Author Question: In Othellos defense before the senators (Scene iii), how does he explainDesdemonas gradual falling ... (Read 57 times)

newyorker26 · **on:** Jul 20, 2018

In Othellos defense before the senators (Scene iii), how does he explainDesdemonas gradual falling in love with him?

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Trace the steps by which Iago rouses Othello to suspicion. Is there anything in Othellos character or circumstances that renders him particularly susceptible to Iagos wiles?

What will be an ideal response?

wergv · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 20, 2018

Answer to Question 1

He says that on his frequent visits to Brabantios house, he would tell the story of his life and adventures. Hearing these tales inspired pity and admiration in Desdemona. As Othello famously says, She loved me for the dangers I had passed (I, iii, 169).

Answer to Question 2

In Act III, Scene iii, we see the real turning point of the play. Pretending to be unwilling to speak for fear of upsetting him, Iago cleverly manipulates Othello into pressuring him to reveal his suspicions. Iago plays on Othellos status as an outsider to suggest that Venetian wives customarily take lovers behinds their husbands backs, and hints at Desdemonas skill at deception by reminding him of how completely she hid her love for Othello from her father. Having thoroughly discomfited Othello, he then goes so far as to suggest that Desdemonas love for him was sudden and against her nature, and therefore cannot last, which feeds on Othellos insecurity about his lack of youth, looks, and other charms. After receiving Desdemonas handkerchief from Emilia, Iago returns to Othello and, once again pretending to not want to upset him with his suspicions, proceeds to tell him the false story of Cassios drunken moaning over Desdemona, and then clinches the matter by telling him that Cassio has Desdemonas handkerchief; here Iago very cunningly pretends not to know the significance of the handkerchief to Othello, thus persuading Othello that he would have no basis on which to make up such a story.