Hello Everyone and welcome to a lesson on act three, scene three of Othello where we'll be exploring the temptation scene.

I'm Miss Sutherland and I'll be teaching you today.

By the end of today's lesson, you would have explored the theme of temptation in act three, scene three of Othello.

Here are your three key words for today's lesson.

The first one is Peripeteia, which is a pivotal action that changes the protagonist's fate from secure to vulnerable.

Symbolic setting is a setting that symbolises a key idea or theme.

And dramatic irony, which is a tragic technique in which the significance of a character's words are clear to the audience, but unknown to the character.

Don't worry if you're unfamiliar with any of those words.

We'll work through them together today.

Pause the video and jot down any definitions that you may need to.

Great.

In today's lesson, we'll start off by reading act three, scene three, and looking at the theme of temptation.

We'll then look at this idea of peripeteia in act three, scene three.

Because this scene is a very important one.

It is like the middle of the play where Othello's fate could be said to change dramatically.

So let's start by looking at temptation in act three, scene three.

Act three, scene three, is set in the garden of a castle.

Cassio asks Desdemona to speak to Othello on his behalf about getting his role as lieutenant back.

Desdemona agrees to this and she can see how aggrieved Cassio is about the situation.

Othello and Iago then enter.

Cassio decides to leave to avoid having to face Othello.

Iago then begins to stir up uncomfortable feelings in Othello's mind, suggesting that Cassio is doing something suspicious with Desdemona and that's why he left.

Iago then takes it further and baits Othello into believing that Desdemona is untrustworthy.

So this is where Iago really takes his schemes to the next level and starts to plant the seeds of jealousy in Othello.

Act three, scene three of Othello is often called the temptation.

What is the significance of this scene being set in an idyllic garden? How could this be considered a symbolic setting? Pause the video and discuss that question.

This scene could be said to mirror the Biblical Garden of Eden scene from Genesis.

So this is a scene where a lot of manipulation happens in the play, and that is exactly the same as what happens in the Garden of Eden.

Othello represents the innocent Adam and Iago could be said to represent the evil serpent.

In the original story, the serpent entices Adam and Eve to eat the apple.

In Act three, scene three, Iago entices Othello to take his bait and seek more knowledge about Dedemona's supposed infidelity.

The setting of act three, scene three is a symbolic setting because it represents being lured into temptation.

So the garden in act three, scene three, is a symbolic setting.

It symbolises this idea of temptation.

Let's start reading act three, scene three.

"Exit Cassio.

Enter Othello and Iago.

Ha, I like not that.

What does thou say? Nothing, my lord, or if I know not what.

Was not that Cassio parted from my wife? Cassio my Lord.

No, sure, I cannot think it that he would steal away so guilty like seeing you coming.

I do believe it was he.

How now my Lord, I've been talking with a suitor here.

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Who is it you mean? Why, your lieutenant, Casio.

Good my lord, if I have any grace or power to move you, his present reconciliation take, for if he not be one that truly loves you, that errs in ignorance and not in cunning.

I have no judgement in on his face.

I pretty call him back.

Went he hence now? Ay soothe, so humbled that he have left part of his grief with me to suffer with him.

Good love, call him back.

Not now, sweet Desdemona, some other time.

But shall it be shortly? The sooner the sooner, sweet, for you shall it be tonight at supper? No, not tonight.

Tomorrow dinner, then? I shall not dine at home.

I meet the captains at the citadel.

Why then tomorrow night or Tuesday morn or Tuesday noon or night or Wednesday morn? I pretty name the time, but let it not exceed three days.

In faith, he's penitent and yet his trespass in our common reason, save that, they say the wars must make examples out of their best is not almost a fault to incur a private check.

When shall he come? Tell me Othello, I wonder in my soul what you would ask me that I should deny or stand so mammering on.

What, Michael Casio, that came a-wooing with you and so many a time when I have spoke of you dispraisingly, have taken your part to have so much to do to bring him in.

Trust me, I could do much.

Prithee, no more.

Let him come when he will.

I will deny the nothing." Now let's check your understanding of what we've just read.

Cassio leaves the scene because he's guilty of trying to woo Othello's wife.

Is that true or false? Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said false, Cassio does not leave because he's guilty of trying to woo Desdemona.

Now justify your answer.

Does Cassio leave because he feels uncomfortable after Othello demoted him or does Cassio leave because Iago tells him to? Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said Cassio leaves because he feels uncomfortable after Othello demoted him and stripped him of his role as lieutenant.

How does Iago begin to bait Othello in the opening of act three, scene three? Does he suggest that Cassio left guilty? Like when he saw Othello coming, does he tell Othello he saw Desdemona entering Cassio's room? Or does he tell Othello that he hates and does not trust Cassio? And you are answering that based on the section we've just read together.

Pause the video and answer the question.

Well done if you said Iago begins to bait Othello in the opening of act three, scene three because he says that Casio seemed to leave looking guilty just as he saw Othello coming.

So Iago is really trying to plant the idea in Othello's mind that Casio is acting suspiciously due to being in an affair with Desdemona.

How does Des Damon seem when asking Othello to talk to Casio about his job? So when Des Damon says to Othello, "When will you speak to him? Can you speak to him today, tomorrow, et cetera", how does she come across? Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said, Desdemona seems very persistent when asking her husband Othello to talk to Cassio about his job.

And we can tell that because Desdemona is really adamant that Othello speak to Cassio and she keeps asking him when he will do it.

Now this is really important because this plays along with Iago's scheme.

The more Desdemona is persistent with talking to Othello about Cassio, the more Desdemona bothers Othello with speaking about Cassio, the more Othello will eventually believe that the rumours of the affair are true.

Now I want you to read from "My noble lord" to "I once more take my leave", pay attention to Othello's initial responses to claims that his wife has been unfaithful, how Iago pretends to show his care for Othello and how Iago attempts Othello to probe more.

Also, how Iago speaks in unclear language to make Othello ask more questions.

Pause the video and read that section of text.

I find that scene so interesting.

Isn't it interesting how initially Othello is very suspicious of Iago, but by the end, Iago managed manages to win Othello over with his temptation.

I want you to answer this question now.

How does Shakespeare show the theme of temptation in act three, scene three of Othello.

I want you to complete the table below to show how Iago tempts Othello to probe more and leads him to grow increasingly suspicious.

On the left, you've got all the methods that Iago uses to tempt Othello.

And on the right there are quotes to prove that he uses that method of temptation.

Your job is to complete the list of methods of temptation and complete the quotes that show that method.

So for the first one, you'll be looking for a quote that shows that Iago asks questions, seemingly for no reason.

And for the third one, you'll be deciding what technique Iago is using when he says, "Though I'm am vicious in my guess".

So complete the table writing down the method of temptation on the left and the quotes to prove it on the right.

Pause the video, off you go.

Let's go through what you may have said.

Iago firstly tempts Othello by asking questions seemingly for no reason, which obviously gets Othello quite curious as to why Iago's asking that question in the first place.

The quote we have to prove that is "Did Michael Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?" So Iago here is planting seeds about Casio and Desdemona in a very subtle way.

He's saying the question doesn't matter.

He's saying the question is irrelevant, but yet he still asks it.

Next, we needed to find an example of how Iago repeats Othello to confuse him.

We have here "Think, my lord".

So Othello asks Iago, "Do you think?" And Iago just responds, "Think my lord".

He doesn't actually give any meaningful answer, just repeats Othello's empty words.

Now what method of temptation is Iago using when he says, "Though I perchance am vicious in my guess." He's saying here, "I, perhaps, am coming to conclusions too easily.

Maybe I'm wrong.

Maybe I misinterpreted the situation." That's what he's saying to Othello.

The method of temptation is stressing his own uncertainty.

So by Iago saying that he's not quite sure if this is the case or not, it actually builds a want in Othello to find out the truth and to ask more questions.

What method of temptation does Iago use when he says, "I'm not bound to all that slaves are free to." In this quote, Iago is saying that he has freedom of form and freedom of speech that he doesn't need to tell Othello whatever is on his mind.

So the method of temptation that he's using is withholding information.

He's saying, "I don't have to tell you anything.

I don't have to reveal anything that I'm thinking." And that of course makes Othello more suspicious.

It only makes him interrogate Iago more.

What method of temptation does Iago use when when he says "It were not for your good to let you know my thoughts." He's saying, "If I let you know what I'm thinking, it would harm you".

Here Iago is making a thorough believe that he has his best interest at heart.

And lastly, how does Iago plant seeds of doubt about Desdemona? Iago says "She did deceive her father".

So Iago is saying that when Desdemona eloped with Othello at the beginning, she went against her father, she disobeyed him and she lied to him.

She deceived him.

So Iago is basically saying, "If she could do that to her father, she could definitely do it to you too", which actually makes Othello believe in this story even more because now he has a piece of evidence that Desdemona perhaps is untrustworthy.

Now let's move on to looking at the peripeteia in act three, scene three.

Because as we've seen, this is the part of the play where Othello begins to grow suspicious about his wife and that really is a turning point for Othello.

So after Iago's crafty manipulation of Othello, we see Othello despair at the thought of Desdemona's infidelity and begin to question his own worth.

Let's have a read.

"This Fellow's of exceeding honesty and knows all qualities were the learned spirit of human dealings.

If I do proof her haggard though that her jesses were my dear heartstrings, I would whistle her off and let her down the wind to pray at fortune.

Haply, for I am Black and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have or for I'm declined in the veil of years, yet that's not much.

She's gone.

I'm abused and my relief must be to loath her.

Oh curse of marriage that we can call these delicate creatures ours and not their appetites.

I'd rather be a toad." And we'll continue the reading in a moment.

Let's first look at what Othello is saying about himself here.

"Haply, for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation that chamberers have" or "For I'm declined into the veil of years".

What is Othello saying about himself? Pause the video and discuss that question.

So in this section, Othello is saying that perhaps Desdemona has been unfaithful because of Othello's race.

He's saying because of my race, because of my status as an outsider, I don't speak as well as other people.

So maybe that's why she doesn't want me.

And he also brings his age into it.

He says, "Or maybe it's because I'm declined into the veil of years".

So he's saying perhaps it's because of my race, or perhaps it's because of my age.

So we see Othello really begin to doubt his self worth and become more and more insecure in this part of the play.

Let's continue reading.

"I'd rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others uses.

Yet 'tis the plague of great ones, prerogatived are they less than the base, 'tis destiny unshunnable, like death.

Even then this forked plague is fated to us when we do quicken.

Des Damon comes." In this section here, "I'd rather be a toad and live upon the vapour of a dungeon than keep a corner in the thing I love for others uses." How does that show Othello as jealous? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Othello shows himself as jealous there because he's saying he'd rather be a toad.

He'd rather live in a dungeon than have the person he loves loved by someone else or he'd rather be a toad than share the person he loves with someone else.

That shows how he's succumbing to jealousy.

And in this quote, "'Tis the plague of great ones".

How does Othello show himself as a true tragic hero? And how does Shakespeare hint that this is the peripeteia? Pause the video and discuss that question now.

In this quote, Othello is saying that noble people like himself have always a bad fate and they can't escape that, it's inevitable for them.

So he's basically admitting here how he feels doomed.

He thinks Desdemona has cheated on him and therefore his fate is doomed.

And he comments that was always going to happen because of his noble character.

Shakespeare hints that this is the peripeteia the play because of course Othello is remarking here how his own downfall is now inevitable.

Let's check your understanding of what we've just discussed.

Which of these does Othello not to present himself as in his act three, scene three soliloquy? Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said Othello does not present himself as calm in his act three, scene three soliloquy.

He does present himself as jealous because he says he doesn't want to share the thing he loves.

He does present himself as insecure because he questions whether Desdemona has cheated on him due to his race and age.

And he does present himself as distraught because he says that he's abused with the news that Desdemona may have been unfaithful.

He is anything but calm in this section.

Let's continue to check your understanding.

What does Othello say that suggests his downfall is cemented? Or what does he say that suggests his downfall is set in stone? Pause the video and answer that question.

Othello says, "Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones 'tis destiny unshunnable, like death.

That suggests his downfall is cemented because as we said in that section, he's basically saying that as a noble person, he will ha suffer a tragic fate and it's inescapable.

And that basically mirrors how his fate in the play will now come to a tragic end.

And this is the very beginning of that downfall.

We are now going to explore how act three, scene three could be viewed as the peripeteia of the play.

I want you to read from, "I am glad I found this napkin".

To the end of the scene.

Whilst you are reading, you need to be thinking about how the scene could be viewed as the peripeteia.

As you're reading, make a mind map of all the moments that suggest Othello's downfall has been cemented.

Pause the video and have a go at that task now.

Let's go through how this scene could be viewed as the peripeteia.

Firstly, Othello says, "'Tis destiny unshunnable like death" which shows his tragic fate is unavoidable.

There is dramatic irony present here as Othello feels doomed by the prospect of Desdemona's infidelity.

And the audience know that he will in fact kill himself.

Now, "For I am Black and have not those soft parts of conversation".

Othello begins to believe in all the prejudice views that the other characters had of him, which will fuel his insecurity and jealousy.

So we see how act three, scene three, is the start of Othello's insecurity.

And that is one of the key things that leads him to his downfall because that makes him believe that Desdemona could have indeed been unfaithful to him.

And lastly, Othello says," I am bound to thee forever".

There is dramatic irony here as Othello believes he's in debt to Iago for Iago's supposed honesty.

The audience know that Iago is anything but honest and that Othello owes nothing to him.

It shows how Othello's complete trust in Iago will be the death of him.

So it's a turning point for Othello, because instead of being independent and thinking for himself, he now relies on Iago to form a lot of his opinions and judgments, which will ultimately lead to his downfall.

So there are three reasons why act three, scene three, could be seen as the peripeteia of this play.

Let's go through what we've learned.

Act three, scene three can be seen as the moment of peripeteia in the tragedy and we've just looked at the reasons why.

The symbolic setting of the garden alludes to the biblical temptation in that it mirrors Iago's satanic role.

And lastly, dramatic irony heightens the tension in Act three, scene three.

Thank you for joining me in today's lesson.

I hope you've enjoyed it and I hope to see you again soon.