Othello #2--- Suspense

II.i.375-376:

After some time, to abuse Othello's ear that he is too familiar with his wife.

Question 4 on page 1119 asks how dramatic suspense is created. It is established very early in the play that whenever Iago is alone onstage he will reveal some part of his plan to the audience (as seen in the quote above). This builds up suspense because only a certain part of the plan is revealed at a time. Additionally, since we do not know the entire plan from the beginning, we do not know what will be crucial to Iago's success until he can tell us. For example, in Act 3 scene 3, Emilia finds Desdemona's handkerchief and says that "my wayward husband hath a hundred times wooed me to steal it" (lines 293-294). The audience has no idea why Iago wants it so badly until a few minutes later when he explains. It is like watching a chessmaster moving his pieces across the game board.

Additionally, suspense is built in the dramatic irony. The discrepencies between what the audience knows and what Othello knows are huge (Othello thinks Iago is honest, for crying out loud!). This makes the audience anxious to know if Othello ever finds out the truth.

Until next time,
Alysse