Act 4
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IAGO With her, on her,
what you will.
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IAGO With her, on top of her—however you want to say
it.
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OTHELLO Lie with her? lie on her? We say “lie on
her” when they belie her! Lie with
her—that’s fulsome.
Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief! To
confess, and be hanged for his labor. First to be hanged, and then
to confess—I tremble at it. Nature would not invest
herself in such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is
not words that shake me thus. Pish! Noses, ears, and lips. Is
’t possible?
Confess!—Handkerchief!—Oh,
devil!—
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OTHELLO In bed with her? On top of her? I would have thought people were
telling lies about her rather than believe he was lying on her. My
God, it’s nauseating!
Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief!
I’ll kill him first, and then let him
confess—I’m trembling with rage. I
wouldn’t be trembling like this if I didn’t
know deep down this was all true. Noses, ears, lips. Is it possible?
Tell me the truth—Handkerchief—Damn it!
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(falls in a trance)
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(he falls into a trance)
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IAGO
35Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught,
And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,
All guiltless, meet reproach.—What, ho! My lord!
My lord, I say! Othello!
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IAGO Keep working, poison! This is the way to trick gullible fools.
Many good and innocent women are punished for reasons like
this.—My lord? My lord, Othello!
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Enter CASSIO
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CASSIO enters.
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How now,
Cassio!
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Hey, Cassio!
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CASSIO What’s the matter?
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CASSIO What’s the matter?
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IAGO
40My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy.
This is his second fit. He had one yesterday.
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IAGO Othello’s having some kind of epileptic fit. This is
his second fit like this. He had one yesterday.
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CASSIO Rub him about the temples.
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CASSIO Rub his temples.
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IAGO No, forbear.
The lethargy must have his quiet course.
If not, he foams at mouth and by and by
45Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs.
Do you withdraw yourself a little while,
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IAGO No, don’t. This fit has to run its course. If you
interrupt it, he’ll foam at the mouth and go crazy. Look,
he’s moving. Why don’t you go away for a bit?
He’ll get
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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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