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Timescale of Othello - Coggle Diagram
Timescale of Othello
Short Time
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Once the characters have arrived in Cyprus (after an interval travelling) time seems to move very swiftly, increasing the sense of claustrophobia and heightening the intensity of the drama.
The characters land just before "this present hour of five" (II.2.9–10), the wedding celebrations occur that evening, Cassio is cashiered the same night and we see Iago packing Roderigo off to bed at dawn the following morning
On this day Desdemona pleads for Cassio, having met with him earlier in the morning. Iago sees his chance and moves into action immediately.
Between Act III Scene 3 and Act IV Scene 1 there might plausibly be a short interval, but thereafter there can be no break until the curtain falls at the end of Act V .
It is this relentlessness that grips us in the theatre, where we do not notice the inconsistencies.
It might also be argued that this insistence on ‘short time’ is a deliberate theatrical decision. Perhaps Shakespeare uses his time scheme to show us how powerful and unreasonable jealousy is; we know that Desdemona has not had the opportunity to commit adultery, and yet her husband becomes convinced she has betrayed him.
Long Time
In Act III Scene 3 Iago describes Cassio’s lustful dream, which we are told occurred "lately" (III.3.416) when Iago shared Cassio's bed.
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Othello himself says that he believes Desdemona has committed adultery with Cassio "A thousand times" (V.2.210).
It seems highly unlikely that Lodovico would be sent from Venice to install Cassio as governor within a week of Othello’s arrival in Cyprus.
These statements which suggest ‘long time’ are primarily designed to increase the plausibility of Othello’s jealousy.
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It is also necessary for Shakespeare to present the poisoning of Othello’s mind occurring swiftly, without a substantial interval; it would be undramatic if Iago was to loosen his grip on his victim once he has him in his grasp.