Key Events

• The Climax

  In terms of the play’s structure, Act Five Scene Two contains the climax, the falling action and the dénouement.
• New World

  • The audience witnesses not only the deaths of the central lovers in the story: Othello and Desdemona, but also caught by the shrapnel of the murders is Emilia, who herself is killed.
  • Iago is not killed but is injured.
  • He however, swears to keep his motivation secret to the authorities who arrest him.
  • It is only at this point that a New World can be constructed.
• Desdemona's death

  • Othello enters the bedroom and kisses the sleeping Desdemona while justifying what he intends to do.
  • She wakes and he warns her that he is about to kill her so she had better say her prayers.
  • She asks that Cassio be sent for to testify on her behalf, but is told that he is dead.
  • She begs for more time but Othello refuses and smothers her.
• Emilia's response

  • Emilia arrives too late to prevent Desdemona’s death but in time to hear Desdemona’s claim it was not Othello’s fault.
  • Emilia is thunderstruck to be told by Othello that ‘honest, honest Iago’ was the person who claimed Desdemona was false.
  • She rails at Othello for his ignorance and stupidity, and also verbally attacks her husband when he confirms the slander, despite his ordering her to be quiet.
• Emilia's murder

  • Gratiano then delivers the news that Brabantio is dead. It seems that Brabantio’s earlier warning has come true.
  • When Emilia explains how Cassio got the handkerchief, Othello tries to kill Iago but is disarmed, and Iago gets the opportunity to kill Emilia and run away.
• Iago's escape

  • Montano chases Iago while Gratiano keeps guard outside the bedroom door.
  • Emilia dies singing the Willow song and vouching for Desdemona’s love for the ‘cruel Moor’.
• The Tragedy is Complete

  In terms of the play’s structure, Act Five Scene Two contains the climax, the falling action and the dénouement.
• Othello's speech

  • Othello finds another sword and calls Gratiano in to witness his speech of self-damnation, an audience then swelled by Lodovico, Cassio, Montano and Iago.
  • Iago refuses to satisfy Othello’s need to know the cause of his hatred.
  • Written evidence is produced against Iago from the dead Roderigo’s pockets.
• Completing the tragedy

  • Cassio is to be governor in Cyprus.
  • Iago is to be tortured by him, and Othello is to be taken back to Venice for trial, but prevents this by killing himself in military fashion.
  • He falls upon the bed with the bodies of Desdemona and Emilia. The tragedy is complete.
• Governor Cassio

  • Fortune’s wheel turns very quickly now and a New World emerges: the new governor of Cyprus is the recently dismissed lieutenant.
  • Cassio’s forgiveness and charity mark him out as the true Christian.
  • That he is male, white and Christian restores the social order.
• Iago's punishment

  • Cassio’s promotion at the end of the play, and Iago alive to see it and suffer from it, is probably the worst punishment for Iago (or is it his exclusion from the trinity of loved ones on the bed?).