ACT 4

Scene 3
 Act 4, scene 3
• Othello invites Lodovico for a walk after supper and o However, it is worth noting that Emilia believes men
instructs Desdemona to retire to bed, dismissing Emilia. typically cheat first, while men suspect women will.
As Emilia helps Desdemona prepare for bed, they Once again, Desdemona's exceptional virtue and
discuss Othello. faithfulness shine through, though Othello,
consumed by jealousy, fails to see it.
• Emilia expresses regret that Desdemona ever met him,
but Desdemona insists she loves him despite his flaws. o Themes: Appearance vs. Reality; Jeolousy; Women
Desdemona then instructs Emilia to use the wedding and Sexuality
bedsheets as a shroud should she die.
• She sings a song called "Willow," learned from her
mother's maid, whose husband abandoned her.
o Desdemona's unwavering love contrasts starkly with
Othello's insecurities, as he remains blinded by jealousy
despite her fidelity.
• Desdemona then asks Emilia if she would ever commit
adultery. Emilia replies that women are no different from
men and would cheat if their husbands did.
• Desdemona disagrees, saying she wants to avoid such
wrongdoing rather than learn to imitate it. She dismisses
Emilia and retires to bed.
o Emilia's perspective highlights a cynical view of
AI-generated image
marriage, where one wrongdoing leads to another.
Notes adapted from litcharts.com