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
FURTHER STUDY
