Hello everyone, and welcome to your lesson on exploring Act 4, Scene 1 of "Othello." I'm Miss Sutherland and I'll be teaching you today.

In today's lesson, we are going to explore the changes in Othello's character in Act 4, Scene 1.

So we are going to see exactly how the tragic hero of this play begins to head towards his downfall.

We have four keywords for today.

Let's go through them together.

The first one is consumed.

Consumed means to be so full of a feeling that it affects everything you do.

So we could say, "Othello is consumed in the play by jealousy." Symbolic positioning.

Symbolic positioning is when an object or character is placed in a position that symbolises a theme or idea.

We'll be seeing exactly how symbolic positioning is relevant in Act 4, Scene 1.

Outsider.

An outsider is a person who does not belong to the wider community or group, or at least is perceived to not appear to the wider community or group.

And the last one, poignant.

Poignant means evoking deep sadness or regrets.

I'll give you a moment to jot down any of those keywords that you may wish to.

Great, let's get started with our learning cycles today.

In the first learning cycle, we'll be reading Act 4, Scene 1 of "Othello" together.

And in the second learning cycle, we'll be examining Othello's character change from the beginning of the play to Act 4, Scene 1.

I wonder just how Othello changes in Act 4, Scene 1.

Should we find out? So let's start the reading.

Act 4.

Scene 1, "Cyprus, Before the castle.

Enter OTHELLO, and IAGO.

Iago says, Will you think so? Think so, Iago! What, to kiss in private? An unauthorised kiss.

Or to be naked with her friend in bed.

An hour or more, not meaning any harm? Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm? It is hypocrisy against the devil: They that mean virtuously, and yet do so, The devil their virtue temps, and they tempt heaven." Let's answer a question.

What is Iago suggesting that Desdemona and Cassio have done in this short extract? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Well done.

If you said, "Iago is suggesting that Desdemona and Cassio have shared a kiss with each other, which, of course, is an unauthorised kiss because Desdemona is married to Othello." Let's continue with the reading.

"Iago says, so they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip: But if I give my wife a handkerchief,-- What then? Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord; and, being hers, She may, I think, bestow it on any man.

She is protectress of her honour too: May she give that? Her honour is an essence that's not seen; They have it very oft that have it not: But for the handkerchief,-- By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it.

Thou said'st, it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infectious house, Boding to all--he had my handkerchief." Let's now zoom into this.

We can see Othello beginning to break down if we examine that syntax there.

How does the imagery in Othello's final lines here , link to Iago's earlier claims to "pour pestilence into Othello's ear?" So what I'm asking is how this line here "Thou said'st it comes o'er my memory, As doth the raven o'er the infectious house," How does that link to "pour pestilence into Othello's ear?" Pause video and discuss that question.

Now, these quotes link together because Iago's claim that he was going to pour pestilence into Othello's ear, was his way of saying that he's going to poison Othello.

And now we see Othello referring to infection and suggesting that thinking of the handkerchief is like a bad omen, and how it makes his mind feel diseased or infected.

Let's continue.

"Iago says, Ay, what of that? That's not so good now.

What, If I had said I had seen him do you wrong? Or heard him say,-- as knaves be such abroad, Who having, by their own importunate suit, Or voluntary dotage of some mistress, Convincèd or supplied them, cannot choose But they must blab-- Hath he said anything? He hath, my lord; but be you well assured, No more than he'll unswear.

What hath he said? 'Faith, that he did--I know not what he did." How does Iago control the conversation here? Pause the video and discuss that question now.

Iago controls the conversation here, by firstly, making Othello suspicious about Cassio.

So Iago plants ideas in Othello's head that Cassio has admitted to having an affair with Desdemona.

And Iago continues to control the conversation by not, by suggesting that Cassio has admitted to it, but not saying exactly what Cassio has admitted to, which, of course just increases suspicion and interrogation on Othello's part even more.

Othello now says "What? What? Lie-- With her? With her, on her; what you will.

Lie with 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 labour,-- 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.

<v ->- Is't possible?</v> Confess--handkerchief! O, devil!--" And Othello falls into a trance.

Now paying attention to Othello's syntax here, that means the structure and ordering of his sentences.

How does he show he is hysterical? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Now you may have said that Othello pauses a lot in his speech here and he also does not construct coherent sentences.

His coherent speech breaks down entirely, that shows he's hysterical because he cannot think or talk straight.

He cannot get his words out because of his overwhelming or consuming emotion here.

And that emotion is grief or devastation about what he's hearing about his wife.

Iago now says, "Work 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!' Now, remember, Iago is saying this whilst Othello is in his trance.

So what does this show? And does it link to any other moments in the play? Pause a video and now discuss that question.

Iago's speech here, shows how cunning and sinister, and also Machiavellian Iago is because he's revelling in the fact that his plan to manipulate Othello is working and he's celebrating almost, that Othello has fallen into a trance, which is definitely, definitely a very evil thing to do.

I think this line, "Thus credulous fools are caught," links to when Iago said, "I shall enmesh them them into this net." Remember he said that when he was hatching his plan to trap Cassio, Desdemona, and Othello.

Let's check your understanding of the section we've just read.

What happens to Othello at the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Well done if few said, "At the beginning of Act 4, Scene 1, Othello falls into a trance due to being overwhelmed with emotion.

He's just been told by Iago that Cassio has admitted to having an affair with his wife.

So he's feeling a loss of grief and devastation, thus, falling into a trance." Another question to check your understanding now, what does this quote, Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught," show about Iago's feelings in this scene? Pause video and check your understanding.

The quote, "Work on, My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught," shows Iago is thrilled his machinations are working out, and Iago is glad to see that disintegration of Othello's mental health.

And as we've said, this characterises him firmly as a villain.

It is now time for you to do some independent reading.

I want you to read from "Enter Cassio/'How now Cassio?'" to "I have not deserved this." And in this section, Othello is told by Iago to hide and listen to Cassio and Iago's conversation.

Othello believes that Iago and Cassio are discussing Desdemona, but they are talking about Bianca.

You're going to find evidence for each of these ways that Othello acts in Act 4, Scene 1 as you read.

So you need to find evidence for Othello acting and speaking brutally.

In other words, how does he show violence? You're also going to need to find a quote for showing Othello's mental health deteriorating.

The third quote you need to find is to show Othello is increasingly paranoid.

And finally, find some evidence to show that Othello is beginning to lack independence, and instead, relies on Iago for lots of support and advice.

Pause the video, read that section of text, and complete the table with evidence, off you go.

Great reading, everyone, and well done for finding really, really specific and apt quotes! Let's go through what quotes you may have found for each idea.

So let's find some evidence that Othello speaks and acts brutally in this scene.

Well, he says, "Ay, let her rot and perish." He hits Desdemona, and he says, "How shall I murder him, Iago?" So, Othello shows violence to Desdemona, his wife, both verbally and physically.

And he also shows violence to Cassio because he wants Cassio dead too.

Let's find some evidence for Othello's mental health deteriorating.

Othello says, "Is't possible?--Confess--handkerchief-- <v ->O,devil!--"</v> As we've said before, that shows a breakdown in his coherent speech, and that is because emotions are overwhelming him.

Thus, we can see his mental health deteriorating.

A quote to show Othello is increasingly paranoid.

This one here, "What? What?" He really thinks that Iago and Cassio are speaking about Desdemona, and he's getting worried about that.

He's also said, "Look, how he laughs already!" Othello believes that they are mocking him and laughing at the fact Desdemona has been unfaithful to him.

Let's find a quote to show that Othello lacks independence.

He says, "O, Iago, the pity of it, Iago!" You can see how he repeats Iago's name twice in that quote, and many more times throughout that scene.

It just shows how he's really depending on Iago for support, for advice, and for information.

All together, the fact Othello speaks and acts brutally, his mental health deteriorates, he becomes increasingly paranoid, and he lacks independence, those things show that Othello is on his way to an imminent downfall because Othello has changed a lot since we met him in Act 1, Scene 3, where he appeared to be an eloquent, humble, and noble character.

Let's move on to our second learning cycle, where we'll look at Othello's character change.

So we'll track how Othello's changed since the beginning of the play.

So in Act 4, Scene 1, Othello hides on the periphery as Cassio and Iago talk.

Shakespeare uses symbolic positioning here, remember symbolic positioning is where the placement in a scene represents something much deeper.

What can Othello's physical positioning, I.

e.

, being on the periphery, being hidden symbolise here? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Well done if you said, "Othello's physical positioning, I.

e.

, lurking on the periphery, in this scene, could symbolise his status as an outsider.

He has now become the outsider that Iago and Brabantio perceived him as in Act 1." So Othello in this scene, is not included in Cassio and Iago's conversation, instead, he hides and secretly listens.

The fact he's not being included in that conversation, the fact he feels like he can't show his face, shows he may be now the outsider, and has fulfilled that prophecy that those characters created for him.

In this section of the play, Lodovico acts as a chorus to track Othello's change.

This is what Lodovico says.

"Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue The shot of accident, nor dart of chance, Could neither graze nor pierce?" How is this quote from Lodovico poignant? So how is this quote evoking a sense of pity, sadness, or regrets in the audience? Pause the video and discuss that question now.

You may have said that, "Lodovico's assertions here are tragic because we see that Othello's reputation, which was seemingly impenetrable, has been damaged.

And the audience recognised that this is largely due to Iago's manipulation and so pity for Othello grows." So if you look closely at Lodovico's speech there, you can see that he's saying that, "Othello is unrecognisable at this point because everyone thought he was someone who emotion couldn't get the better of, and whose solid virtue, nothing could graze, pierce, or ruin." And, of course, Othello is showing himself to be a completely different person here, he is showing himself, to indeed be governed by his emotions, and his virtue has indeed been tarnished, pierced, and ruined.

Lodovico also says, "I'm sorry that I am deceived in him." So in other words, Lodovico is saying, "I'm sorry, I was fooled into thinking that Othello was virtuous." How is dramatic irony relevant here? Pause the video and discuss that question now.

Now, the audience recognised here that Iago has manipulated the character change in Othello so Lodovico is indeed deceived about Othello's character, but not in the way he thinks.

Lodovico is actually deceived into thinking that Othello is cruel and violent, but, of course, Iago has manipulated that.

So in fact, Lodovico is deceived by Iago.

Now let's track how Othello has changed since we first met him.

I want you to discuss, focusing on Othello, what happens in each of these scenes? So you're going to discuss what happens in Act 1, Scene 3, Act 2, Scene 3, Act 3, Scene 3, and Act 4, Scene 1.

Pause video and discuss that question now.

Great, let's go through what happens in each scene with a focus on Othello.

So in 1.

3, Othello is accused by Brabantio of witchcraft.

Othello defends himself and tells of his and Desdemona's love story.

In Act 2, Scene 3, Montano and Cassio eagerly await Othello's safe arrival in Cyprus.

In Act 3, Scene 3, Othello becomes suspicious of Desdemona's infidelity.

And in Act 4, Scene 1, Othello believes that Desdemona has been unfaithful and threatens to kill both her and Cassio.

I now want you to think about how does each scene see Othello change? So how does he appear in Act 1, Scene 3, and how does he appear by Act 4, Scene 1? And what is the gradual change in his character as the play develops? Pause the video and discuss that question.

Let's start off with Act 1, Scene 3.

In Act 1, Scene 3, Othello reveals himself as eloquent, honourable, and trustworthy.

He is a noble character, and other characters such as the Duke recognise this.

In Act 2, Scene 3, Othello is honoured as valiant and is held in high esteem by Cassio, Montano, and his wife.

So we see in the first Two Acts of the play, that while some characters are ignorant and prejudice against Othello, he himself reveals to be a noble and virtuous character respected by many.

However, by Act 3, Scene 3, Othello becomes agitated, paranoid, and begins to show vulnerability, and insecurity.

Remember, we might see Act 3, Scene 3, as the péripétie of the play, in which Othello's fate suddenly changes from secure to vulnerable.

And in Act 4, Scene 1, our most recent scene, Othello's is consumed by jealousy, becomes increasingly aggressive, and lurks on the periphery as an outsider.

So as the play has progressed, Othello's status has declined, and his virtue and nobility have also gone down with it.

Well done if you said any of that.

Let's check your understanding of Othello's change.

Which are true of Othello's changes from Act 1 to Act 4? Pause the video and answer that question.

Well done if you said, "The three final ideas are true of Othello's changes from Act 1 to Act 4.

In Act 1, Othello was calm, but by Act 4, he is hysterical.

In Act 1, Othello was respectful, but by Act 4, he is violent.

And Othello was seen to be brave and noble in Act 1, but this is questioned in Act 4," those are all true.

A is incorrect because Othello was not timid in Act 1, he was bold.

I now want you to put your understanding of Othello's change into practise.

Order the quotes according to when they appear in the play, that is your first task.

And then, I want you to annotate each one to track how Othello's state of mind changes.

Pause the video, and start that task.

Excellent work, everyone! Here are some of the ideas you might have had.

Act 1, Scene 3, Othello says, "She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them." Act 3, Scene 3, Othello says, "No, Iago, I'll see before I doubt." Remember, he's saying to Iago that, "I'm not gonna trust you, until I see evidence of Desdemona's infidelity." Later in Act 3, Scene 3, Othello says, "No, not much moved.

I do not think but Desdemona's honest." Again, he's defending his wife and not believing she's unfaithful until he sees concrete evidence.

But by Act 4, scene 1, Othello is consumed by jealousy.

He says, "Handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief!--" And Act 4, Scene 1, "Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night." His way of speaking about his wife is dramatically different from what we've seen in Act 1, Scene 3.

Now let's dig deeper into these quotes, let's analyse Othello's character change.

In Act 1, Scene 3, Othello defence himself eloquently against Brabantio's prejudiced accusations, and the iambic pentameter splits over two lines, shows the reciprocity of his and Desdemona's love.

Don't forget, that in that scene, Othello was also very much respectful towards Desdemona, asking her to come down and have her say on how they fell in love.

Let's annotate this quote from Act 3, Scene 3.

Now what's about this quote? "No, Iago, I'll see before I doubt." Othello is rational here.

He says he needs to see evidence before believing his wife is unfaithful, and the syntax shows he is calm.

Again, in Act 3, Scene 3, Othello is firm and confident in defence of his wife.

He has a mind of his own.

The repetition of "no" followed by a comma reflects his steady state of mind.

However, by Act 4, Scene 1 with the "handkerchief--confessions--handkerchief!' quote, Othello is robbed of his ability to speak coherently.

It is clear his mental health is deteriorating due to being consumed with jealousy.

And lastly, Act 4, Scene 1, "Let her rot and perish and be damned to-night." Othello speaks in the animalistic way that Iago depicted earlier.

So we can see how Othello is acting in a way that he would not necessarily be proud of being a character of noble status and virtuous character.

This is what we've learned today.

Othello's mental stability and reputation deteriorates in this scene.

Consumed by jealousy, he now acts in the savage way that the prejudice characters have described him as being.

Formally, Othello was the centre of attention as the military hero, he now lurks on the periphery, an outsider.

Lodovico is used to draw attention, almost like a chorus to Othello's change.

You've worked really hard today, you should be really proud of yourself, and I hope to see you in another lesson soon.