OTHELLO: SYNOPSIS

Act 1
The play opens on two men: the play’s villain, Iago, and his gullible, naïve but rich sidekick,
Roderigo. Roderigo is in love with the beautiful Desdemona, but just discovered that she has
married Othello, a Venetian general whom Iago serves as his ensign. Iago is consumed by
his own hatred for Othello, who recently promoted the inexperienced soldier Michael Cassio
to the position of lieutenant instead of him.

Iago and Roderigo cry out to Brabantio, an old Senator of Venice and Desdemona’s father,
that his daughter has been seduced by and married Othello the Moor. Othello is
subsequently brought before the Duke to justify his behaviour, where he explains how he
wooed Desdemona and she is brought in front of the Duke and her father to confirm her
willingness to marry him.

Almost immediately after, Othello is sent to defend Cyprus against the Turks. As he
prepares to leave, he entrusts Iago, as his ensign, to take care of Desdemona. Once Othello
and the others have left, Iago promises Roderigo that he will obtain Desdemona for him, and
persuades him to come along to Cyprus, so that he can continue to use his money. Iago
reflects on his hatred for Othello and plans a way of destroying him that involves making him
jealous of his wife and his friend Michael Cassio.

Act 2
Cassio (Othello’s lieutenant) arrives in Cyprus, followed by Iago and Desdemona, and then
by Othello. The war against the Turks is reported as won. During the celebrations, which are
combined with Othello and Desdemona’s wedding party, Iago persuades a reluctant Cassio
to get drunk, before prompting Roderigo to start a fight with him. Cassio, drunk and violent,
fights Roderigo and also attacks Montano, the governor of Cyprus. When Othello comes to
see the violence and told that it is Cassio’s fault, he removes him from his position as
lieutenant. Iago advises Cassio to work his way back into Othello’s affections by speaking to
Desdemona.

Act 3
Cassio asks Iago’s wife Emilia, who is also Desdemona’s friend and maid, to arrange a
meeting with Desdemona so he can plead his case. She agrees to do what she can.
Meanwhile, Iago puts the thought of Desdemona being unfaithful in Othello’s mind, hinting
that she may be having an affair with Cassio. Emilia finds a handkerchief that Desdemona
has dropped – one that Othello gave her when they first fell in love – and gives it to Iago
when he insists that she do so. At the same time, Othello’s jealousy grows. He asks Iago to
prove his suspicions about Cassio and Desdemona, and Iago suggests that Desdemona has
given Cassio the handkerchief. Othello asks Desdemona for it and is angered when she is
unable to produce it.

Act 4
Cassio has meanwhile found the handkerchief in his bedroom – where Iago has left it – and
liked it so much that he gives it to his own mistress Bianca and asks her to have it copied.
Iago arranges cleverly for Othello to overhear a conversation between himself and Cassio.
They are joking about Cassio’s mistress Bianca, but Iago makes the conversation appear to
Othello to be about Desdemona. Bianca appears with the handkerchief and returns it to
Cassio. Othello sees this and is enraged, hitting Desdemona in public in front of all their
friends and colleagues. Othello asks Emilia about Desdemona’s unfaithfulness, but she
denies knowledge of it. He finally accuses Desdemona of cheating on him to her face,
leaving her distraught.
Act 5
Iago convinces Roderigo that Cassio must die to keep Desdemona in Cyprus. Roderigo
attacks Cassio, but is wounded by him. In return, Iago attacks and wounds Cassio. Hearing
Cassio’s cries, Othello thinks Iago is killing him, as he commanded him to do. He leaves to
deal with Desdemona himself. Iago kills Roderigo.

Confronting her for the final time, Othello becomes so enraged when Desdemona will not
confess to any affair between her and Cassio that he smothers her with her own pillow,
killing her. Emilia discovers her body, and, distraught, realises Iago’s part in the destruction.
She reveals to Othello that Desdemona was innocent, and that Iago had lied to him; she is
stabbed and killed by Iago. Letters are discovered revealing Iago and Roderigo’s plot to kill
Cassio. Othello, finally realising that Desdemona was innocent, laments his foolishness and
jealousy, and stabs Iago, but only wounds him. Lodovico and his guards come in, arresting
Iago, and giving Cassio the power to rule in Cyprus. They are about to arrest Othello, but he
commits suicide. The play closes with a speech by Lodovico. He gives Othello’s house and
goods to Graziano – Desdemona’s uncle – and orders that Iago be executed.

OTHELLO: KEY CHARACTERS

Othello
The Moor of Venice and a Venetian general. “Moor” in Shakespeare’s time was used to
describe a man of typically Arab or African descent, probably from the Middle East or Africa.
Othello is a good general and loves Desdemona, but prone to insecurity and jealousy, which
ultimately becomes his downfall.

Iago
Othello’s jealous ensign, who, furious at being passed over for the job of lieutenant, resolves
to ruin Othello’s life.

Desdemona
Othello’s wife and the daughter of a Venetian senator, who first is courted by and marries
Othello in secret.

Emilia
Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maid/servant. She is also however Desdemona’s close friend.

Cassio
Othello’s lieutenant. More inexperienced than Iago but noble and loyal.

Roderigo
A rich Venetian gentlemen. Iago’s friend, in love with Desdemona.

Bianca
A woman in love with Cassio – his mistress.

Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, a Senator of Venice, Gratiano, his brother, Lodovico, his
kinsman.

The Duke of Venice and Montano, Governor of Cyprus.