Act Summary

Act 1

• as the plays opens, Iago is telling Roderigo that he hates Othello because he promoted Cassio instead of him

• Iago and Roderigo travel to Brabantio’s house to tell him his daughter Desdemona has married Othello

• Brabantio is angered and orders Othello’s arrest

• Brabantio and Othello appear before the Duke of Venice

• Othello explains that Desdemona fell in love with him after hearing stories about his life

• she is called to witness and confirms her genuine love for him

• Othello is called to Cyprus to command a force against the Turks and Desdemona accompanies him

• Iago convinces Roderigo to follow them to Cyprus

• Iago tells the audience of his plan to convince Othello that Desdemona is having an affair

Act 2

• Cassio, Iago, Desdemona and Emilia are greeted by the governor of Cyprus

• the friendship and goodwill between Cassio and Desdemona is apparent

• Othello arrives and announces a night of celebrations because the Turkish fleet was wrecked in a storm

• Iago convinces Roderigo to pick a fight with drunk Cassio and in the midst of this the governor becomes injured

• Othello dismisses Cassio from his service

• Iago advises Cassio enlist Desdemona’s help in seeking Othello’s forgiveness

• Iago delivers another soliloquy telling the audience that his plan is going well so far

Act 3

• Desdemona promises to speak to Othello and wholeheartedly defends Cassio to her husband

• Iago tells Othello to observe Desdemona and Cassio when they are together which makes Othello suspicious

• Desdemona drops her handkerchief and Emilia takes it saying Iago asked her to steal it

• Othello asks Iago to provide some “ocular proof” before he goes any further

• Iago claims he has heard Cassio sleep talking about Desdemona and using her handkerchief

• Othello decides that he will kill his wife and Iago will kill Cassio

• Desdemona is upset that she has lost her handkerchief as it was a gift from Othello

• she ties to convince Othello to forgive Cassio but this only makes him angier

Act 4

• Iago continues to talk to Othello about Cassio and Desdemona

• Iago stages a conversation between himself and Cassio for Othello to overhear telling him they are talking about Desdemona when they are talking about Bianca

• Othello’s mental state worsens and he determines to kill Desdemona that evening

• Desdemona defends Cassio again and Othello hits her

• Emilia helps Desdemona prepare for bed and is concerned about his behaviour but stays loyal to Othello

• Emilia delivers her feminist icon speech

Act 5

• Roderigo attacks Cassio, who stabs Roderigo

• Othello overhears and thinks that Iago has killed Cassio

• Iago pretends to be mad at Roderigo’s actions and kills him

• Othello enters the bedchamber where Desdemona is sleeping

• he urges her to confess and suffocates her when she will not admit guilt

• Emilia enters and tells Othello that Iago was lying and that she took Desdemona’s handkerchief

• Iago kills Emilia and Othello realises he’s been tricked

• Iago is arrested and Othello kills himself in grief