• Iago swears to serve Othello, who instructs him to kill Cassio.

“Within three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive”

• Othello vows to kill Desdemona himself.“Damn her, lewd minx!”

“I will withdraw to furnish me with some swift means of death for the fair devil.”

• He appoints Iago to be his lieutenant.

Act 3 Scene 3

Some 250 lines later…

• Othello demands to see the handkerchief that was his first gift to Desdemona – obviously, Desdemona makes excuses as she has mysteriously lost it

• She tries to change the subject by repeating her request that Cassio gets his job back – this just makes Othello even madder!

Act 3 Scene 4

Act 3 Scene 4• We meet Cassio’s prostitute lover Bianca

– he makes excuses for not seeing her all week

• He asks Bianca to copy this rather nice handkerchief he found in his room

• Bianca is jealous, suggesting that it is a gift from another woman – she agrees and then Cassio shoos her away so that Othello doesn’t see him with Bianca (meeting with a prostitute in front of your boss would not do his job hopes any good!

Act 4 Scene 1• Iago wants go give Othello some “proof” that

Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair• Iago gets Othello to hide while he talks to

Cassio – about Bianca.• This turns into typical lads bragging talk –

Cassio using derogatory language to describe “her” saying how crazy “she” is for him (and Othello assumes the “her” is Desdemona!)

• Cassio: “I marry her! What? A customer? Prithee bear me some charity to my wit.”