Kay.Webster Act 3 Scene 3.

How does Shakespeare engage the audiences from a dramatic point of view in Act 3 Scene 3?
This is the pivotal point in the play as it is where Iago starts to pray on Othellos trust of Desdemona. Act 3 Scene 3 opens in mid conversation between Cassio, Desdemona and Emilia. Cassio is asking Desdemona to speak to Othello on behalf of him as Cassio has been fired. This scene is important as it later adds to Othellos doubts of Desdemonas love. The first scene allows the audience to see there is nothing but friendship between Desdemona and Cassio, which Othello challenges later in the play when he accuses her and Cassio of being unfaithful. When Othello and Iago are left to talk after Emilia and Desdemona leave, Iago uses persuasive tactics to convince Othello there is something between both Cassio and Desdemona. There is a lexis of words Iago uses e.g. My Lord, honest, think that help to convince Othello, also the use of pauses (-) e.g. My noble lord - allow Iago to imply he is hesitant to answer Othellos questions, making Othello believe he is more dominate over Iago. This is also why Iago does not want to Othello to believe Iago is controlling the conversation, so Othello can believe what he is realising is not by Iagos influences and accusations against Desdemona but by his own judgments. Iago then uses incidents that have already happened to his advantage; She did deceive her father, marrying you. Just by mentioning this fact to Othello Iago has placed doubt in Othellos mind, leading him to think that if she could deceive her father she could easily deceive Othello her husband. Half way through Act 3 Scene 3 Iago gives a soliloquise to the audience explaining his plan concerning setting up Cassio so that he looks to be having an affair with Desdemona by planting a handkerchief that belongs to Desdemona; I will in Cassios lodging lose this napkin, jealous confirmations strong. Throughout the last scene there is a lexical pattern of negative words e.g. poison, blood, monstrous,

death, damnations creating a negative tone and set a dramatic scene.