OTHELLO ACTS

ACT 1 SCENE 1

The opening scene of a play, typically setting the stage for the story, introducing key characters, and establishing the main conflicts. Roderigo, a nobleman, and Iago are in the middle of an argument. Roderigo has paid Iago a lot of money to help him win the hand of Desdemona. Yet he has just learned that Desdemona has eloped with Othello. Iago and Roderigo go to the house of Brabantio, a senator and Desdemona's father. Brabantio emerges from his house without finding Desdemona. Furious, lamenting his life as wasted, he says that his daughter has been stolen by magic

ACT 1 SCENE 2

In this scene, Othello is summoned before the Duke to explain his marriage to Desdemona. Brabantio accuses Othello of using witchcraft to win her love, but Othello defends himself by recounting their courtship. Desdemona then speaks in Othello's favor, declaring her loyalty to him. This scene highlights themes of race, love, and societal perceptions, and it establishes Othello's character as dignified and noble.

ACT 1 SCENE 3

Othello defends his marriage to Desdemona before the Duke and Senate. He recounts how he won her love through stories of his adventures and hardships, asserting that she willingly chose him. Desdemona confirms this, stating her love for Othello, which sways the Duke to accept their union. Iago's manipulative schemes continue to unfold as he plots against Othello.

ACT 2 SCENE 1

The scene takes place in Cyprus where Othello and Desdemona have arrived. Iago continues to manipulate Roderigo, convincing him that he has a chance with Desdemona. Cassio arrives and greets Desdemona warmly, which stirs Iago's jealousy. Iago plots to get Cassio drunk and provoke him into a fight, knowing this will create discord between Othello and Cassio.

ACT 2 SCENE 2

Othello’s herald announces a party to celebrate the triumph over the Turks and Othello’s marriage to Desdemona.

ACT 2 SCENE 3

Iago gets Cassio drunk, making it easy for Roderigo to provoke Cassio into a brawl, first with Roderigo, then with Montano, whom he wounds. Othello, called from his bed by the noise, stops the brawl and strips Cassio of his lieutenancy. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in getting reinstated. The next step in Iago’s plan is to tell Othello that Desdemona supports Cassio because Cassio is her lover.

ACT 3 SCENE 1

Cassio arrives with musicians to honor Othello and Desdemona. As Iago has recommended, Cassio asks Emilia to arrange a meeting with Desdemona, even though Emilia assures him that Desdemona is already urging Othello to reinstate him.

ACT 3 SCENE 2

Othello prepares to tour Cyprus’s fortifications.

ACT 3 SCENE 3

Desdemona’s interview with Cassio is cut short by the arrival of Othello. Cassio leaves hastily in order to avoid speaking with Othello. Desdemona pleads to Othello on Cassio’s behalf. When she exits, Iago says that Cassio’s avoidance of Othello is suspicious and that Cassio may not be honorable, all the while insinuating that he, Iago, knows more than he is willing to say. He warns Othello against becoming jealous of Desdemona. When Desdemona enters and Othello complains of an aching head, Desdemona offers to bind his head with her handkerchief. As they exit, the handkerchief drops unnoticed by either of them. Emilia picks it up and gives it to Iago, who has often asked for it. Othello reenters and, now tormented by jealousy, threatens Iago with death unless he provides proof of Desdemona’s infidelity. Iago alleges that Cassio one night talked in his sleep about making love to Desdemona and that Cassio once wiped his beard with the lost handkerchief. Othello is convinced by this “proof” and vows to kill Desdemona; Iago agrees to kill Cassio. Othello then appoints Iago to the lieutenancy.

ACT 3 SCENE 4

Desdemona, still actively seeking to have Cassio reinstated, is worried about the loss of her handkerchief. Her anxiety about it increases when Othello asks her for it and then sternly rebukes her when she cannot produce it. Cassio approaches her, but she must now, because of Othello’s anger, postpone her efforts on his behalf. As he waits, Bianca, his lover, appears. Cassio has found Desdemona’s handkerchief in his room (placed there by Iago) and he asks Bianca to copy the embroidery work for him.

ACT 4 SCENE 1

Iago continues to torment Othello with vivid descriptions of Desdemona’s alleged sexual activity. Othello falls into an epileptic seizure. Iago next places Othello where he can see (but not hear) a conversation between Cassio and Iago about Bianca, telling Othello that the bawdy talk is about Cassio and Desdemona. Othello’s fury grows.

ACT 4 SCENE 2

Othello confronts Emilia about the missing handkerchief, revealing his growing distrust and anger towards Desdemona.

ACT 4 SCENE 3

Othello, walking with Lodovico, orders Desdemona to go to bed and to dismiss Emilia. As Emilia helps Desdemona prepare for bed, they discuss marital infidelity, with Desdemona arguing that no woman would be unfaithful to her husband and Emilia arguing that women have the same desires as men do.

ACT 5 SCENE 1

In the dark streets of Cyprus, Roderigo attacks Cassio, who, uninjured, stabs Roderigo. Iago then wounds Cassio in the leg. Othello, hearing Cassio cry out, thinks that Iago has killed him, and departs to murder Desdemona. Iago then kills the wounded Roderigo. While Iago, Lodovico, and Gratiano tend to Cassio, Bianca arrives. Iago accuses her of being a whore and of engineering the plot against Cassio that led to his injury.

ACT 5 SCENE 2

Desdemona is asleep in bed when Othello enters. He kisses her and wakes her and once again charges her with infidelity. Over her protests of innocence, he smothers her. When Emilia comes to tell Othello about the violence in the streets, he acknowledges the killing, telling her that Iago had informed him of Desdemona’s infidelity. Emilia’s cries of “Murder” bring Iago, Montano, and Gratiano. Iago, under pressure, admits accusing Desdemona. When Emilia discloses the truth about the handkerchief, Othello tries, unsuccessfully, to kill Iago, and Iago kills Emilia. Othello, aware of his enormous error in regarding Desdemona as unfaithful, stabs himself, falling dead on the bed beside Emilia and Desdemona. Iago is taken away to be tortured and killed.