Othello, Act III

Alright, Act III of Othello! In this act I think you get a lot of Othello kind of descent into the stereotypes of being a Moor. He compares himself to a beast when he says, “Exchange me for a goat,” and the word nature it used repetitively. Othello says, “And yet, how nature erring from itself,” to which Iago says,

Ay, there’s the point! As—to be bold with you—
Not affect many proposed matches
Of her own clime, complexion, and degree,
Whereto we see in all things nature tends—
Foh! One may smell in such will most rank
Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.
But pardon me. I do not position
Distinctly speak of her, though I may fear
Her will, recoiling to her better judgment,
May fall to match you with her country forms
And happily repent. (III.iii. 244-254)

Here, Iago really pulls Othello back into his existence as an outsider, one forever strange to English society, the blackamoor. And Othello gives in, saying,

Haply, for I am black
And have not those soft parts of conversation
That chambers have, or for I am declined
Into the vale of years. (III.iii.280-3)

Looking at this act, you also have to deal with the idea of seeing is believing: “Give me the ocular proof”; “Make me to see’t” ; and “Now do I see ‘tis true” (III.iii.376,381&460). We talked about in class how ironic it is that Othello should be so quick to judge by sight, as he is made an outsider because of sight, because he is seen as black in a white-souled society.

With this act, you also have to deal with the handkerchief. Like we talked about in class, there are two stories associate with Othello’s obtaining the handkerchief. So, we have to decide which we believe. Personally, I think the story of the Egyptian giver is supposed to again represent Othello’s slipping into the role of blackamoor. Even if this fantastic story is real, the Othello from the beginning of the play would never have told it. He would have hidden this exotic story as a means of blending, yet here, be tells it outright and makes himself outsider to Desdemona and his society. There’s also something really disturbing about the idea that the handkerchief was dyed in the mummy of “maidens’ hearts” (III.iv.70). Even in death, they couldn’t escape patriarchy.