Introduction to OTHELLO.
Shakespeare’s five-act tragedy Othello, written in 1603–04 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a manuscript transcript. The First Folio of 1623 appears to be based on a Shakespeare revision that remains close to the original practically line by line but substitutes many words and phrases, as if Shakespeare copied it over himself and rewrote. Shakespeare may have known Giambattista Giraldi’s De gli Hecatommithi (1565) in Italian, which he had in French but not in English.
Full Critical Summary
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The play begins when Othello, a heroic black general serving Venice, picks Cassio as his top lieutenant instead of Iago. Iago, jealous of Cassio and Othello’s success, falsely accuses Desdemona and Cassio of a love affair to bring down Othello. Iago executes his plot with Emilia, his wife, and Roderigo, a fellow malcontent, doing his bidding.
Iago convinces Othello that Desdemona gave Cassio her handkerchief as a love gift using a handkerchief Emilia recovered when Othello lost it. Iago also tricks Othello into listening in on a conversation between himself and Cassio regarding Cassio’s mistress, Bianca, but which Othello thinks is about Desdemona. These thin “proofs” verify Othello’s long-held belief that his young white Venetian wife no longer likes him as an older black man. Jealous Othello kills Desdemona. He kills himself after learning from Emilia too late that his wife is innocent, asking to be remembered as someone who “loved not wisely but too well”.
Othello begins in a Venice street where Roderigo, a rich man, and Iago are arguing. Iago has been paid by Roderigo to help him marry Desdemona. Roderigo just learnt that Desdemona married Othello, a general Iago reluctantly ensigns. Iago hates Othello because he promoted Michael Cassio over him as lieutenant.
Iago and Roderigo inform Brabantio that Othello, the Moor, has taken and married Desdemona. Brabanzio collects officers to find Othello after discovering his daughter is missing. To hide his loathing of Othello, Iago leaves Roderigo and rushes back to Othello before Brabanzio sees him.
The duke sends Cassio to Othello’s house to request him assistance in the impending Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Soon after, Brabanzio arrives with Roderigo and others to accuse Othello of witchcraft in taking his daughter. Brabanzio accuses Othello in front of the senate after learning that he is on his way to speak with the duke.
Brabanzio’s scheme fails. Duke and Senate sympathize with Othello. When given the chance to speak, Othello says he won Desdemona with his travel and combat stories, not witchcraft. The duke believes Othello’s explanation, and Desdemona enters to defend her marriage and tell her father she now supports her husband.
Though irritated, Brabanzio lets the senate resume. Duke says Othello must travel to Cyprus to defend against the Turks who are approaching. Desdemona insists on going with her husband, so they leave that night.
Two gentlemen pose on the shore with Cyprus governor Montano the next day. A third individual says the Turkish fleet was sunk in a storm. Cassio, whose ship survived, arrives soon after, followed by a ship bearing Iago, Roderigo, Desdemona, and Emilia, Iago’s wife.
After landing, they see Othello’s ship and go to the harbor. Cassio clasps Desdemona’s hand while waiting for Othello. Iago watches them and says he would use “as little a web as this” hand-holding to trap Cassio (II.i.169).
After greeting his wife, Othello explains that Cyprus will celebrate its freedom from the Turks that evening. Roderigo protests to Iago that he cannot break up Othello’s marriage once everyone leaves. When Desdemona’s “blood is made dull with the act of sport,” she will lose interest in Othello and seek sexual gratification elsewhere, Iago tells Roderigo (II.i.222). Although Iago warns that “elsewhere” may be Cassio.
Iago advises Roderigo to fight Cassio at the party to shame him. Iago tells the audience in a soliloquy that Cassio’s death is the first vital step in his plan to destroy Othello. After getting Cassio drunk, Iago orders Roderigo to fight him that night. Cassio chases Roderigo across the stage, apparently agitated. As Governor Montano holds Cassio down, Cassio stabs him. Iago sends Roderigo to warn the town.
The alarm goes off, and Othello, who left earlier to consummate his marriage, enters to calm the situation. When Othello asks who started the quarrel, Iago acts reluctant to blame Cassio, his “friend” Cassio, but he confesses. Othello dismisses Cassio as lieutenant. Cassio is devastated and tells Iago that his reputation is shattered when everyone else leaves. Cassio may win Othello’s forgiveness through Desdemona, Iago says. Iago says he will frame Cassio and Desdemona as lovers to make Othello jealous in a soliloquy.
Cassio sends musicians to play under Othello’s window to reconcile. Othello sends his clown to dismiss the musicians. Cassio begs the silly peasant who serves Othello to send Emilia to him to meet Desdemona. Iago passes Cassio after the clown leaves and promises to remove Othello so he can converse quietly with Desdemona. Othello, Iago, and a man assess the town’s fortifications.
Desdemona sympathizes with Cassio and swears to do everything she can to help Othello forgive his former lieutenant. Before Cassio leaves, Othello and Iago return. Cassio exits without speaking to Othello, apprehensive. Iago says, “No, sure, I cannot think it, / That he would steal away so guilty-like, / Seeing your coming” (III.iii.37–39) when Othello asks if Cassio just left his wife.
Othello gets unhappy, and Iago suggests Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair to get rid of both. Desdemona’s pleadings to reinstall Cassio as lieutenant make Othello suspect his wife is unfaithful immediately.
Desdemona calls Othello to supper after his conversation with Iago and finds him sick. She offers her handkerchief to wrap around his head, but he finds it “[t]oo little” and drops it (III.iii.291). Emilia takes up the handkerchief at supper with Desdemona and Othello, telling the audience that Iago has always wanted her to steal it.
Iago is thrilled when Emilia gives him the handkerchief, which he hides in Cassio’s room as “evidence” of his affair with Desdemona. Iago states he saw Cassio “wipe his beard” (III.iii.444) with Desdemona’s handkerchief, Othello’s first present to her, as Othello demands “ocular proof” (III.iii.365) that his wife is unfaithful Othello swears to avenge his wife and Cassio, and Iago will help him.
Later that evening, Othello demands Desdemona’s handkerchief, but she says she doesn’t have it and tries to deflect the subject by continuing her suit for Cassio. Othello becomes enraged and leaves. Cassio later appears onstage, curious about the handkerchief he found in his chamber. A prostitute, Bianca, greets him and offers to reproduce the handkerchief’s embroidery.
After Iago manipulates him, Othello becomes enchanted by jealousy and has an epileptic attack. Cassio arrives while he writhes, and Iago tells him to return in a few minutes to discuss. Iago informs Othello about his Cassio meeting after he recovers. Othello is told to conceal and observe Iago question Cassio about his affair with Desdemona.
Cassio laughs and confirms Othello’s suspicions as Iago presses him about Bianca while Othello is away. Bianca then appears with Desdemona’s handkerchief, chastise Cassio for making her imitate the embroidery of a love present given to him by another lady. After Desdemona enters with Lodovico and Lodovico brings Othello a letter from Venice inviting him home and appointing Cassio as his replacement, Othello turns violent, hitting Desdemona and storming out.
Othello calls Desdemona a whore that night. He rejects her and Emilia’s claims of innocence. Iago informs Desdemona that Othello is worried over state concerns. Later that night, Othello ominously tells Desdemona to wait for him in bed and send Emilia away. Roderigo must kill Cassio to keep Desdemona and Othello from departing, Iago tells him. He will have a clear path to love.
Despite Iago’s orders, Roderigo misses Cassio and Cassio wounds him. Iago flees after wounding Cassio. Othello suspects Iago killed Cassio as promised when he hears his cry. Lodovico and Graziano investigate the noise. After entering, Iago pretends to be enraged and kills Cassio’s adversary Roderigo. Cassio is treated for wounds.
Othello prepares to kill his sleeping wife in their bedchamber. Desdemona wakes and begs Othello. Othello stifles her claims of innocence. Emilia announces Roderigo’s death.
Othello feels embarrassed when Emilia reveals Cassio is not dead. Before dying, Desdemona claims she committed suicide after crying out that she was murdered. Emilia asks Othello what happened, and he says he killed Desdemona for her infidelity, which Iago reported.
Montano, Graziano, and Iago enter. Iago tries to suppress Emilia, who sees his deception. Othello first believes Iago revealed the truth, citing the handkerchief. Othello is devastated and cries when Emilia tells him she found and gave Iago the handkerchief. His attempt to kill Iago is thwarted. Iago kills Emilia and flees, but Lodovico and Montano capture him.
They also bring Cassio, who is chairbound from his wound. After wounding Iago, Othello is disarmed. Othello must return to Venice with them to be tried, says Lodovico. After speaking about his legacy, Othello kills himself with a sword he carried. Lodovico’s remarks ends the play. He gives Graziano Othello’s house and goods and orders Iago’s execution.
