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Shakespeare shows Act 3 Scene 3 to be the turning point of Othello through the development
of Iago¶s plot, the change in Othello¶s persona and the ironic awareness of the audience. The
turning point is signified by these aspects but one could argue against it and say that the
tragic downfall of Othello was right at the beginning of the play when Iago first created to his
plan. The audience¶s response is highly tense as they are always aware of greater knowledge
than Othello and the other characters. This dramatic irony increases tension throughout the
play but significantly in this scene. This is closely linked to the dramatic irony of Iago¶s plot
against Othello and that only the audience can decide in which scene his tragic downfall
occurs.

Shakespeare uses language in the scene to show the turning point. Arguably, Act 3 Scene 3 is
the turning point in the play that proves the beginning of the tragic hero¶s downfall. The
language of Othello in this scene changes to show his effect of madness, evidence would be in
his past tense dialogue. It modifies from prose to verse, which usually shows a character of
lower status or madness, in this case Shakespeare uses it to indicate his falling point.
Shakespeare also makes Othello¶s answers short and disjointed µI think so too¶ the short
sentence that Othello delivers shows the way that he is agreeing with Iago also how he is
already being manipulated, this effect on the audience is to show his unsureity of the
situation and losing of status and power. The behaviour of Othello also proves that, his trust
in Iago increases as his doubt in Desdemona does too. The audience response to this is the
sense of µmad¶ toward Othello. That he is verging on it, then Shakespeare uses dramatic irony
to show Iago reeling him in, µMy lord, you know I love you¶ the audience are then constantly
reminded of his betrayal and plot. Iago¶s manipulation may be clear to the audience but
certainly not to Othello.

Shakespeare continues Iago¶s conspire through dramatic techniques and audience response.
Iago¶s plot thickens as Othello believes him, µcertain men should be what they seem¶ this is
also dramatic irony as the audience are aware that Iago is not what he seems to Othello. This
happens near the beginning of the scene, as it progresses Othello just keeps gaining his trust
and the plot falls into place. This is helped by the luck of the handkerchief which is a
structural device that is used to prove Cassio and Desdemona¶s affair. µI think thou art just,
and think thou art not. Ill have some proof.¶ This indicates Othello¶s jealousy as he mentions
its size as if too small for both himself and Cassio. He is unsure who to believe and is torn
between his decisions.

The significance of the handkerchief and changes made by it are important to the plot, it is
used as an object of destruction. Iago uses it as a weapon to hinder the love of Othello and
Desdemona, µA good wench! Give it me.¶ This vicious attack towards his wife to further his
plans, shows his passion towards it and the downfall of Othello, this indicates that this is the
key scene for him to do so. µI will in Cassio¶s lodging lose this napkin and let him find it.¶ The
aside from Iago lets the audience in on what he plans to do to Othello to increase his defeat,
and show the use of foreshadowing from Shakespeare to indicate what is to come.

The entrance of Desdemona¶s character in this scene increases the tension hugely as the
audience¶s sense of anticipation and dramatic irony are linked to Othello¶s reaction to her. µI
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am to blame¶ his sentences are short and in descript, this show his sense of anger towards her
and change towards his tragic downfall. Othello also threatens death to show his hatred, µTo
furnish me with some swift means of death for the fair devil.¶ As the tragic hero of the play
Othello must suffer the most within it. Shakespeare shows this scene to be his tragic downfall
as it is the turning point of him going mad, using language to show a change in persona.

Shakespeare uses the entrance of Desdemona in this scene contributes to the turning point f
the play and the dramatic intentions. This is signalled by his impatience for her µNot now,
sweet Desdemon; some other time.¶ this snappy response from Othello is unlike him and
Desdemona starts to realise this. The structure of the scene starts to change as it
foreshadows a lot of what is to come. µAnd when I love thee not, Chaos is come again¶, this
forebodes the death of Desdemona at the end of the play, the climax of Othello¶s tragic
madness.

The use of repetition by Shakespeare can also signify Othello¶s downfall. The repetition of the
word µhonest¶ is significant as to add dramatic irony to the play. µHonest? Ay, honest.¶ It
could almost be read as a structural device by Shakespeare to forebode the end. Shakespeare
does this to let the audience have some clue what is coming and be in anticipation for it to
come, to keep them gripped. The repetition shows Othello¶s change in language and the
adopting of Iago¶s as he feeds Othello with lines, it also is the way that he does not want to
follow normal rules of conversation. The repetition is also used to underline the importance
of the word µhonest¶ and the significance it has to the tragic hero, and the betrayal that he
faces. Shakespeare also repeats the word µlove¶ which highlights his love for Desdemona and
the love for his friend Iago. Through words, Shakespeare also reiterates the main themes of
the play. One being the religious imagery µby heaven, he echoes me, as if he were some
monster in his thought¶ this alarms Othello and makes him concerned. The use of
corresponding heaven and, an image of the devil, linked to hell. Shakespeare also uses this to
foreshadow the foreseeable death of Desdemona and the culmination of Othello¶s collapse.

Stage directions are also significant. Shakespeare does not use stage directions often in his
plays and especially in µOthello¶, he rarely includes them. This makes the stage directions
that much more effective when they are used. µ[He puts the handkerchief from him, and she
drops it]¶ this outlines the significance of the handkerchief, which is used as a structural
device in proof of Iago¶s plan and also used by Shakespeare as an opportunity to raise the
tension in the scene. Another interesting stage direction is that when Othello is overcome
with jealous grief and vows revenge, µ[He kneels]¶ this is a sign of weakness, one of the first
which Shakespeare could have used to show the tragic downfall of this hero. This symbolises
Shakespeare meeting the conventions of a typical tragic play and forebodes this throughout.

Some may argue that Act 3 Scene 3 is not the turning point of Othello¶s tragic downfall as
there is evidence that the turning point could have actually been when the play started. This
was signalled by the beginning of Iago¶s plot µMy noble lord«¶ this beginning already starts
with flattery and obviousness to the plot. When Othello first gave Cassio the job instead of
Iago, he was raged. The turning point could arguably occur, when Othello¶s choice was
inadvertently left in the hands of Iago who reacted in such a bad way to plot of his
passiveness.

Alternatively, the turning point could be seen from the beginning as inevitable. As a tragic
play, Shakespeare introduces Othello right from the beginning as the tragic hero; therefore
his downfall would be expected. It could be argued that there is in fact no turning point and
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only the foreboding of Othello¶s tragic defeat and of his death, due to the nature of the play
and the dramatic genre.

To conclude, I agree that this is the turning point within the play as Shakespeare fully
exhibits Iago¶s plot. Othello doubts his wife, Desdemona, as Iago¶s plans unravel. This is
signified by Othello¶s change in persona through language and behaviour of the character and
also through the structure of the scene Shakespeare uses dramatic tension and
foreshadowing devices to link to this vital scene and the rest of the play. He also uses
structural devices and language to show the sense of Othello going µmad¶ and the
manipulation of Iago to enhance this madness. Shakespeare had no clear view on whether
this was the turning point of the play, but I agree that it is.