Othello

## Overview

The play Othello, was written in England between 1601 and 1604 by playwright William Shakespeare. This play was written as a tragedy during the late 16th century during the war between Venice and Turkey. The play tells a tragic story about how one man twist the words of others to cause major problems resulting in fatal deaths.

## Characters

Othello- The play's protagonist.

Desdemona- Daughter of the Venetian senator Brabanzio.

Iago- The villain of the play.

Cassio- Othello's

Emilia- Iago's wife and Desdemona's attendant.

Rodrigo- Jelous suite of Desdemona.

Bianca- A courtesan.

Duke of Venice- Desdemona's father.

Montano- Governor of Cyprus before Othello.

Lodovico- A kinsman of Brabanzio.

Graziano- A kinsman of Brabanzio.

Clown- Othello's servant.

## Plot Overview by Act

### Act 1:

Act 1 opens with Iago and Rodrigo having a discussion about Iago's disdain for Othello after Iago has been passed up for a military promotion by Michael Cassio as Othello's Lieutenant. During the discussion, Iago states that he is aware that Brabantio's daughter Desdemona has secretly run away with and married the Moor Othello. Knowing of Rodrigo's secret admiration of Desdemona, Iago decides to enlist him as a pawn in his scheme to undermine Othello. The two travel to Brabantio's house to wake him and inform him of his daughter's actions. Upon realizing that his daughter is missing, Brabantio establishes a search party to find his daughter while Iago sneaks away to Othello so he does not draw suspicion to his actions. After Iago reaches Othello and Cassio, Brabantio and Rodrigo's mob appears to confront the Moor. Determined that Othello bewitched his daughter into leaving him, Brabantio brings Othello to court. Upon reaching the court, Othello explains that he won Desdemona's favor by his stories which is them confirmed by Desdemona herself. When Othello is found not guilty, he hurries to Cypress to try and counter the Turkish navy's impending attack. Desdemona follows Othello via escort from Iago.

### Act 2:

Just as everyone arrives in Cypress, a terrible storm has hit the coast leaving the Turkish navy in ruin and unable to attack. Iago further expands on his plan to undermine Othello by playing into Cassio's tendency for displaying proper manners which may come off as flirtatious. Iago tells Rodrigo that Cassio and Desdemona are secret lovers and convinces him to attack Cassio at night in order to try and discredit Cassio's reputation. Later that night, Iago gets Cassio drunk and a fight ensues between Cassio and Rodrigo. Othello comes down and after listening to Iago's fictionalized story, strips Cassio of his rank. In an attempt to paint a picture of adultery between Cassio and Desdemona, Iago councils Cassio that he should plea to Desdemona in order to convince Othello to give him his job back. Unknowing of Iago's devious plans, Cassio agrees.

### Act 3:

Act 3 begins with Cassio meeting with Desdemona so he can clear things up with Othello. Desdemona promises Cassio that she will do all she can to help him since he is a man of good character and believes that he was wrongfully disposed of his job. As Othello enters, Cassio quickly leaves in order to prevent a confrontation. Iago seizes this opportunity to insinuate to Othello that Cassio's time with Desdemona and his sudden departure seems too suspicious. When Othello speaks to Desdemona, she is persistent in trying to convince Othello to reinstate Cassio which appears to add credibility to Iago's claims. After further playing on Othello's insecurities, Iago finally gets Othello to begin doubting his wife's loyalties. Later on, Desdemona drops a handkerchief that Othello had given her during their honeymoon. Emilia, Iago's wife, finds it and innocently gives it to Iago knowing of Iago's obsession with it although she is unsure why. Iago plans to use the handkerchief as the definitive visual proof of the affair that Othello desires. He then tells fictional stories to Othello stating that Cassio has talked about Desdemona in his sleep and that he possess Othello's family handkerchief that he had given Desdemona. Othello then believes the affair is real and swears to kill Cassio and take revenge on his wife. Othello confronts Desdemona about the handkerchief and demands that she show it to him. When she is unable, he becomes enraged and storms out. Iago then plants the handkerchief for Cassio to find. Upon finding the handkerchief, Cassio asks Bianca, a courtesan, to produce a copy of it unknowing that the handkerchief belongs to Desdemona.

### Act 4:

Iago, in an attempt to solidify his claims of unfaithfulness by Desdemona, has Othello hide while he brings Cassio in to talk about the affair. Iago speaks to Cassio about his lover Bianca but Othello, blinded by rage, believes that Cassio is talking about his affair with Desdemona. When Bianca appears with the handkerchief stating that she wants nothing to do with it, Othello decides that this is the definitive proof that he is looking for. He then vows to kill Desdemona for her unfaithfulness and assigns Iago to kill Cassio. Othello then begins to question Emilia about Desdemona's affair to which Emilia denies is happening. Othello refuses to believe Emilia's claims and even accusers her of being a part of the deception to which Emilia starts to begin thinking that someone has poisoned Othello's mind with lies. Iago then runs into Rodrigo who is not pleased with lack of progress on winning Desdemona's favor. Iago convinces Rodrigo that if he murders Cassio, then he will finally win over Desdemona, to which Rodrigo agrees. Act 4 concludes with Othello sending Desdemona to bed and dismissing Emilia for the night. Desdemona is certain of her fate but retains her innocence and purity throughout the ordeal.

### Act 5:

Act 5 begins with Iago and Rodrigo ready to attack Cassio. Rodrigo and Cassio fight and are both injured in the quarrel. Needing both of them dead, Iago finishes off Rodrigo when people begin to arrive to see what the commotion is all about. One of the first to arrive is Bianca who is quickly implicated in the quarrel by remarks from Iago. Meanwhile, Othello ventures forth to kill Desdemona. Upon reaching Desdemona's room, Othello begins to try and justify his actions and then proceeds to get on top of her. Desdemona awakens and Othello starts to demand that she confesses any sins before she dies. Retaining her innocence, Othello begins to smother her and ultimately kills her. Emilia then enters and is appalled when she finds Desdemona dead by Othello's hands. Othello does not realize his mistake until Cassio reveals the truth about the handkerchief and with pressure from Emilia, hears Iago's confession. Iago immediately kills Emilia for revealing his plots and is then stabbed by Othello but lives. Othello, overcome with grief, asks everyone to remember the man he was and proceeds to kill himself. Cassio survives and is appointed to Othello's position while Iago is taken back to Venice to be judged for his crimes.

## Christopher Moore's Adaptation of Othello

In Christopher Moore's novel *The Serpent of Venice*, Moore retains multiple characters and plot structures that are seen in Shakespeare's play Othello. First, he retains the major characters Othello, Desdemona, Michael Cassio, Iago, Emilia, Brabantio, Rodrigo, Bianca, and Lodovico. With these characters, Moore references the original play's plot structure by retaining the underlying tone of the tragedy of Othello. Desdemona and Othello are in love in this novel as they are in the play and Iago is still portrayed as the villainous fiend who wants nothing more than to destroy Othello. Iago, in this novel as well as in the play, attempts to conjure thoughts of adultery into Othello's mind by attempting to portray Cassio as Desdemona's secret lover in an attempt to get Othello to do something rash and be removed from his position of General.

## History of Venice at the Time of the Play

The city of Venice during the late 16th century was still a strong maritime empire despite previous conflicts with the papacy in the early 1500's. This allowed the republic of Venice to remain an economically sound place in Italy where trade flourished. Towards the end of the century, Venice constantly battled the Ottoman Turks for control of the Eastern Mediterranean, often employing mercenaries and foreigners to head its military forces [6].

## Performance History

Othello has undergone countless performances and adaptations since its debut in 1604 by the 'Kings Maiesties Plaiers' in King James' Banqueting Hall in Whitehall. The play has been vastly popular ever since its release and has undergone numerous changes internally with regards to the actors that have starred in the various roles. The play originally featured an all-male cast; Females did not begin starring in the play until the 1660's. The character Othello was also originally played by a white man that was usually decorated in dark makeup to portray the Moor's dark features. It was not until the late 19th century that a black actor actually played the role of Othello [7]. For further information on performance history of Othello, regard David Harewood's video Othello.

## Critical References

Zimansky, Curt A., ed. *The Critical Works of Thomas Rymer.* New Haven: Yale University Press, 1956.

Rosenberg, Marvin. *The Masks of Othello: The Search for the Identity of Othello, Iago, and Desdemona by Three Centuries of Actors and Critics.* Berkeley: University of California Press, 1932.

Pechter, Edward."'Have you not read of some such thing?': Sex and Sexual Stories in *Othello."* Shakespeare Survey 49. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996, 201-16.

## Gallery

This is the main character Othello.

This is Othello and his lover, Desdemona.

## External Links

Othello Navigator- Includes the annotated text, a search engine, and scene summaries.

[[1]]

Othello Full Play- Includes the full play with acts and speakers.

[[2]]

Shakspeare Library- Includes Plot summary of and introduction to William Shakespeare's play Othello, with links to online texts, digital images, and other resources.

[[3]]

Public Domain Audiobook- Free Audiobook of the full play

[[4]]

Shmoop- includes themes, quotes, studyguides, and teacher resources

[[5]]

Venice During the Reformation

[6]

The Publishing and Performance History of Othello

[7]