Act III, Scene 3

60. Is Desdemona's statement at III, 3, lines 20 -- 27 surprising? How will it affect the outcome of the play?

61. Why does Desdemona push so hard for Cassio to get his job back?

62. Explain the passage at III, 1, lines 75 -- 85. In what way are Othello and his wife operating at crossed purposes?

63. How does Iago manipulate Othello in the passage from line 93 -- 123?

64. How many times does Othello demand to know Iago's thoughts (or some variation on that theme) in the passage of III, 3, lines 93 -- 164? Why doesn't Iago answer him?

65. How does Iago manipulate Othello in the passage from line 124 -- 176? (Where is the first mention of "cuckoldry" in this scene?

66. How does Othello appear to escape Iago's trap in the passage lines 176 -- 192?

67. How does Iago manipulate Othello in lines 193 -- 213? Why does Othello fall for the manipulation?

68. How does Iago manipulate Othello in lines 214 -- 241?

69. At what point in the play does Iago know for sure that he's hooked Othello?

70. What are the reasons Othello believes Desdemona may have betrayed him? What does he decide to do about the betrayal?

71. Why does Emilia take Desdemona's handkerchief? What does that tell us about the relationship between Iago and his wife?

72. Why is Iago upset at Othello's reaction at lines 335 -- 370?

73. How does Iago manipulate Othello at lines 371 -- 423?

74. How does Iago manipulate Othello at lines 424 -- 476?

75. In the sequence at III, 3, lines 330 -- 370 how has Othello's attitude changed since we saw him last?

76. Explain why Othello threatens Iago at III, 3, lines 355 --379. How do you think Iago feels when he is threatened with violence?

77. Where did Iago's "dream" (III, 3, lines 407 -- 423) come from? Why did Iago select the particular details that he chose?

78. How does the relationship between Iago and Othello change in the last 30 lines of the scene? How does Shakespeare physically show the shift in power?

79. What do you think may have been going through Iago's mind when he says, at line 472, "But let her live"?