Othello Summary Act 4: Act IV, Scene wise -Detailed Summary of the play: “Othello” by William Shakespeare
Summaries: Othello Summary Act 1, Othello Summary Act 2, Othello Summary Act 3
Othello Summary Act 4 Scene 1:
Our dear hero, Othello, is accompanied by Iago’s ill advises and presence. Iago is stirring the deep rooted jealousy and hatred in Othello. He is misleading him into such a state of mind which demands nothing but revenge. Iago uses the words like:
“Or to be naked with her friend in bed
An hour or more, not meaning any harm?”
Iago once again reminds him of the handkerchief which his wife has lost(given to Cassio as per Iago). Othello says he had really forgotten about the incident but he must follow this. Iago adds more fuel by associating ill-sentences to Cassio spoken for Othello.
Othello is so angry that he falls onto the ground. Cassio enters and inquires about Othello’s current state because he is foaming in the mouth. But Iago asks him to leave Othello as it is because his current state demands this.
Iago asks Othello to seek a hide for listening his conversation with Cassio. Iago plans to ask Cassio about his sexual relation with the lady Bianca that sells her body for money. But the same story he wishes to pose to Othello as if it were about Desdemona.
Cassio’s gentle style already kills Othello. While Cassio is relating the story of Bianca, she comes there and refuses to copy the design of the handkerchief he found in his chamber. She also inquires him how it is possible that he does not know of the handkerchief found in his chamber. After that she leaves and Iago also leaves after her.
Othello decides to kill Desdemona for the crime of adultery she has committed in his view. He asks Iago for poison but he advises him to strangle her in the bed. Iago promises to kill Cassio by the time Othello kills Desdemona.
Othello enters the room and finds Lodovico in there with the message from the Duke of Venice. While Othello reads the message, Desdemona tells her cousin of the breach by Cassio and the action of Othello against him.
Lodovico tells Desdemona that the Duke has called Othello back from Cyprus and he is supposed to hand over the charge to Cassio. Desdemona is happy over this but Othello is taking all this in some other way.
Othello strikes Desdemona and she leaves weeping. Lodovico is amazed and displeased. Here Iago again poisons the ears of Lodovico against Othello.
Othello Summary Act 4 Scene 2:
Othello inquires Emilia about the meetings of Desdemona and Cassio but she tells only the fact. She tells him of the nobility of her lady. But Othello does not seem to believe. He calls in Desdemona and rebukes her. He abuses her.
She sees Othello weeping and asks the reason of him weeping. Othello says that she is the reason. Her acts are the cause. He calls her the whore of Venice. He calls her mistress. She weeps then stops weeping. Emilia enters and Desdemona asks her to bring her wedding dress and her husband Iago. He also says that Desdemona has no lord from thence.
Desdemona, again trusting the wrong person, asks for help. She sends him to her husband for reconciliation.
Iago and Roderigo are seen conversing. Roderigo asks Iago to return his jewels he has got from him in the name of gifts for Desdemona. He threatens him of meeting Desdemona and telling her all the things. Here Iago tells him that Cassio must be killed that night to save Desdemona for Roderigo. And the fool, Roderigo, again falls for Iago.
Othello Summary Act 4 Scene 3:
Poor Othello is walking when Desdemona reaches him. Othello, rather politely sends her to bed. He also asks her to dispatch her attendants and wait for him. Desdemona goes the bed. She is singing a song sung by a girl that married a psychic guy and she died later. Desdemona relates herself to that maid.
She also asks Emilia to make wrap her in her wedding dress if she dies that night. Desdemona says that it is the husbands that are responsible if their wives betray them. She also says that men make their wives betray them for several reasons which include betrayal on their own part, suspicion and undue restrictions and above all undue jealousy. Then she falls asleep.
Othello Summary Act 1, Othello Summary Act 2, Othello Summary Act 3
Read More to the Othello Summary Act 4:
- Othello Study Notes
- Othello As a Tragedy
- Downfall of Othello
- Where Should Othello Go?
- Othello Short Summary
- Othello Character
- Character of Iago
- Character of Emilia
- Character of Desdemona