMONA

My lord?

OTHELLO

Get you to bed on th’ instant, I will be return’d forthwith. Dismiss your attendant there. Look ’t be done.

DESDEMONA

I will, my lord.

Exeunt Othello, Lodovico and Attendants.

EMILIA

How goes it now? He looks gentler than he did.

DESDEMONA

He says he will return incontinent,He hath commanded me to go to bed,And bade me to dismiss you.

EMILIA

Dismiss me?

DESDEMONA

It was his bidding. Therefore, good Emilia,Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu.We must not now displease him.

EMILIA

I would you had never seen him!

DESDEMONA

So would not I. My love doth so approve him,That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns,—Prithee, unpin me,—have grace and favour in them.

EMILIA

I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.

DESDEMONA

All’s one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds!If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud meIn one of those same sheets.

EMILIA

Come, come, you talk.

DESDEMONA

My mother had a maid call’d Barbary,She was in love, and he she lov’d prov’d madAnd did forsake her. She had a song of “willow”,An old thing ’twas, but it express’d her fortune,And she died singing it. That song tonightWill not go from my mind. I have much to doBut to go hang my head all at one sideAnd sing it like poor Barbary. Prithee dispatch.

EMILIA

Shall I go fetch your night-gown?

DESDEMONA

No, unpin me here.This Lodovico is a proper man.

EMILIA

A very handsome man.

DESDEMONA

He speaks well.

EMILIA

I know a lady in Venice would have walked barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.

DESDEMONA

Singing.The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,Sing all a green willow.Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,Sing willow, willow, willow.The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur’d her moans,Sing willow, willow, willow;Her salt tears fell from her, and soften’d the stones;—

DESDEMONA

Lay by these:—

DESDEMONA

Sings.Sing willow, willow, willow.

DESDEMONA

Prithee hie thee. He’ll come anon.

DESDEMONA

Sings.Sing all a green willow must be my garland.Let nobody blame him, his scorn I approve,—

DESDEMONA

Nay, that’s not next. Hark! who is’t that knocks?

EMILIA

It’s the wind.

DESDEMONA

Sings.I call’d my love false love; but what said he then?Sing willow, willow, willow:If I court mo women, you’ll couch with mo men.

DESDEMONA

So get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;Doth that bode weeping?

EMILIA

’Tis neither here nor there.

DESDEMONA

I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men!Dost thou in conscience think,—tell me, Emilia,—That there be women do abuse their husbandsIn such gross kind?

EMILIA

There be some such, no question.

DESDEMONA

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

EMILIA

Why, would not you?

DESDEMONA

No, by this heavenly light!

EMILIA

Nor I neither by this heavenly light,I might do’t as well i’ the dark.

DESDEMONA

Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?

EMILIA

The world’s a huge thing. It is a great priceFor a small vice.

DESDEMONA

In troth, I think thou wouldst not.

EMILIA

In troth, I think I should, and undo’t when I had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring, nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats, nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world—why, who would not make her husband a cuckold to make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for ’t.

DESDEMONA

Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong for the whole world.

EMILIA

Why, the wrong is but a wrong i’ the world; and having the world for your labour, ’tis a wrong in your own world, and you might quickly make it right.

DESDEMONA

I do not think there is any such woman.

EMILIA

Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as would store the world they played for.But I do think it is their husbands’ faultsIf wives do fall: say that they slack their duties,And pour our treasures into foreign laps;Or else break out in peevish jealousies,Throwing restraint upon us. Or say they strike us,Or scant our former having in despite.Why, we have galls; and though we have some grace,Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands knowTheir wives have sense like them: they see, and smellAnd have their palates both for sweet and sour,As husbands have. What is it that they doWhen they change us for others? Is it sport?I think it is. And doth affection breed it?I think it doth. Is’t frailty that thus errs?It is so too. And have not we affections,Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?Then let them use us well: else let them know,The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.

DESDEMONA

Good night, good night. Heaven me such usage send,Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!

Exeunt.

Characters

Speaking

26 speeches
17 speeches
3 speeches
2 speeches

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

Reading
Whom does Othello order Desdemona to dismiss?
Reading
Reading

Locations

Also mentioned

Cypruscharacters travel here or from here
Mauritaniacharacters travel here or from here