In the first scene of act four of the tragedy of Othello, Othello is beginning to fall from grace. Jealousy has overcome rational thought. Reading the letter that Lodovico has given him, informing him that Cassio will replace him in Venice, Othello is consumed with anger. Othello turns towards his wife, Desdemona, whom he suspects of having an affair with Cassio, and strikes her across the face while shouting "Devil!" Lodovico says that this is not the act of a person of noble stature. Othello merely growls in anger and sends Desdemona away, tired of hearing her weep. When Lodovico tells Othello to call her back, he does so only to humiliate her further. He spins her around, back and forth, while growling at her, and then sends her away again, yelling, "I'll send for you anon," meaning that he will deal with her later. This rage of jealousy and hatred towards Desdemona causes Othello to fall from his noble stature. He hits his wife in public, growls at her, and yells obscenities at her, acts that no commander of high rank would perform while in his right mind. Othello is so consumed by Iago's lies that he can no longer tell truth from delusion, causing him to fall from his noble position.
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