Act 4
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DESDEMONA Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
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DESDEMONA Would you ever do such a thing for all the world?
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EMILIA
50Why, would not you?
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EMILIA Why, wouldn’t you?
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DESDEMONA No, by this
heavenly light!
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DESDEMONA By the light of heaven, no, I would not!
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EMILIA Nor I neither, by this heavenly light.
I might do ’t as well i' th'
dark.
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EMILIA I wouldn’t either, by daylight. It would be easier to
do it in the dark.
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DESDEMONA Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?
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DESDEMONA Could you really do such a thing, for all the world?
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EMILIA The world’s a huge thing. It is a great price for a
small vice.
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EMILIA The world’s huge. It’s a big prize for such
a small sin.
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DESDEMONA
55In troth, I think thou wouldst not.
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DESDEMONA I don’t think you would.
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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.
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EMILIA Actually I think I would, and then I’d undo it after I
did it. I wouldn’t do it for a nice ring, or fine linen,
or pretty gowns or petticoats or hats. But for the whole world? Who
wouldn’t cheat on her husband to make him king?
I’d risk my soul for that.
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DESDEMONA Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong
For the whole world.
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DESDEMONA I’d never do such a bad thing, not for the whole
world!
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EMILIA Why the wrong is but a wrong i' th' world,
and having the world for your labor, ’tis a wrong in your
own world, and you might quickly make it right.
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EMILIA Why, a bad action is just a wrong in this world, but when
you’ve won the whole world, it’s a wrong in
your own world, so you can make it right then.
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DESDEMONA
60I do not think there is any such woman.
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DESDEMONA I don’t think any woman like that exists.
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EMILIA Yes, a dozen, and as many to th' vantage as would store
the world they played for.
But I do think it is their husbands' faults
If wives do fall. Say that they slack their duties
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EMILIA Yes, a dozen of them—as many as there are women in the
world, in fact. But I do think it’s the
husband’s fault if we wives cheat on them. For instance,
our husbands
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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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