Sophie Woodcock

OTHELLO GAP TASK

Setting: Act II Scene 3.5
[Desdemona and Emilia are in Desdemonas chambers, Emilia is helping her prepare for bed]
EMILIA How would you like me to leave your hair before bed my lady?
DESDEMONA Nothing extravagant Emilia. I shall be sleeping, after all.
[Pause]
What was the commotion outside before Emilia?
EMILIA That was Cassio and Roderigo. I believe they were fighting.
DESDEMONA Fighting? To what end?
EMILIA I know not, but I suspect that Cassio was provoked.
DESDEMONA He does not seem like one to start a fight without proper cause What stopped
the fight? Was anyone gravely injured?
EMILIA No one was hurt my lady. It was your husband, Othello, who stopped the fight.
Iago found me afterwards and told me Othello was furious at Cassios outburst,
that he demoted him on sight.
DESDEMONA Your husband must trust you deeply for him to divulge such information to you
without you questioning him. I need to show my curiosity to convince Othello to
reveal such information.
EMILIA Oh I would not say that my lady.
DESDEMONA What do you mean?
[Pause]
EMILIA My lady, may I ask a personal question?
DESDEMONA You may.
EMILIA How do you know your husband loves you? And you love him?
DESDEMONA How do you know the Moon loves the Stars? How do you know the ocean loves
the sand? I know he loves me because I can see his possession in his eyes when
he calls me sweet Desdemona and his wife. And my love for him is just as
strong. I love him, worship him as it is my duty to as his wife, for to me he is the
sun, my sun, and I am his flower, needing his light to nurture me and help me to
grow. Most importantly I know because I am his wife and he is my husband. I
love him because it is my duty to him, and his duty to me.
[Pause]
Why do you ask?
EMILIA No reason my lady. I was merely asking for reasons of my own.
DESDEMONA Does Iago trouble you? Do you suspect he is not true in his intentions towards
you?
EMILIA I must confess, I am unsure. When we first met his intentions seemed true, but
now now I know not exactly where his true affections lie. Sometimes I suspect
they never been truly mine.
[Pause]
May I confess something to you my lady?
[Pause]
I am beginning to fear that my husband never did love me. Never has he looked
at me like I am the light of his life, his reason for existing. When our eyes meet,
he does little more than acknowledge my presence. I fear that our union was not
one of emotion but one of convenience. To maintain his reputation, rather than
for loving me. Otherwise he had no personal gain in marrying me I do not come
from immense wealth, I have no large assets or land for him to obtain why else
would he have married me, other than to uphold his social standing?
DESDEMONA He married you because he loves you. What would force him to take such drastic
measures to protect his reputation?
EMILIA It is my belief that Iago has affections for someone else.
DESDEMONA Do you suspect your husband of being unfaithful?

EMILIA

DESDEMONA
EMILIA

DESDEMONA
EMILIA
DESDEMONA
EMILIA
DESDEMONA

EMILIA

[aside] I cannot tell her. I cannot. Desdemona is too sweet, to innocent and
nave. Telling her would ruin her. To cause her thoughts to turn to such impure
things, such sinful things. And yet it seems the only possibility.
[to Desdemona] I think not my lady. He may not love me, but he would not
betray me. I was merely theorising that his affection lie elsewhere.
[She leans forward and looks at her expectantly] Who? Who would he love more
than you?
I know not who. I have heard him mutter in his sleep about a dark beauty who
has captured his eye.
[aside] He mutters his name in his sleep, hands reaching out towards a person
who is no more than a ghost in his arms. You can see it in his eyes whenever
they are near, his eyes drinking in their presence like they are the cup of wine
bestowed upon a dehydrated man. Iago cannot love me because it is not in his
nature to love or appreciate a woman for anything other than his own purposes.
I am his wife, his most easily manipulated pawn in his game of strategy. A game
that everyone is playing and a game that only he knows the rules. I know my
place, and even though he may not love me, I know when I am needed, and if he
needs me I shall remain faithfully by his side.
Desdemona, bless the poor sweet girl, trusts Iago, just like her husband does.
She does not see his two-faced nature, for he chooses which persona he displays
to you. He is a shapeshifter, changing faces at will. How I am to know which
version is the true Iago? How am I to know if the true Iago is the one in love with
sin andEmilia.
Yes my lady?
Could you perhaps be gentler with that brush? I know you may be worried about
your marriage, but you need not express it on my hair.
Of course my lady, I apologise.
No need.
[Pause]
I think you are worrying for nothing Emilia. You are right when you say your
husband values his reputation, and if he were discovered of adultery it would
ruin his prospects of moving up amongst his ranks. My lord Othello does not take
lightly to unfaithfulness in a marriage
I suppose you are right.
[Pause]
Will that be all for tonight my lady?
Yes, thank you Emilia.
leave]
Emilia Yes my lady?
Do not worry so. Frowning mars your pretty face.
I shall try. Goodnight my lady.

DESDEMONA
[EMILIA starts to
DESDEMONA
EMILIA
DESDEMONA
EMILIA
[Exuent]
Word Count: 1010