Time & Action in the Second Half of "Othello"

Time seems to move both quickly and at a crawl. The scenes are long, with characters entering, exiting, and re-entering. The tone is enclosed,claustrophobic, and oppressive because of Othello's doubts and psychological deterioration.

So, to make keeping track of events in the play's second half a little easier, here are major moments from 3.3 to play's end:

3.3 Cassio appeals to Desdemona; Iago works up Othello's suspicions (O gives his first soliloquy); handkerchief dropped & picked up by Emelia
3.4 "Moist hand" accusation & handkerchief story by Othello
4.1 Othello hears Iago’s Cassio-Bianca exchange; Othello slaps Desdemona
4.2 "Whorehouse" scene; Desdemona & Emelia exchange about faithfulness; Roderigo complains to Iago
4.3 "Willow Song"
5.1 Roderigo killed, Cassio maimed
5.2 Othello kills Desdemona; Emelia reveals all & is killed; Iago stabbed; Othello kills himself

Other issues to consider...

-Desdemona sees Cassio as an extension of her love for Othello; therefore she doesn’t perceive how pleading for Cassio could be inconsistent with love for Othello

-Othello can't stand uncertainty & Iago preys upon this

-Othello's attitude toward women changes from Desdemona-oriented to "they"-oriented; a series of gross overgeneralizations and stereotypes. Desdemona's unique personhood is denied.

-What feelings are we left with toward Othello as the result of his final speeches?

-Through the treachery of Iago, a surprising white devil, Shakespeare challenges his audience to spot the true color of villainy (or can it be both black *and* white?)

-A play very much about how we repute (hold people in certain/good esteem) and repudiate (refuse and reject as true)

-A Tale of Three Trials…

The surrender of Othello’s (sound) judgement to passion can be measured in three successful trial scenes…

1. trial of Othello in front of Venetian court (1.3)
2. Othello’s trial of Cassio for drinking and rioting (2.3)
3. the prejudged sentencing of Desdemona w/o allowing her to defend herself (5.2)

-What ultimately causes Othello's demise? Is it entirely Iago, making O a victim, or ultimately must the cause be traced back to Othello himself?