Act 4, Scene 3 Summary

After dinner, Othello, Lodovico, Desdemona and Emilia go for a walk. Othello and Lodovico keep walking; Othello tells Desdemona to go to bed and dismiss Emilia. The remainder of the scene is between Desdemona and Emilia. Eager to avoid angering Othello, Desdemona does as he says. Emilia says she wishes Desdemona had never met Othello, and Desdemona doubts her choice of a husband as well. She relays the story of one of her mother's maids, who was disappointed in love. The maid sang a song called "Willow." Desdemona sings it now while Emilia helps ready her for bed.

Desdemona asks Emilia if there really are women who cheat on their husbands. Emilia tells her that there are, and that she would do the same if the benefits were worth it. Not for rings or linens, she says, but maybe for a...