Othello, 1603
Act I: Iago is discussing his desire for revenge against Othello (for his passing over of
the lieutenant position that was given to Michael Cassio) with the idiot Roderigo,
who desires Desdemona (Othello's wife). Iago tells Desdemona's father that she has
eloped with Othello. He then tells Othello to take heed of Brabantio's hostility, a
warning the Moor shrugs off. The two almost fight, but both are summoned by the
Duke.
Act II: The scene shifts to Cyprus, and news comes that a tempest has elimated a
Turkish war threat. Othello declares a holiday and Iago uses this to get Michael
Cassio drunk. Iago cleverly sets the scene for a trashed Cassio to chase Roderigo and
wound Montano, followed by Othello conveniently being woken and forced to
discharge Cassio.
Act III: Now Iago tries to break up Othello and Desdemona by telling Cassio to try
and earn reinstatement by getting Desdemona to like him and talk to Othello for
him. Iago cleverly puts people in the right places so that Othello begins to think Ca
ssio is pursuing Desdemona. He also steals a hankerchief Othello gave to Desdemona
and puts it in Cassio's possession. He lies some more and gets Othello to order
Cassio's assassination, question Desdemona, begin to lose rational thought, and
ultimately d estroy his noble record.
Act IV: Ludovico and other Venetian officials arrive, saying they want Othello back.
Desdemona speaks well of Cassio in hopes that he might succeed the Moor, and for
that Othello slaps and degrades her. Ludovico wonders if Othello is sane, and Iago
seizes the moment to cast Othello in a bad light. Roderigo starts to realize that the
jewels he has been giving Iago to give to Desdemona have not been making it past
Iago, and he threatens to kill him. But Iago uses his rhetoric to convince Roderigo to
just wait a little longer.
Act V: Roderigo attacks Cassio, both are wounded, and Iago comes upon them and
kills Roderigo. Othello decides to kill Desdemona by strangling her in her bed. Emilia
then enters and tells him the news. She screams at seeing Desdemona and the
others come into the room as well. Emilia tells about how she gave the hankerchief
to Iago, and the truth starts to come out. Othello realizes what Iago has done, and
although he cannot kill him, Iago is captured. Othello kills himself.