OTHELLO

OTHELLO

• Tragic play by William Shakespeare
• Written approx. on 1603
• Based on Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro"
• (A Moorish Captain)
• Themes: Racism, Love, Jealousy, and betrayal

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

• English Poet, Playwright and actor.
• Famous for his tragic romance "Romeo and Juliet"
• Regarded as the greatest writer in the English language
• Composed a total of 40 plays

CHARACTERS IN OTHELLO

• Othello- general in the Venetian military
• Desdemona- Othello's wife
• Iago- Othello's ensign
• Michael Cassio- Othello's lieutenant
• Emilia- Iago's wife, Desdemona's maidservant

CHARACTERS IN OTHELLO

• Bianca- Cassio's lover
• Brabantio- Venetian senator, Desdemona's father
• Roderigo- dissolute Venetian, in love with Desdemona

CHARACTERS IN OTHELLO

• Gratiano- Brabantio's Brother
• Lodovico- Brabantio's kinsman, Desdemona's cousin
• Montano- Othello's Venetian Predecessor in Cyprus

Synopsis Act 1:
Othello begins in The city of Venice at night. Roderigo was talking to Iago, who was still bitter because he was not chosen as Othello's lieutenant. Iago was aware that Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio, has ran off with Othello.

Iago then enlists Roderigo, who lusts after Desdemona, and awaken Brabantio with screams of the missing daughter. Brabantio ignores it but later got worried after seeing that his daughter was not there. Brabantio panics and calls for people to help search while Iago dissapears so as not to be known that he betrayed his own leader

Synopsis Act 2
As the turks were about to attack Cyprus, a terrible storm raged and refuted their efforts. A messenger arrives and confirms the broken Turkish fleets. Cassio arrived and welcomed an incoming ship with Iago, Emilia, and Desdemona aboard.

Othello then arrives and was happy to see his wife arrived safe and they engaged in public displays of affection. Iago then convinces Roderigo to attack Cassio that night so as to cause mischief for both Cassio and Othello.

Synopsis Act 3
It begins with a clown mincing words with a few musicians and has a little wordplay with Cassio, who bids the clown to go and see if Desdemona will speak with him. Iago enters, and Cassio tells him that he means to speak to Desdemona to clear things up with Othello. Emilia comes out, and bids Cassio to come in and speak with Desdemona about his tarnished reputation

Synopsis Act 4
Othello, believing that Desdemona is unfaithful because she "cheated on him with Cassio", tries not to condemn her harshly. Iago then entices Othello's anger more by hammering false ideas about his wife. Iago then calls Cassio while Othello hides.

Iago then proceeds to talk about Bianca, Cassio's wife, and while Cassio engaging in the conversation, Othello in hif rage, believed that he was talking about Desdemona and finally thought of her as guilty. Othello then thought about killing Desdemona himself, and charges Iago with murdering Cassio.

Ludovico arrives and is welcomed by everybody. When Desdemona talked to him about Cassio, Othello got angry and slapped her in front of everybody. She rushes off, very upset and Ludovico was shocked on how such a nobleman can act so cruelly

Synopsis Act 5
Iago planned Roderigo to kill Cassio. Othello knowing about this, decides to use this mess as a distraction while he kills Desdemona. Iago enters and pretends to know nothing about the fight. Roderigo was still alive, so Iago feigns a quarrel and finishes him off. Bianca comes by, and sees Cassio wounded.

Iago makes some remarks to implicate her; Cassio is carried away, and Roderigo is already dead. Emilia comes in and pins more blame on Bianca. Iago has alot of work to do so he does not get involved in the mess that had happened.