Instead of pity or alarm, Iago only expresses satisfaction that his medicine (poison words) is working.Ĭassio suggests rubbing Othello about the temples, but Iago calmly waits for him to regain consciousness and takes the opportunity to tell Cassio that Othello has epileptic seizures and bouts of madness. The overstressed mind seeks refuge in unconsciousness. Othello is now raving his words come in an anxious jumble around 'handkerchief,' and 'confess' until he falls down in a faint.

Iago, the liar, comes back to the word 'lie' when telling his untruth so that the word 'lie' echoes with double meaning through their conversation, lacerating Othello with thoughts of two illicit lovers and, at the same time, accusing Iago for his abuse of the truth. Iago uses again the successful technique of hesitation, forcing Othello himself to say what Iago would have him think. Therefore, he proceeds to tell Othello the direct lie: that Cassio has confessed to a sexual affair with Desdemona. However, Iago cannot afford to leave Othello in his present frame of mind, where he might do something unpredictable. Iago can see that Othello is at the edge of madness, and there is no way he can judge just how far to push him, considering his unexpectedly violent previous reaction. He repeats again the word 'handkerchief,' and Othello cries out. Othello, in his thinking, assumes it is a symbol for his wife's honor, but Iago plays at thinking it is only a handkerchief: 'being hers, she may, I think, bestow't on any man' (13). But this is just the warm-up to the topic that Iago has discovered can most easily rouse Othello's passions: the handkerchief. Their conversation is of hypothetical acts, whether they constitute betrayal or not, but Othello imagines them all being acted out by Desdemona and Cassio. Iago, while pretending to reassure Othello, is rubbing salt into his wounds. He is now convinced of Desdemona's infidelity and knows he must kill both Cassio and Desdemona that very night. Seeing his wife's handkerchief in the hands of Cassio's mistress is, for Othello, the 'ocular proof' he sought. Then Bianca herself enters, with Desdemona's handkerchief, which she throws back at Cassio.

Othello sees his smiles and laughter but cannot hear the details and believes he is joking about how much Desdemona loves him. Othello withdraws, too emotionally involved to understand that Iago is manipulating him, and Iago talks with Cassio about Bianca. Iago says he will draw Cassio out to tell of his amorous adventures with Desdemona. Othello, regaining consciousness, talks of himself as one among many cuckolds, but Iago tells him to hide and observe Cassio, who is returning. Iago sends Cassio away, telling him to come back later.

Rather than revive him, they must let the fit take its course. When Cassio enters, Iago claims that Othello has epilepsy and has had seizures before. This revelation is too much for Othello, who becomes incoherent and faints. In a conversation with Othello, Iago says that Cassio has confessed to sex with Desdemona.

Othello act 4 scene 1