Act 4: Scenes 1-3

    Iago and Othello converse on the topic of non-crimes as Iago prompts Othello by saying that it isn't a crime when a man and woman are naked together is nothing physical occurs. As Iago speaks of this, Othello becomes flustered by the thought of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Iago continues on this and tells Othello that Cassio and Desdemona have slept together, this making Othello very uneasy and “[f]alls down in a trance” (IV.i.41 stage direction).
    Cassio entrees and Iago warns him to stay back and tells him he wants to speak with him once Othello parts. Once Othello has come out of his “trance”, Iago tells him that Cassio had stopped by and that him and Iago are going to speak; he tells Othello to watch as he gets Cassio to tell him of his affair with Desdemona. In reality though, Iago will only be speaking and joking of the prostitute Bianca which will surly make Cassio laugh.
    Iago’s plan works: Cassio’s expressions make Othello furious as thoughts of murdering Cassio flow through Othello’s head. While this is occurring, Bianca entrees somewhat mad and hands Cassio back a handkerchief – a symbol of love – that he had previously given to her. She accuses him of re-giving this handkerchief; she states that another woman had given it to him.
    Iago and Cassio reconnect and they plan to kill Desdemona and Cassio – strangle or poison.
    Desdemona and Lodovico enter; Lodovico has a message from the Duke of Venice. Othello is irritated by the two with their talk. He is also irritated by the letter; it has called him back to Venice and has ordered him to leave Cassio in Cyrus as his replacement. Desdemona expresses her happiness for leaving and Othello strikes her and she leaves. With Lodovico’s shock at witnessing this loss of control from Othello, he gets Othello to call her back. Othello does so and he declares he will return home while also ordering Desdemona to leave again before storming off.
    Lodovico questions Iago on why Othello is so upset but no answers are given.
    Othello speaks with Emilia about Desdemona in scene 2 and calls Desdemona a female pimp while Emilia leaves to get Desdemona. Othello and his wife speak; Othello is very upset but Desdemona denies being unfaithful. Othello storms off once more and Emilia comes in to comfort Desdemona.
    Emilia brings in her husband, Iago and both Desdemona and her question Iago on why Othello is treating his wife like this. The two woman decide there must be some “villain” must be behind all the accusations but Iago promises them it’s only business that has been bothering him.
    Roderigo arrives upset with love and plans to make it so Desdemona returns all the jewels he got Iago to give her as a gift. He lies and tells him that Othello has now been deported to Mauritania, Africa because Cassio is replacing him in Cyrus. In reality, however, Cassio is returning home with Desdemona. Iago prompts Roderigo by telling him the only way to keep Desdemona from being taken to Africa is to get rid of Cassio.
    Othello and Lodovico go for a walk but before he leaves, he tells Desdemona he will be with her soon but to go to bed and tell Emilia to leave. Desdemona is scared for her life and tells Emilia that if she dies, she want’s her to use on of her wedding sheets for her shroud. Emilia sings to her as she helps her prepare and undress. The song reminds her of adultery and she questions on whether or not she should cheat on Othello. Emilia and Desdemona have a long talk about this and then finishes getting ready for bed.

Act 3: Scenes 1-4

       Desperate to be in great terms with Othello, Cassio ordered for musicians to entertain Othello by playing underneath his window. Othello did not find this entertaining though, but rather obnoxious and made his servant shoo them away. While he did this, Cassio begged the servant to get Emilia to agree to speak to him. All Cassio wanted was access to Desdemona and so, made a plan with Iago: when the servant left, Iago would appeare and promise Cassio that Emilia would come down and they would think of a way to distract Othello. This enables Cassio to be alone with Desdemona.

       Emilia proclaims to Cassio that Othello and Desdemona have already talked about the situation, and though Desdemona strongy asked for Cassio, Othello worried that the influence and popularity Montano had in Cyprus would have made Cassio?s reassignment pointless. But Cassio was let in and waited for Desdemona.
        While walking to the citadel with Iago, Othello gave him a few letters do deliver.
        After Desdemona swore to do all that is possible for Cassio, Othello and Iago emerge and Cassio left, telling Desdemona he does not feel right doing himself any good. The two men Othello and Iago did not believe that Cassio would act like a coward by leaving their presence.
All Desdemona wanted was Othello to forgive Cassio and make him lieutenant again, so he promised to speak to Cassio but got frustrated when she wanted to appoint a specific meeting time and asked for some alone time.
        Iago believed that Cassio and Desdemona had an affair, and questions Othello, reminding him that he was Othello and Desdemona's go-to person during their courtship. Talking with Iago made Othello think thoughts of adultery that he would have never thought of before, and was reminded by Iago that he should keep an eye on his wife when it comes to Cassio. Othello asked Iago to make sure Emilia watches Desdemona?s every move, but Iago said he might as well forget about the issue. Othello was stuck on the fact that his wife might not love him anymore, possibly because he is too old, too dark and not polite enough.
        When Desdemona and Emilia called Othello to dinner, he insisted that he had a headache and pushed his wife's handkerchief away when she offered it to him in hospitality. Emilia waited behind to pick up Desdemona's handkerchief, as it was something her husband had always desired.
        Iago went to put the handkerchief in Cassio's room, to frame him, but at that moment Othello raged at him, telling him that what he has told Othello has torn him up. Othello wouldn't believe Iago until he brought him visual evidence and even though Iago said that would be impossible he said he would. Iago made up a story that when he was sharing a bed with Cassio, he cried "Desdemona" and kissed Iago's lips in his sleep. Iago also claimed he saw Cassio wipe his face with the exact handkerchief that Othello gave to Desdemona. Knowing this, Othello was enraged and Iago vowed to help him get revenge. Othello promoted Iago to lieutenant, as he felt closer to him.
        The servant was sent to find Cassio for Desdemona and while he is gone, she wondered where her handkerchief was. Othello entered and checked Desdemona's hand for moistness indicating sexual promiscuity, and then asked where her handkerchief was. When Desdemona could not produce this, Othello told her the history of the handkerchief and focused on how if the woman lost it, the man should leave her. Being shook by this story, Desdemona lied saying she still had it but it was not with her and Othello does not buy it. Othello raised his voice and demanded to know where it was, but Desdemona was frightened and asked for Cassio to change the subject.
        After talking to Emilia about the uncertainty of men, Cassio and Iago showed up speaking about Cassio's suit to Desdemona for help. Desdemona was sure that was bad timing of them but Iago promised to go calm down Othello. Though Emilia thought Othello was jealous, Desdemona told herself he was only upset over a political issue and asked the others to wait while she fetched Othello.
        When Cassio was waiting for Desdemona to return with Othello, a well-known prostitute, Biana walked in. She scolded him for not visiting her more often and when he apologized he asked her to copy a pattern of a handkerchief he had found in his pocket, onto another one. Bianca thought he was making her do favors for other women, but Cassio denies it and they made plans for that night.