Act 4
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Enter OTHELLO and
IAGO
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OTHELLO and IAGO
enter.
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IAGO Will you think so?
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IAGO Do you really think so?
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OTHELLO Think so,
Iago?
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OTHELLO What do you mean, do I think so?
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IAGO What,
To kiss in private?
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IAGO What, just because they kissed in private?
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OTHELLO An unauthorized kiss!
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OTHELLO An illicit kiss!
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IAGO Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?
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IAGO Maybe she was just naked in bed with him for an hour or so, but
they didn’t do anything.
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OTHELLO
5Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm!
It is hypocrisy against the devil.
They that mean virtuously, and yet do so,
The devil their virtue tempts, and they tempt heaven.
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OTHELLO Naked in bed together, but without doing anything? Come on, Iago.
That would be like playing a trick on the devil: they’d
make him think they’re going to commit adultery, but then
back off. Anyone who acted like that would be letting the devil
tempt them, and tempting God to condemn them.
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IAGO So they do nothing, ’tis a venial slip.
10But if I give my wife a handkerchief—
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IAGO As long as they didn’t do anything, it would only be a
minor sin. But if I gave my wife a handkerchief—
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OTHELLO What then?
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OTHELLO Then what?
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IAGO Why then ’tis hers, my lord, and, being hers,
She may, I think, bestow ’t on any man.
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IAGO Then it’s hers. And if it’s hers, I guess
she can give it to any man she wants.
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OTHELLO She is protectress of her honor too.
15May she give that?
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OTHELLO Her reputation is also her own. Can she give that away too?
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More Help
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Character List
CHARACTERS -
Othello: Character Analysis
CHARACTERS -
Plot Analysis
MAIN IDEAS -
Does Iago Hate Women?
MAIN IDEAS -
Quotes by Theme
QUOTES -
Themes
MAIN IDEAS -
Review Quiz
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