Othello - 6

Othello the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare

"An old thing 'twas, but it expressed her fortune, And she died singing it. That song tonight Will not go from my mind" (Shakespeare, IV.iii.28-30).

Foreshadowing is the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot. Foreshadowing is used with the placement of the song "Willow" at the end of Act IV. The song is said to be stuck in Desdemona's head at the end of the act. She says her mother's maid died while singing it after her husband left her. The husband of the maid turned out to be mad and left her. Through this, a connection to Othello can be made comparing Desdemona to the wife and Othello to the husband. Desdemona even admits the song stuck in her head is like an omen of her to be crying soon in the future. Based on the context and lyrics of the song, it is clear to be an apparent foreshadowing of events as some of the events mentioned in the context and lyrics line up with past events of the play. Also, Desdemona admits that she would never cheat on her husband especially because of what could happen to her if she did. This opens up to a view at both Emilia and Desdemona through their conversation about cheating. In total, the entire scene seems to be a foreshadow of Act V. The possibilities seem to be that Desdemona will die and probably soon. The maid died while singing the song and Desdemona says she has the song stuck in her head. Also, Desdemona has admitted her view on being unfaithful and I believe it will play into the action of Act V.