English 154
Harlan
PLOT SUMMARY OF OTHELLO, MOOR OF VENICE
I,1: In Venice a minor army officer, Iago, discusses his situation with Roderigo, a gullible young gentleman. Iago serves under Othello, a Moor from sub-Sahara Africa and Venice's greatest general. Because Othello has passed him over for promotion to lieutenant, Iago swears he will be revenged upon him and Cassio, the textbook soldier who has gotten the promotion. Roderigo is upset because Othello has just eloped with Desdemona, daughter of the Venetian senator Brabantio and object of Roderigo's unwelcome affection. To poison Othello's delight and stir up trouble, Roderigo and Iago (disguising himself) awaken Brabantio and tell him of his daughter's flight. Iago leaves and has Roderigo lead the angry father to the inn where Othello is staying.
I,2: Iago warns Othello of the threat of Brabantio and urges him to prepare to fight. Cassio brings word that the Duke and Council of Venice require Othello's presence because of a threatened invasion of Cyprus by the Turks. Before they can leave, however, Brabantio and his men arrive and try to arrest Othello for drugging and kidnapping Desdemona. Othello calms the situation by agreeing to accompany Brabantio to the Duke.
I, 3: Various messengers bring the Duke conflicting reports of the Turks' intentions. The Duke and Council finally determine that the Turks plan to attack the island of Cyprus, Venice’s major outpost in the eastern Mediterranean. Brabantio and Othello arrive, and the Duke agrees to adjudicate their dispute. Othello explains that he first won Desdemona's love when, as an invited guest of her father, he told of his adventures and military exploits. Desdemona arrives and confirms that she initiated their relationship. Brabantio refuses to bless the marriage. The Duke orders Othello to leave immediately for Cyprus to organize its defenses. Desdemona asks permission to accompany him, and it is granted. Othello leaves his wife in the company of Iago and Emilia, his wife, to follow in another ship. Afterwards, Roderigo tells Iago he will kill himself because he has lost Desdemona for sure. Iago replies that man is what he chooses to make himself, and instead of suicide Roderigo should try to win her by making money. Iago promises he will deliver Desdemona who, he asserts, cannot love the Moor for very long. Roderigo agrees and plans to go to Cyprus. Alone, Iago tells us he plans to defraud Roderigo. His real reason for hating Othello is his suspicion that the general has slept with Emilia. Iago plans to tell Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.
II, 1: In Cyprus Montano and others welcome Cassio, who arrives safely following a storm which destroys the Turkish fleet. The next ship brings Iago, Desdemona, and Emilia. Cassio is extravagant in his praise of the general's wife. While they all wait for word of Othello, Iago teases his wife and mocks all women. In an aside he says he will use Cassio's courtly manners to trap him. Othello arrives and greets Desdemona with love and joy. Later Iago tells Roderigo that Cassio is in love with Desdemona. He tells Roderigo to provoke Cassio that night on guard duty. Alone Iago repeats his suspicions of Othello and his wife and adds that he suspects Cassio as well.
II, 2: The Turkish invasion threat is declared officially over.
II, 3: Othello leaves Cassio in charge that night. Iago succeeds in getting the lieutenant drunk. Cassio quarrels and when Roderigo insults him, Cassio gets into a fight with Montano and hurts him. Othello halts the ensuing turmoil and seeks the "true" cause of the trouble from "honest" Iago, who defends Cassio in such a way as to indirectly condemn him. After Othello relieves Cassio of his position, Iago urges the lieutenant to seek reconciliation with the general through Desdemona. Alone, Iago exults in his fiendish plot. The more she innocently tries to help Cassio, the more it will appear to Othello that Desdemona is guilty. Iago placates Roderigo and plans the next step in his plan.
III, 1: Next morning Cassio arrives to seek Othello's forgiveness. Iago and Emilia agree to help him.
III, 2: Iago plans to meet privately with Othello later.
III, 3: Desdemona hears Cassio's plea and agrees to help. When Othello and Iago approach, Cassio leaves, and Iago suggests he must have a guilty conscience. Desdemona urges her husband to send for Cassio, and he finally relents and agrees to do so within three days. Alone with Othello, Iago begins his psychological manipulation. He asks if Cassio knew of Othello's courtship and appears troubled when Othello says he did. Without making a direct accusation, Iago implies something is wrong in Cassio's acquaintance with Desdemona. When Othello asks him to be straightforward, he retreats into vague assurances of Cassio's apparent honesty. Because Iago has a reputation of complete honesty, Othello is convinced something is wrong when Iago refuses to reveal his thoughts. Then Iago warns Othello of danger to his good name and says, "Beware, my lord of jealousy, the green-eyed monster!" When Othello says he will never allow himself to be jealous of Desdemona who, after all, chose him, Iago says he is glad but suggests Othello watch his wife with Cassio. He implies all noble women of Venice deceive men, just as Desdemona had deceived her father in eloping. When the Moor admits for the first time that he has some doubts, Iago presses on, suggesting something must be wrong with her if she preferred Othello to men more like herself. He then apologizes for upsetting the general and leaves.
Alone, Othello despairs and seeks possible reasons for her infidelity. Perhaps it is simply his fate. Desdemona enters, and he complains of a headache to mask his upset. When she tries to put her handkerchief around his head, he pushes it away and it drops unnoticed. Emilia finds it and promptly gives it to Iago, who has asked her to get it. (Emilia doesn't realize there's a plot until later.)
Othello reenters in pain and rage. Now he wishes he didn't know. He threatens Iago's life if he is lying. Iago feigns indignation, and when Othello demands proof, he asks if he wants to watch his wife "topped" by Cassio. Othello is enraged and utters ill-defined threats of violence. Iago then tells of Cassio, in a dream, speaking of his illicit love for Desdemona. Finally he says Cassio has Desdemona's handkerchief. Totally convinced, Othello vows to kill them both. He and Iago take an oath "by yond marble heaven." Iago agrees to kill Cassio and in return he will become the new lieutenant.
III, 4: Desdemona misses her handkerchief, but Emilia says nothing. Othello enters and appears strained. When she urges Cassio's suit, he asks for her handkerchief and warns her not to give it away, as it is charmed. When he presses her about its whereabouts, she thinks he is trying to put off Cassio's reconciliation. In anger he leaves. Iago and Cassio enter. Desdemona says that although something is obviously bothering her husband, she will continue her efforts on Cassio's behalf. She excuses his behavior, but Iago leaves to find out what's wrong. Emilia suspects jealousy. They leave and Cassio is joined by Bianca, a local courtesan in love with Cassio. He gives her the handkerchief, which he's found in his room, and asks her to copy it.
IV, 1: Now Iago enjoys tormenting Othello, suggesting that perhaps Cassio and Desdemona's relationship is entirely honest and then telling the distraught Moor that Cassio brags of seducing her. Othello falls into a trance and Cassio enters. Iago tells him Othello suffers from epilepsy and tells him to wait. When Othello comes to, Iago proposes to have him eavesdrop while he, Iago, talks with Cassio about Desdemona. Instead, Iago questions Cassio about Bianca, and Othello assumes Cassio's leers and laughter are directed at his wife. Bianca suddenly enters and in a jealous rage returns Othello's handkerchief. Cassio follows her, and Iago points out how much Cassio prizes Desdemona's love, giving her gift to his whore. When Othello expresses pity for the deceived Desdemona, Iago reminds him of her sinfulness. Lodovico, an emissary from Venice, arrives with letters. Othello loses his temper with his wife and humiliates and strike her before the company. Iago tells Lodovico privately that Othello has changed.
IV, 2: Othello questions Emilia about his wife's supposed affair but he discounts Emilia's protest of Desdemona's innocence. He then accuses Desdemona of infidelity without naming her accuser or her supposed lover. Despite her pro-
tests and oaths, he leaves, convinced she is guilty. Iago enters and sympathizes with her, but he becomes uneasy when his wife begins to suspect some villain has told Othello lies. Once again Iago swears he will help settle the
problems. Then Roderigo confronts Iago and accuses him of trickery and threatens to expose him. Iago is able to convince him that by killing Cassio in ambush that night, Roderigo will at last be able to win Desdemona's love.
IV, 3: Othello orders Desdemona to prepare for bed and says he will return soon. She has a premonition of sadness and remembers a song of unrequited love. She asks Emilia if women do indeed betray their husbands and swears she could never do that. Emilia says if the price is right, almost any woman would. She then says husbands who treat their wives badly get what they deserve. Desdemona rejects that option.
V, 1: Iago positions Roderigo in an alley to kill Cassio, who is visiting Bianca. He promises to help Roderigo but then tells the audience he doesn't care if either or both men are killed. Roderigo fails to wound Cassio, but Iago stabs him from behind after Cassio has wounded Roderigo. Othello hears the commotion and goes to complete the revenge by killing his wife. When others hear the cries and come to investigate, Iago appears to take command of the rescue effort. Iago finds the wounded Roderigo and kills him to shut him up. Cassio is still alive, and Iago tends his wounds and accuses Bianca of plotting against Cassio. He sends Emilia to tell Othello the news.
V, 2: Othello enters his wife's bedroom and finds her asleep. He appreciates her beauty for the last time and realizes that her death will mean an immense loss for him. Nevertheless, he is determined to kill her to prevent her betraying other men. She awakens and realizes he means to kill her. She pleads for her life, denies the accusations, and tells Othello to send for Cassio and find out how he got her handkerchief. Othello grows impatient with her tears and smothers her. Emilia knocks at the door and enters. Othello tells her Desdemona is asleep, but she revives long enough to tell Emilia that no one has harmed her; she has killed herself. Then she dies. Othello admits he killed her and tells Emilia that Iago knew all about it. She cannot believe it. Iago and others enter and Emilia confronts him with Othello's accusation and he admits telling Othello what he believed to be the truth. Othello begins to suspect the plot, and Iago stabs Emilia to silence her. Before she dies she tells how Cassio got the handkerchief from Iago. Iago escapes and Othello is put under arrest. Iago is recaptured and brought back where Othello wounds him. When questioned further, Iago swears he will say no more. The rest of the plot is uncovered. Othello, realizing the full extent of his error, reminds those present of his past services to the state and kills himself, declaring his love for Desdemona.