Chapter Characters of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice - Study Guide by William Shakespeare

without mentioning the handkerchief, "Is he not jealous?" (3.4.29). Stronger evidence that she is suspicious is when she says bravely but indirectly to Iago,

I’ll be hanged if some eternal villain

Some busy and insinuating rogue,

Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,

Have not devised this slander, I’ll be hanged else!(4.2.132-135)

By veiling her accusations and by directing them anonymously rather than directly, she is able to unleash a vehement condemnation of this "cozening slave". "A halter pardon him, and hell gnaw his bones!... most villainous knave, Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow...O fie upon them!" (4.2.138, 141-2, 147). She entreats heaven "that such companions thoud’st unfold"(4.2.143). More directly, she addresses Iago,

some such squire he was

That turned your wit seamy side without

And made you to suspect me with the Moor! (4.2.147-149)

He sees through the thin veil but can still command her through fear. This balance between fear of Iago and love of Desdemona creates enormous dramatic tension as the play reaches its conclusion. In the end she finally becomes fearless and confesses all. She no longer fears death because her fear has killed the mistress she loved.