Othello by William Shakespeare: Scene Summaries

Othello Intro to the play Shakespeare wrote Othello in the year 1603-1604. It is during this period that Othello company was successful in England, receiving commendations from King James

1. The king honored him by giving him the title, Kings Men.
2. The political situation in England was unstable.
3. This is because the play denotes problems in a family set up, and this is occasioned by the jealousy Othello has towards his wife, Desdemona, and it results to his ruin.
4. It was a stable city in terms of economics, and politics.
5. Othello is a Moore, and this term denotes the Berbers, and the Arab people of North Africa. They conquered and lived in Spain during the medieval period, and despite the fall of Grenada in 1492, some chose to remain, until 1609. It is during these periods, that they had a contact with English men.
6. The whites were a superior race. Branbantio discriminates Othello based on his color, preferring Roderigo as the daughter’s husband instead of Othello. Iago calls him an outsider.
7. It depicts people of the black race as beasts, and according to Iago, Othello portrays the traits of an ape. He calls him barbaric, and animalistic.
8. It lacks comic relief
Shakespeare did not use any subplots in developing the play.
9. Machiavelli was an Italian philosopher, who believed on the principles of not commiting to any person, and only to engage in relations when your interest is at stake. This is portrayed through the character of Iago, who deceives Othello, at the same time pretending to be a loyal servant
10. The play comes from an Italian prose play, by Giovanni Giraldi, known as Cinthio. The play talks about a Moorish general whose wife is unfaithful to him. There are other characters such as Roderigo, and Brabanzio, who help develop his plot.

Act I, Scene1

11. Othello by passed him for the position of a Lieutenant, in the army in favor of Cassio (Shakespeare, 12).
Othello is a moor
Othello slept with his wife Emilia.
12. He is in love with Desdemona, Othello’s wife.
13. It outlines Iago’s feelings against his master.
14. Iagos speech means that he is out to serve his own interest.
15. To set up Othello, against the family of Desdemona.
16. Making the beast with two backs
17. The moor
Barbary Horse
Thick Lips
18. Iago speaks in a vulgar manner, for the purposes of arousing his anger.
Roderigo speaks to him in a lamentful manner, to show loss of Desdemona (Shakespeare, 27).
19. They are able to look for Othello together, in search of Desdemona, and offer’s him her daughter.
20. Othello used witchcraft to seduce her daughter

Act I, Scene 2

21. Roderigo
22. Brabantio, the father of Desdemona is against the marriage.
23. They hold a conversation.
24. A witch
A moor
A thief
An abuser of women
25. Othello reacts calmly, and asks his men to stop the confrontation.
26. Promoting Michael Cassio to the rank of a lieutenant (Shakespear, 25).
Stopping his men from fighting street duel.
He commands an officer to approve his assertions to his father in law.
Sending his men on patrol.

Act I, Scene 3

27. There action is meant to mislead the Venetians in regard to Cyprus, because Cyprus is important to the Turks, as compared to Rhodes. Due to this conflict, the duke is forced to take the side of Othello, in relation to an accusation from Branbanzio, because Othello is the country’s general (Shakespeare, 31).
28. He is a soldier, and not a witch.
29. It began through heroic conquests of Othello, and Desdemona first initiated the relationship.
30. The duke agreed to send him to Cyprus, to fight against the Turks.
31. He uses imagery, and figures of speech.
32. She was to be loyal to her husband, the same way her mother was loyal to him.
34. The honor he had, and his valiance
35.  She loved her husband because of his heroic acts in war, and it is absurd to leave her behind, while he goes to war, since it is the very purpose that she loves him.
36. She would not affect his mind during the cause of his duty, and he will concentrate on the affairs of state, putting to good use his authority and all the instruments in his possession for the purpose of defending Cyprus
37. The parable is about someone taking an action out of his own free will.
38.  He uses it in his reflection of Othello. This is unusual because it portrays some romantic love.
39. By repeatedly telling that people can choose what to be, and he should follow him to Cyprus, for he will get a solution.
40.  He slept with his wife.
41. He was close to Desdemona.

Act II, Scene 1

42. He prays for Othello, and holds Desdemonas hands to show his concern for the husband.
43. She talks too much.
44. Sex
45. He wants to use Cassio, to ruin Othello.
46. Through Cassios action of Holding Desdemonas hands (Shakespeare, 35).
47. He doesn’t believe Iago.
48. He was jealous.
49. Nobody is concerned about him.

Act II, Scene 2

50. To get him drunk, in order to convince him to hit out on Desdemona.
51.  He becomes appreciative of the femine beauty. He admires Desdemona.
52. He is quarrelsome.
53. By saying that he is a soldier fit to stand before Caesar.
54. Cyprus was the colony of Rome.
55. He is religious.
56. He uses sarcasm, thus creating doubt in Othello’s mind.
57. He values honor, and a good reputation.
58. Men value material things, and are not concerned on how they get them.
59. To psychologically torture Othello.

Act III,  Scene 3

60. Yes, it will create suspicion on Othellos minding leading to accusation of adultery, resulting to the death of Othello, and Desdemona.
61. Cassio is her friend.
62. Desdemona pushes for reinstatement of Cassio, while Othello is against it.
63. Insinuating that Cassio ran away from him because of guilt.
64. 4 times, to create suspense on Othello so that he may find more.
65. By planting thoughts of adultery and hypocrisy by Cassio and Desdemona, on Othello’s mind.
66. Delegates the responsibility of monitoring the two to Emily.
67. He tells Othello that Desdemona and Cassio were friends during their courtship. Othello believes it because Cassio was the mediator between him and Desdemona (Shakespeare, 41).
68. Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair.
69. When he asks him for evidence.
70. Desdemona seeks the reinstatement of Cassio.
The action of Cassio to run away upon seeing him.
He vows to revenge against Cassio, and Desdemona.
71. To give it to Iago.
They have a warm relationship.
72. Othello is evading his psychological trap.
73. He promises to give him prove of his wife infidelity.
74. He says that he is loyal to him.
75. He has changed from being a charismatic and loving leader, to a bitter and vengeful man.
76. He accuses his wife of adultery. Iago is unconcerned about the threat.
77. From Cassio. To create suspicion on Othello’s mind.  Why did Iago select the particular details that he chose?
78. The two form an alliance for the distraction of Cassio and Desdemona.
Othello and Iago kneel down, and make an oath.
79. Othello planned to kill Desdemona.

Act III, Scene 4

80. His hatred towards Desdemona and Cassio.
81.  Othello is Jealous, and Desdemona is not an effective liar.
82.  Yes, it was charmed gift passed to him by the mother.
83. He takes the opportunity to talk to Othello, for purposes of controlling his anger (Shakespeare, 54).
He has political problems to solve.
84. She is a prostitute friend of Cassio.
They are easily aroused to jealousy.

Act IV, Scene 1

85.  They are now confidants.
86. Iago tells him that Cassio slept with the wife.
Cassio explains that he has epilepsy. This is to avoid suspicions that he is creating a rift between Othello, and the wife.
87.  He does this by asking Othello to hide, and eaves drop on his communication with Cassio. He manipulates Cassio into explaining his pursuits with Bianca, the prostitute, all along making Othello to think that it is his wife Desdemona.
88.  No, by taking the envelop that belonged to Othello, and insinuating that Desdemona gave it to Cassio, as a token of love.
89. Othello hates her, because of the belief that she is adulterous.
90.  Othello slaps and publicly disgraces his wife.
Goats and monkeys illustrate the alleged adulterous behavior of Desdemona.
91. He creates doubt on the mind of Lodovico, about the character of Othello.

Act IV, Scene 2

92.  To verify if Desdemona is committing adultery.
93. To have a wife who is adulterous.
94. When she asks for a wedding sheet, and seeks the help of Iago into identifying the problems with the husband.
95.  When she told Iago that the person who is poisoning the mind of Othello against Desdemona, is the same person who poisoned his mind by claiming that she had an affair with Othello. The husband calls her a fool.
96.  Roderigo, and Iago manipulates him by telling him that Othello is going to Mauritius with Desdemona (Shakespear, 59).

Act IV, Scene 3

97.  The love Desdemona has towards Othello.
98.  Emilia believes that if a man cheats, then the wife should also cheat.
Desdemona believes that a woman must be faithful to her husband, whether he is faithful or not.
99. Through use of lies.
100. It justifies his actions.
101.Cassio had dinner at her place, and that she runs a brothel.

Act V, Scenes 1 & 2

102. In V1, Roderigo’s motivation is to kill Cassio to win the love of Desdemona, while Iago is motivated by money from Roderigo, and revenge on Othello. The pace of the events is fast, and morally, the character of Iago and Roderigo is demeaning.
In V2, the motivation of Othello is to seek revenge against Desdemona, while Emily’s action arises out of the desire to do good. Desdemona tries to save Othello by confessing that she killed herself, out of love for him, while Lodovic puts Iago on trial, to seek Justice.
Othello kills himself out of love for Desdemona, and to evade disgrace. The pace of the events is fast, creating a vivid picture on the mind of the reader. Their actions symbolize treachery.
103. If Iago wins the battle for Othello’s soul, Othello will kill his wife. This will result to his execution, and ruin. If Othello wins the battle for his soul, he will save his marriage, and execute Iago for treachery.

Works Cited:
Shakespeare, William. Othello the Moor of Venice. Waiheke Island: Floating Press, 2008. Print.
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