Othello

• Act 1, Scene 1

  - Roderigo is unhappy with Iago for failing to promote his marriage to Desdemona, who has secretly married Othello

  - Iago says that Othello has promoted an inexperienced soldier, Michael Cassio, over him, and that he hates Othello and wants revenge on him

  - To cause trouble, Iago urges Roderigo to wake up Brabantio and inform him of his daughter Desdemona's elopement

  - Brabantio discovers that Desdemona is not in her room. Calling for weapons, he sets out to locate Desdemona and Othello
• Act 1, Scene 2

  - Iago warns Othello that Brabantio may use his influence to have him arrested and his marriage to Desdemona dissolved

  - Othello is confident that his services to the state, his reputation and his royal breeding make him a suitable match for Desdemona

  - Cassio brings a message from the Duke, who urgently requires Othello's presence at a meeting of the Venetian council. On the way there, Othello and his soldiers are accosted by Brabantio and his followers

  - Othello commands the men to put away their weapons and denies Brabantio's accusations of bewitching Desdemona

  - Brabantio decides to go to the council meeting too, so that the Duke can be informed of Othello's treachery
• Act 1, Scene 3

  - Othello is told to prepare for war against the Turks after their invasion of Cyprus

  Brabantio repeats his accusations of witchcraft against Othello

  - Othello recounts the history of his relationship with Desdemona and she is brought to the council chamber to confirm Othello's words; the Duke urges Brabantio to reconcile himself after the marriage

  - Desdemona asks to be allowed to accompany her husband on his military campaign and Othello places her in Iago's care

  - Brabantio warns Othello against trusting Desdemona

  - Iago says he will help Roderigo seduce Desdemona and cuckold Othello
• Act 2, Scene 1

  - The Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm but all the characters arrive safely in Cyprus

  - Iago disliked the courteous way Cassio greets Emilia

  - Othello is overjoyed to be reunited with Desdemona

  - Iago persuades Roderigo to provoke Cassio into losing his temper in the hope of discrediting him

  - Iago reiterates his desire to have revenge on Othello and Cassio. He suspects them both of cuckolding him
• Act 2, Scene 2

  - Peace is restored in Cyprus

  - There is to be a night of revels to celebrate the destruction of the Turkish fleet and Othello's marriage
• Act 2, Scene 3

  - Iago is put in charge of the festivities and Desdemona and Othello leave to consummate their marriage

  - Iago persuades Cassio to join the carousing and undermines Cassio's reputation by telling Montano that Cassio is a drunkard

  - Roderigo antagonises Cassio, a fight ensues and Othello dismisses Cassio from his post

  Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona's help on his behalf

  - Iago intends to persuade his wife, Emilia, to promote Cassio's cause with Desdemona while he poisons Othello's mind
• Act 3, Scene 1

  - Cassio hires some musicians to serenade Othello and Desdemona but Othello sends a clown to pay the musicians to leave

  - Iago says he will divert Othello's attention so that Cassio can speak to Desdemona alone and Emilia agrees to help
• Act 3, Scene 2

  - Othello sets out to inspect the fortifications in the town with Iago at his side
• Act 3, Scene 3

  - Desdemona pleads with Othello to reinstate Cassio

  - Iago poisons Othello's mind against Cassio, hinting that he has committed adultery with Desdemona, and Othello begins to doubt Desdemona's love, becoming jealous

  - Desdemona drops her handkerchief, which Emilia picks up and gives to Iago

  - Othello demands proof of Desdemona's adultery

  - Iago describes how Cassio called out for Desdemona in a dream and has been seen wiping his beard with the handkerchief

  - Othello asks Iago to kill Cassio and he promotes Iago

  - Othello intends to kill Desdemona
• Act 3, Scene 4

  - Desdemona asks the clown to inform Cassio that she has pleaded for him

  - She is uneasy about losing the handkerchief

  - She tries again to promote Cassio's cause

  - Othello is angry with Desdemona because he believes she has lost the handkerchief

  - Cassio's mistress, Bianca, is annoyed with Cassio because he has not visited her recently- he gives Bianca Desdemona's handkerchief, saying he found it in his bedchamber
• Act 4, Scene 1

  - Iago torments Othello with crude images of Desdemona's infidelity and references to the handkerchief, leading to Othello falling down in a fit

  - Iago tells Othello to withdraw so that he can have a conversation with Cassio, and he questions Cassio about Bianca

  - Seeing Desdemona's handkerchief in Bianca's hand and believing Desdemona must have given it to Cassio as a love token, Othello vows to murder his wife

  - Venetian visitors bring news that Cassio is to replace Othello

  - Othello strikes Desdemona
• Act 4, Scene 2

  - Othello questions Emilia but does not believe her when she says Desdemona is true to him

  - Othello confronts Desdemona, trying to get her to confess she has committed adultery, but Desdemona defends her honour

  - Believing that she has assisted Desdemona in her wantonness, Othello offers Emilia money and leaves in disgust

  - Desdemona appeals to Iago for help

  - Iago persuades Roderigo to help in his plot to kill Cassio
• Act 4, Scene 3

  - Othello sends Desdemona to prepare for bed

  - Emilia says she wishes Desdemona had never met Othello, but Desdemona says she still loves her husband

  - Desdemona is unable to dismiss a melancholy song from her mind and sings it

  - The women discuss female infidelity
• Act 5, Scene 1

  - Following Iago's instructions, Roderigo tries to wound Cassio but instead Roderigo is wounded by Cassio

  - As Iago steps in and stabs Cassio in the leg, Othello hears cries, believes Cassio has been killed, and is spurred onto his own revenge

  - Lodovico and Gratiano come out when they hear the commotion and attend to the wounded Cassio

  - Iago kills Roderigo

  - Bianca appears and Iago accuses her of involvement in a plot to kill Cassio

  - Roderigo's body is discovered and Iago sends Emilia to inform Othello and Desdemona of what has happened
• Act 5, Scene 2

  - As Desdemona sleeps in her room, Othello explains he will kill her, then kisses her, thus waking her

  - Desdemona weeps when Othello tells her that Cassio is dead and, believing Desdemona loved Cassio, Othello smothers her

  - Emilia is horrified when Desdemona revives briefly and says she caused her own death

  - After Othello explains why he killed Desdemona, Emilia insults him and summons Montano, Gratiano and Iago

  - Iago denies Emilia's accusations of villainy, stabs her and leaves her to die on the bed next to Desdemona

  - Guards return with Iago; Othello wounds him but Iago will not explain his actions

  - Iago's plots are revealed and, realising his folly, Othello kills himself
• Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them'


  Shows composure. Normally a general would fight. Shows how calm he is in beginning of play
• Valiant Othello' (Duke to Othello)


  Shows respect (duke is saying this)
• My parts, my title and my perfect soul

  Shall manifest me rightly'


  Not worried about his relationship with Des being challenged. He's confident that he's done enough for the state. Demonstrates both Othello's pride and his eloquence
• Rude am I in my speech'


  Being modest. Trying to butter up Brabantio, after he accused him of which craft
• Honest Iago'/ 'A man he is of honesty and trust' '


  Dramatic irony/appearances vs reality. Shows how well Iago has tricked Othello. Audience know of Iago's duplicate nature through his dialogue with Rodrigo but Othello has no idea. This trusting quality is perfect for Iago to exploit and to use to manipulate Othello, which he does especially in Act 3 scene 3. Othello has implicit trust in Iago
• To see you here before me. O, my soul's joy . . .' / ' I cannot speak enough of this content . . it is too much of joy'.


  Shows love for Des
• My life upon her faith'


  Shows trust in Des.
• chaos is come again'


  Shows how much he relies on Des. Othello likes things to be black and white and so is easily angered when Iago plays mind games with him
• No Iago, I'll see before I doubt, when I doubt, prove'.


  Othello is stable at this point. He has faith in Des until he is proven wrong. Not jealous yet. Still displaying rationality at this point,shows he still has some control over himself
• Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds'

  Marriage has done more harm than good
• my relief must be to loathe her'


  The only way to get satisfaction is to hate her
• if she be false then heaven mock itself. I'll not believe it'

  Still has faith
• Farewell the tranquil mind! Fairwell content!'


  Iago has succeeded. Othello has gone mad
• Arise black vengeance . . . to tyrannous hate'/ 'O blood, blood, blood'

  'Impudent Strumpet'/ 'I will chop her into messes'


  Base bloodthirsty responses contrast with more eloquent speeches in previous acts
• Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men'


  Trying to assure himself that killing Desdemona is the right thing to do
• And mak'st me call what I intend to do

  A murder, which I thought a sacrifice.'


  Thinks he is doing a good deed
• "Haply for I am black and have not those soft parts of conversation... I am declined into the vale of years.. my relief must be to loathe her"


  Othello has reason to be worried. He is much older than Des, he's an outsider to Venetian society, Desdemona has had the choice of the finest suitors in Venice and Othello realises how much more affluent and educated the other suitors are. Oth will have had thoughts that she had been looking elsewhere. Outwardly he very much appears to be in control and confident but, in reality, he feels very insecure. Soliloquy. insecurity
• "All my fond, love thus I blow to heaven 'tis gone" contrasts with "Arise black vengeance from thy hollow cell"


  Changes from love to hatred reflected by references to heaven and hell.

  His change in opinion is further reflected in the black versus white imagery - black associated with evil and white with purity. Effect on audience?
• "For she had eyes and chose me"


  Through all the torment Othello can still see there is absolutely no way that he should allow doubt because Desdemona had the pick of the bunch and chose him. She accepted his weaknesses and fell in love with his. Tries his best to stay calm in an alarming situation, but his insecurity and jealousy overwhelm his good sense of faith
• "O misery" "ha!" contrast Rude am I in my speech,."blood!" "Death and damnation!"


  The consequences of Iago hiding the truth. Othello's responses shorten to sharp statements ..."" which contrasts with the eloquent replies a few lines back. Seed of doubt has grown
• "She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd, / And I loved her that she did pity them"

  Love
• "I'll tear her all to pieces"


  The violence in Othello's words foreshadows the violence he will use against Desdemona.
• "Put out the light.."


  Othello is contemplating Des' death. Death of Des symbolises the loss of light in Othello's life. An old lamp or candle can be relit when put out however it only takes one go to put out Des' light forever. Torn between weakness of loving her. Smothers her to preserve her soul. Vulnerability is also shown to create more sympathy
• "I love thee gentle Desdemona"/"I would that my unhoused free condition put into circumscription worth"

  Describes Des as his "soul's joy"

  Would give up his precious freedom for their love is further demonstrated when Othello is sent to Cyprus following the Turkish invasion and Desdemona insists that he goes with him. Highlights the strength of their love. Des will put life in danger to be with husband. Othello insists she stays in Venice for her own safety. Kisses her before discussing the Turkish fleet. He puts love before war. Shows how being reunited with Des has given him happiness he has never experienced before. If this were to be his last moments in life he would happily die
• "I do not think but Desdemona's honest"


  Shows conflict/uncertainity after Iago's insinuations