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Othello

The play tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army who is tricked into believing his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful by his ensign Iago. Iago manipulates Othello's jealousy and insecurity to convince him that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello murders Desdemona in a fit of rage, only to discover later that she was innocent and Iago was deceiving him the entire time.

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16 views

Othello

The play tells the story of Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army who is tricked into believing his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful by his ensign Iago. Iago manipulates Othello's jealousy and insecurity to convince him that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. Othello murders Desdemona in a fit of rage, only to discover later that she was innocent and Iago was deceiving him the entire time.

Uploaded by

MANASI AHIRE [SOUS-EO054]
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Othello- The Moor of Venice

William Shakespeare 1 November 1604

Act I
Before Othello begins, Roderigo has been pursuing Desdemona, a Venetian
noblewoman. One night, he hears from his soldier friend, Iago, that Desdemona has
secretly married his General, the Moorish Othello. Iago bears a grudge against Othello
for overlooking Iago for a lieutenant position. Instead, Othello chose Michael Cassio,
leaving Iago only at the low rank of ensign. Iago urges Roderigo to continue his pursuit
of Desdemona. He knows Senator Brabantio, Desdemona's father, will dislike having
Othello as a son-in-law. So late at night, Iago and Roderigo wake Brabantio and tell him
the news of Desdemona. Brabantio angrily summons the militia to arrest Othello. At
that moment, officers arrive to summon Brabantio to an urgent meeting of the Senate.
The Senate is concerned about the imminent threat of a Turkish invasion fleet on
Cyprus. Full of fury, Brabantio goes to the council.

Brabantio interrupts the council, claiming vengeance against Othello. Othello is


already there because he has just been put in command of the forces to repel the
Turks. Othello explains how his stories of military prowess have helped him earn
Desdemona's love (good storytelling is the most important trait in a companion, after
all). Afterwards, Desdemona is called to reinforce the tale and defend her marriage.
Following Desdemona's defence, her father disowns her, and she chooses to go with
Othello on his campaign. She plans to travel in the care of Lieutenant Cassio and with
Emilia, Iago's wife.

Act II
In Cyprus, Montano, the governor of Cyprus, and his soldiers greet Cassio, Iago,
Desdemona, and Emilia as they disembark. Othello soon arrives with news that storms
at sea have dispersed the Turkish fleet. A night of celebration is proclaimed. Roderigo
confesses doubts about his potential to woo Desdemona, but Iago assures him that
there is hope. He urges Roderigo to challenge Cassio to a duel that night, since (as Iago
claims) Desdemona is actually falling in love with him. When the night comes, Iago gets
Cassio drunk, and Roderigo incites his anger. Montano, the governor, is stabbed during
his attempt to contain Cassio. Othello is angered by the fight and blames Cassio,
stripping him of his recently conferred officer status.

Act III
The next day, Iago convinces Cassio to ask Desdemona for help in regaining his post.
When Cassio asks, Desdemona innocently agrees. Meanwhile, Iago has sown seeds of
jealousy in Othello’s mind, suggesting that Desdemona is overfond of Cassio. With no
reason to suspect Iago of bad intentions, Othello begins to watch his wife. Othello
becomes angry when Desdemona cannot find the first gift (a handkerchief) he had
ever given her. The handkerchief is embroidered with strawberries and especially
important to Othello. But Desdemona had not lost the handkerchief. Iago had
instructed Emilia, his wife, to take it. Iago then hid the handkerchief where Cassio
would find it. When Desdemona urges her husband to reconsider Cassio’s demotion,
Othello gets jealous and suspects her of infidelity.

Act IV
Iago continues to inflame this jealousy. He encourages Othello to listen in on, and
misinterpret, part of a conversation between Cassio and his mistress, Bianca. Cassio
and Bianca discuss how Cassio obtained the embroidered handkerchief that he then
gives to Bianca to copy. Othello’s agitation at what he hears brings on an epileptic fit.
After recovering, he orders Iago to kill Cassio. Desdemona cannot understand
Othello's change of attitude towards her. Othello even strikes her in the presence of
her relative, Lodovico, who has arrived as an ambassador from Venice. As she
prepares for bed, she talks with Emilia, singing to relieve the distress she feels at
losing the trust of her husband.

Act V
Meanwhile, Roderigo has begun to suspect Iago is not quite the friend he seems. Still
Iago persuades him to attack Cassio that night (again, to be able to court Desdemona).
In the fight that ensues, Iago goes undetected and wounds Cassio. He then enters
again as himself to accuse and kill Roderigo for the act of wounding Cassio. Othello
comes to his sleeping wife's bedroom to murder her as punishment for her supposed
adultery. He smothers her with a pillow as she asserts her innocence. Emilia alerts the
household, causing Iago and others to come to the scene. Othello defends himself,
mentioning the handkerchief as evidence. Emilia realises what has happened and
betrays Iago‘s plots against Othello. Iago, reacting to his wife's accusations, stabs and
kills her. Iago is arrested and sent to trial after Othello wounds him (he doesn't even
die). Othello, facing the inevitability of his own trial, uses a hidden weapon to commit
suicide. The play ends with Cassio reinstated and placed in command as Governor of
Cyprus.

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