Othello

Breakdown and

Questions

Soliloquy A soliloquy occurs when a character is alone on

stage.

He or she reveals their thoughts or secrets to

the audience. None of the other characters are

suppose to hear what is said.

A soliloquy is used to convey the main

characters thoughts and often informs the

audience of terrible events that may occur in the

future, often unbeknownst to the rest of the

characters.

Act 1 Scene 1 This is a night scene with Iago and Roderigo

outside Brabantio's house. Desdemona,

Brabantio's daughter, has just eloped with

Othello. Her father is unaware of the news so

Iago forces Roderigo to wake and inform him.

Branantio mistakes Roderigo's visit and tell him

he doesn't approve of him for his daughter. He

soon realises Desdemona is missing and

searchers for her. Iago then goes to be with

Othello and pretends to be loyal. We get a bad

impression of Othello from the opening scene.

Act 1 Scene 2 Iago now appears in a new guise. He is acting like

Othello's friend. He does not give a true account

of the happenings with Brabantio. Cassio arrives

with a message of the impending war for Othello.

Brabantio verbally attacks Othello and he remains

calm and collective. Othello emerges as confident

and self assured and noble character. This is very

different to how Iago described him in the opening

scene. He puts Desdemona's father in his place

with words. Iago is portrayed as a character who

has no credibility and can clearly not be trusted.

Act 1 Scene 3 The scene opens with a discussion of the Turkish

threat of war. The urgent affairs are left aside when

Brabantio speaks of Desdemona's elopement with

Othello. Othello then justifies what he has done.

Desdemona then gives her account. The duke is

convinced by the lovers and tries to assure her

father. Brabantio can't accept it and instead issues a

warning to Othello. The duke orders Othello to go to

Cyprus and Iago must accompany Desdemona. In

Iago's soliloquy he reveals his aims. He intends to

steal Cassio's position by convincing Othello that his

wife is having an affair with Cassio "That he is too

familiar with his wife". Iago intends on destroying

them all.

Act 1 Questions What do we learn about the relationship

between Iago and Roderigo in the opening clip?

What does Iago think of Othello? Why does

Iago hate him?

What are Brabantio's attitudes in this scene?

What are Othello's positive qualities?

What do we learn about Desdemona from this

clip?

What does Iago's soliloquy reveal to us?

Act 2 Scene 1 & 2 The play is now set in Cyprus. A fierce storm has

dispersed the Turkish fleet and removed the

threat on Venice. Desdemona and Cassio engage

in a conversation and Iago plots to use this to his

advantage. Iago informs Roderigo of

Desdemona's infidelity and vows that she loves

Cassio. He knows this will infuriate Roderigo and

make him jealous. The storm has a great

significance in this scene. It highlights an end to

the Turkish threat but also causes suspense. The

chaos of the storm is a symbol of what is to come

for Othello.

Act 2 Scene 3

This scene opens when Othello praises Iago for

his honesty. Iago tricks Cassio into getting drunk

by manipulating him. Iago confides in Montano

that Cassio has a "drinking problem" and a riot

breaks out. Cassio is dismissed by Othello from

his post. Iago then tricks Cassio into speaking

with Desdemona to stick up for him. Iago

introduces his next step in his scheme. Othello's

weakness of character is shown here in this

scene.

Act 2 Questions

What is the significance of the storm?

How does Iago use Roderigo?

What does the conversation between Cassio

and Iago tell us about their characters?

What is your opinion of Cassio from this act?

Describe the Othello and Iago relationship in

this act.

Act 3 Scene 1 It is morning and Cassio hires musicians to

entertain Othello and Desdemona. Othello

does not care for music and sends a jester

to banish them. Iago sends Emilia to Cassio.

She assures him that Othello loves Cassio

and intends on reinstating him as soon as

possible. Cassio insists on speaking with

Desdemona. He should have been satisfied

with this but Cassio arranges a private

meeting with Othello's wife.

Act 3 Scene 2

This is the shortest scene in the play.

Othello is inspecting the Venetian

defences against the enemy. This is

ironic because he is unaware that Iago is

an enemy and that he intends on doing

him serious harm.

Act 3 Scene 3 The"temptation scene" is the longest scene in

the play. This scene falls into five parts.

Cassio's suit

Desdemona agrees to plead with Othello on Cassio's

behalf. Emilia is unaware of her husband Iago's

intentions. Emilia genuinely tells Cassio that Iago is

upset about what has happened. Cassio leaves

suddenly when Othello approaches. Iago suggests that

Cassio ran away from Desdemona because he wanted

to hide their affair.

Desdemona's plea

Othello is troubled by what Iago has suggested and is upset

further when Desdemona innocently attempts to speak up for

Cassio. Othello dismisses her. There relationship begins to

deteriorate.

Iago's first temptation of Othello

Iago makes subtle suggestions to Othello and pretends to

conceal information. Othello is unable to resist and becomes

more and more suspicious of his wife. Iago speaks of

jealously and informs Othello that Venetian women are known

for being unfaithful. Iago reminds Othello that Desdemona

deceived her own father when she married him and also

states that it was unnatural for her to prefer Othello to a man

of her own race (Cassio). In Othello's first soliloquy it is

revealed that Othello is convinced of Iago's honesty and

searches for a reason for his wife's infidelity.

Loss of handkerchief

Desdemona notices a change in Othello. She is carrying a

handkerchief that Othello gave her. It has great sentimental

significance for Othello and is a symbol of their relationship.

Desdemona drops the handkerchief as she tries to comfort her

husband. Emilia finds it and gives it to Iago, who has often asked her

to steal it. He decides to plant it on Cassio. The loss of the

handkerchief shows the loss of trust and innocence in their

relationship.

Iago's second temptation of Othello

Othello has been changed by recent events. He is deeply distressed.

He abuses Iago for telling him about Desdemona's deceit and

demands proof of her guilt. Iago tells him about Cassio's dream (a lie)

and that Cassio has Desdemona's handkerchief. Othello orders Iago

to kill Cassio, resolves to kill Desdemona himself and makes Iago his

lieutenant instead of Cassio.

Act 3 Scene 4 Desdemona panics because she can't find her

handkerchief. Emilia lies and says she has not

seen it. Othello treats Desdemona badly. He

demands to see the handkerchief that he claims

his mother gave to him on her death bed for his

wife. Desdemona claims she did not lose it which

makes Othello even more suspicious.

Desdemona continues to plead for Cassio. Emilia

does not step in and help Desdemona and Iago

continues to push Cassio. Unknowingly, Cassio

gives Desdemona's handkerchief to Bianca, his

mistress. This seals their fate.

Act 3 Questions How does Cassio unknowingly cause problems

for Desdemona?

What is the significance of the handkerchief?

What happens to it?

How does Iago convince Othello of

Desdemona's infidelity in this act?

What does Othello decide to do?

How has Othello's character changed in this

scene?

Act 4 Scene 1 Iago tells Othello of Cassio's "confession"of his affair with

Desdemona. This causes Othello to collapse and have a fit. Iago

engages Cassio in conversation while Othello watches. Othello

cannot hear them but can see their gestures. Iago and Cassio are

talking about Bianca and are not being very flattering. Othello

misinterprets this. Iago persuades Othello to strangle Desdemona

instead of poisoning her.

Lodovico brings news from Venice that Othello is being called

back from Cyprus and will become governor. Desdemona

innocently talks of the love she has for Cassio. Othello hits her

publicly. Lodovico thinks Othello has gone mad and has changed

from the just and noble man that left Venice. He asks Iago for an

explanation.

Act 4 Scene 2 Othello speaks to Emilia. She has the chance to clear

Desdemona's name but doesn't. Othello dismisses

Emilia's defence. He compares Desdemona to a

whore and Emilia to a pimp. Desdemona sends for

Iago. She suggests to Iago that someone must have

poisoned Othello's mind against her. Iago makes

excuses for him. When the women have gone to the

state dinner Roderigo arrives and demands to know

what Iago did with the jewel he gave him for

Desdemona. Roderigo threatens to go to Desdemona

but Iago involves him in the plot to kill Cassio.

Act 4 Scene 3

After the formal dinner Othello orders

Desdemona to go to bed. She is starting to

struggle under her treatment by Othello. She talks

of death and sings about a tragic love like her

own. She wonders whether any woman could

ever do what Othello has accused her of. Emilia

tells her that some women do cheat because they

are badly treated by their husbands. Desdemona

cannot understand why one evil deed should be

repaid by another.

Act 4 Questions

How does Othello misunderstand the conversation

between Iago and Cassio?

How does Othello's treatment of Desdemona

disintegrate in this act?

How does Iago manipulate Roderigo again?

How important is Emilia's role in this act? Explain.

What type of character is Desdemona?

Act 5 Scene 1 This scene opens with Roderigo and Iago talking at

midnight. Iago knows that with Cassio and Roderigo

still alive, he runs the risk of his plan being exposed.

He now plans that each should kill the other to solve

the problem. Roderigo and Cassio fight. Roderigo is

wounded. Cassio is unharmed but Iago rushes in

and wounds him.

Othello comes on stage briefly and thinks that what

he sees is Iago's handiwork. Iago makes a show of

stabbing Roderigo for attacking Cassio. When

Bianca arrives she is implicated by Iago.

Act 5 Scene 2 Othello is troubled as he watches Desdemona sleep. She looks so

innocent but he knows her soul is not innocent. He tells himself

that he is acting for the common good by killing someone who is

so wicked. When Desdemona wakes Othello tells her to pray for

her soul. Desdemona continues to deny the accusations. She

shows grief when Othello tells her of Cassio's "death". He

strangles her in a blind rage.

Emilia comes to the door. She gives Othello the false news that

Cassio killed Roderigo. Emilia hears Desdemona's death cry. She

goes to her mistress' side. Emilia is distraught when Desdemona

dies. Othello states why he killed his wife. He shows no remorse.

He tells her that her husband knew all about the affair. She

protests that Iago lied. Emilia cries for help. Montano, Gratiano,

Iago and others arrive.

Emilia reveals that she was responsible for the theft of the

handkerchief. She accuses her husband of being villain.

For the first time Iago must face in public someone who

knows the truth about his scheme. Iago shows his true

colours. He stabs Emilia to death and tries to escape.

When they bring Iago back Othello wounds him. Othello

begins to realise his error in trusting Iago. Lodovico

produces evidence implicating both Iago and Roderigo in

the attempt on Cassio's life. Roderigo wrote letter before

he died explaining how he was fooled by Iago. Cassio is

appointed instead of Othello. Othello is remorseful and

stabs himself. It is left to Cassio to decide what happens

to Iago.

Desdemona, Othello and Emilia lay dead on stage.

(Roderigo died off stage as a result of his injuries).