Othello

Although Othello may not contain the same immense philosophical contempla- tions as Shakespeare’s other works, it is still arguably one of his most gripping plays. It draws upon the primitive feelings of jealousy and contains the action and excitement of a modern thriller – murder, suicide, and a man brought to the brink of insanity due to uncontrolled jealousy and passion. The exact date when Othello was written is unknown; it has been suggested it was produced as early as 1601, but was more likely composed during the time when Shakespeare wrote his most famous tragedies, including Hamlet. For the purposes of English studies and essays, the date that most teachers and scholars use is 1604, for this was the year of the first performance, though the play wasn’t formally published until 1622. Set in the romantic city of Venice, Italy, Othello follows the tension and drama of a lead character, Othello, who disrupts Shakespearean society through being “Moorish” and Black, though Shakespeare never specifies Othello’s actual ethnicity. Nevertheless, this racial tension is at the heart of many of the themes Shakespeare explores in this play.

Act 1

Brabantio is informed by Roderigo and Iago that his daughter, Desdemona, has eloped with a black commander of the Venetian military forces – Othello. Roderigo is in love with Desdemona and Iago is angry at Othello for choosing Cassio to be his second in command over him. Upon Othello’s arrival, Othello is ordered to defend Cyprus against a Turkish fleet. Iago begins to plot revenge against Othello.

Act 2

Despite the terrible weather, the Venetians arrive in Cyprus to the news that the Turkish army has dissolved their attack on Cyprus. Iago convinces Roderigo that Desdemona is in love with Cassio, and instigates the idea that Roderigo should start a fight with Cassio. Later that night, Iago ensures that Cassio is drunk (against Othello’s orders that no soldiers were to drink). The fight ensues, waking Othello. After Othello demands an explanation, Iago, in his roundabout way, does not directly blame Cassio, but still cunningly incriminates him. Cassio is dismissed from his newly appointed position. Iago then suggests Cassio regain his post through Desdemona’s influence on Othello. However, this is not some sort of benevolent suggestion to help a friend out; it is a ploy to falsely implicate Desdemona as having an affair with Cassio.

Act 3

Desdemona tries to mediate on Cassio’s behalf, and Iago uses this as opportu- nity to suggest to Othello that she is doing so because there is more than just a friendship between her and Cassio. The idea of disloyalty to Othello seems more and more likely, as Iago plants circumstantial evidence against Desdemona. Later, when Desdemona realises that Othello is feeling uneasy, she tries to soothe him with her handkerchief, which is dropped as Othello pushes it away.
Iago’s wife Emilia later finds the handkerchief and gives it to Iago, and this helps aid the evidence he is developing against Desdemona and Cassio. This Act is where the tension is heightened, namely by Othello requesting the handkerchief back, and Desdemona innocently continuing to defend Cassio’s reinstatement to his post. This solidifies her supposed adultery in Othello’s mind, and thus Othello decides to seek revenge against her.

Act 4

Othello collapses in a fit as a result of Iago’s persistent efforts to add fuel to Othello’s jealousy. Upon his recovery, Iago arranges for Othello to overhear a meeting between Cassio and Desdemona, in order to further convince Othello of Desdemona’s alleged infidelity. Othello now truly wants to kill Desdemona, and Iago plots to kill Cassio. Later, to everyone’s complete horror, Othello abuses Desdemona in public, and then in private, calls her a “whore.”

Act 5

Roderigo fails to kill Cassio after Iago encourages him to do so. Instead, Roderigo only wounds Cassio. Concurrently, Othello is about to kill Desdemona as soon as she wakes. She is smothered in her bed by Othello. Emilia discovers the pair, and defends Desdemona and her loyalty to Othello. Iago’s villainy is discovered as soon as the handkerchief situation been explained by Emilia. Iago enters the scene, Othello attacks him, and Iago kills Emilia. Under arrest, Iago refuses to explain or provide reason or apology for his actions. After asking Cassio for his forgiveness, Othello stabs himself and dies.