TIMELINE

Question 1

Act 1 Scene 1

Answer 1

• the play opens as Iago is telling Roderigo that he hates Othello because Othello has promoted Cassio to be his lieutenant
• Iago tells Roderigo “𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺”
• The two men stand outside Brabantio’s house and shout to wake him up. From the shadows, they tell him about his daughter’s secret marriage to Othello.
• Iago makes Brabantio angry by describing Othello and Desdemona as “𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝘀” and uses other sexual animal imagery.
• Brabantio doesn’t recognise them at first but eventually sees Roderigo and the scene ends with Roderigo offering to help Brabantio find the married couple to “𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿”.

Question 2

Act 1 Scene 2

Answer 2

• Iago appears with Othello and tells him that Roderigo has been spreading foul reports of Othello’s behaviour
• Iago tells Othello that Brabantio knows about his marriage, Othello dismisses this and says”𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗱𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗲”.
• Cassio then arrives with a message from the Duke asking Othello to come to the Senate to talk about the war in Cyprus.
• Just as they are about to leave, Brabantio and Roderigo arrive with soldiers to arrest Othello for bewitching Desdemona.
• When he hears that the Duke has called for Othello, Brabantio allows him to go saying “𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, / 𝗢𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲, / 𝗖𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 ‘𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻”.

Question 3

Act 1 Scene 3

Answer 3

• Brabantio, Othello, Cassio, Iago and Roderigo arrive at the Senate while they are talking about the war.
• Brabantio tells the Duke that Othello has bewitched his daughter saying she is “𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗱”.

• The Duke listens to Othello who explains that she fell in
love with him as he told her stories about his life and that “𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱”

• Desdemona is called for and she tells the Senate she married Othello for love and her duty is now to him rather than her father.
• Desdemona asks to go with Othello to Cyprus and Brabantio warns Othello “𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗲”
• Othello asks Iago to bring his wife Emilia to Cyprus to “𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗻” Desdemona.
• Alone with Roderigo, Iago persuades him to follow them to Cyprus, saying Othello and Desdemona’s love will not last long.
• Alone, Iago tells the audience of his plans to make Othello believe Desdemona is being unfaithful to him with Cassio “𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 / 𝗜𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗸𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆”

Question 4

Act 2 Scene 1

Answer 4

• News is brought to Montano, the Governor of Cyprus, that “𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲” because the Turkish fleet has been badly damaged by storms.
• the messenger announces that Michael Cassio, “𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿, 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼 / 𝗜𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲”
• The next ship to arrive carries Desdemona, Iago and Emilia.
• Cassio describes Desdemona as “𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗲” and greets her very affectionately.
• Observing how close Cassio and Desdemona seem, Iago tells the audience “𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗮 𝘄𝗲𝗯 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝗳𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼”.
• Finally Othello’s ship arrives and he and Desdemona are delighted to be together again.
• Left alone with Roderigo, Iago convinces him that Desdemona is already bored with Othello and has switched her attention to “𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴” Cassio, and that since Cassio is”𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗿”, Roderigo should provoke him into a fight later that evening.
• Alone with the audience, Iago offers more reasons why he hates Othello. Suspects Othello of adultery with Emilia. Believes Cassio, too, has been with Emilia, “𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁-𝗰𝗮𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗼”.

Question 5

Act 2 Scene 2

Answer 5

Othello’s herald announces a party to celebrate the triumph over the Turks and Othello’s marriage to Desdemona.

Question 6

Act 2 Scene 3

Answer 6

• Othello leaves Cassio and Iago in charge of the party and goes to spend time alone with Desdemona.
• Iago convinces Cassio to drink even though Cassio protests he has “𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘂𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴”.
• With Cassio clearly drunk, Iago tells Montano “𝗜 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗶𝗻” and secretly sends Roderigo to provoke Cassio to fight.
• Montano tries to stop the fight but Cassio fights him instead and injures him.
• Othello arrives asking “𝗔𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝘂𝗿𝗸𝘀?” and demands to know what is going on.
• Iago protests that he does not want to speak badly of Cassio, “𝗬𝗲𝘁 𝗜 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵”.
• Hearing of Cassio’s drunkenness and fighting, Othello says “𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼, 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗲, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲”.
• Believing Iago is his friend, Cassio tells him how upset he is, “𝗢, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹”, and that he remembers “𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗹𝘆; 𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗹, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲”
• Iago tells him to ask Desdemona for help in convincing Othello to give him back his job and Cassio agrees saying “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹”.
• Left alone, Iago tells the audience that as Desdemona “𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿” he “𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗲𝗮𝗿 / 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆’𝘀 𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘁”
• Roderigo arrives, complaining that he is bruised from the fight, has no money left and thinks it’s time to go home. Iago assures him the plan is working well.

Question 7

Act 3 Scene 1

Answer 7

• Clown scene - offers comic relief, false sense of security to emphasise tragedy to come, punning discourse serves as a metaphor for misapprehension.
• The morning after the fight, Cassio asks Emilia to help him speak to Desdemona and Iago offers further support.
• Emilia tells Cassio that Desdemona is already speaking up for him to Othello “𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗹𝘆”.
• Cassio still asks Emilia to help him speak “𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲”. (playing straight into Iago’s hands)

Question 8

Act 3 Scene 2

Answer 8

Othello gives Iago letters for the pilot to take to the ship which will carry them to Venice. Othello will go off and inspect the fortifications - reminder of pubic role, shift to private about to happen.

(this scene emphasises power Othello still has to give orders, his downfall begins in next scene)

Question 9

Act 3 Scene 3

Answer 9

• Desdemona reassures Cassio that she will continue to speak to Othello on his behalf. She says”𝗗𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝘂𝗯𝘁, 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲”.
• When Othello and Iago enter, Cassio, despite Desdemona’s invitation to stay, leaves feeling guilty. Iago makes his exit seem suspicious to Othello, “𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝘀𝗼 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁𝘆-𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴”.
• Desdemona begs Othello to make peace with Cassio. Othello claims “𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴”.
• As Desdemona leaves Othello says “𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 / 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗲! 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗜 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁, / 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻”.
• Iago immediately begins to sow seeds of suspicion in Othello’s mind, subtly at first and then more obviously, suggesting that something is going on between Cassio and Desdemona, advising him to “𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝗼𝗯𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼”.
• Iago leaves Othello convinced of his wife’s infidelity, saying “𝗦𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗻𝗲, 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗵𝗲𝗿”.
• When Desdemona comes back with Emilia, Othello complains “𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗱, 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲.”
• As Desdemona tries to help him, Othello pushes the offered handkerchief away, and Desdemona drops it. Othello tells her to leave it.
• Left alone, Emilia picks it up, telling the audience, “𝗠𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗮 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘁”.
• Iago enters, and after he has casually accused her of promiscuity, she tells him about the handkerchief. He snatches it from her, despite Emilia’s protests.
• He tells the audience that he will “𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼’𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝗱𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗽𝗸𝗶𝗻 / 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁”, hoping it will provide further “𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳” of Cassio’s affair with Desdemona.
• Othello returns to see Iago, furious at the idea of his wife with Cassio, saying “𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸.”
• He demands that Iago provide “𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳”.
• Othello cannot be sure what he thinks of Desdemona or Iago - “𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗺𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁. / 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁.”
• Iago winds him up saying “𝗪𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘆𝘀” it would be hard to catch Cassio and Desdemona in the act.
• Iago asks if Othello will accept circumstantial evidence. He pretends he has heard Cassio talking in his sleep about the affair, “In sleep I heard him say, “𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗮, / 𝗟𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀”; / 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻, 𝘀𝗶𝗿, 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗱” then adds that he has seen Cassio using Desdemona’s handkerchief which “𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳𝘀”.
• Othello is convinced and vows a “𝘄𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲”. He asks Iago to kill Cassio, and Iago says it is as good as done but says to Othello “𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲.” (i.e Desdemona)
• Othello plans to kill Desdemona himself - “𝗗𝗮𝗺𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿, 𝗹𝗲𝘄𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘅… 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗱𝗿𝗮𝘄 / 𝗧𝗼 𝗳𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 / 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹”.
• Othello appoints Iago his lieutenant and Iago swears loyalty for ever, ““𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿”.

Question 10

Act 3 Scene 4

Answer 10

• Desdemona asks the Clown to go and find Cassio.
• Desdemona is upset about losing her handkerchief but Emilia pretends she knows nothing about it.
• Desdemona says she would have rather”𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲 / 𝗙𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀” and that the loss of the handkerchief would make Othello jealous if he were a jealous person, “𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿 / 𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 / 𝗔𝘀 𝗷𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 / 𝗧𝗼 𝗽𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝗹𝗹-𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴”

• Othello comes in acting strangely and asks to borrow the handkerchief, telling her “𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗯 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁”
which will bring destruction if it’s lost.

• She tries to make him talk about Cassio but he keeps talking about the handkerchief and asks her if she has lost it, until he walks off and she is left confused
• Iago returns with Cassio and pleads to Desdemona, explaining the hopelessness of his situation. Desdemona regrets that Othello is not in the right mood for her appeals but concludes by saying that she will do all she can “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹; 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 / 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗜 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲”. Hearing Othello was upset, Iago leaves to find him.
• Desdemona thinks affairs of state must have “𝗽𝘂𝗱𝗱𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀”. Emilia thinks he is jealous but Desdemona says ‘”𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲”. Emilia points out that jealous people don’t need a reason “𝗧𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲, / 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗷𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆’𝗿𝗲 𝗷𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀. 𝗜𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 / 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳, 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳”.
• Desdemona and Emilia leave, and Bianca arrives. Cassio gives her the handkerchief, and Bianca assumes he has got it from a new lover. He replies saying “𝗜 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿”, and asks her to copy the design because he likes it and wants it copied before it’s reclaimed.
• Cassio asks Bianca to leave him because he’s waiting to see Othello and it won’t help “𝗧𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗱”.
• Bianca reluctantly agrees to go, she has to live with this treatment.

Question 11

Act 4 Scene 1

Answer 11

• Othello and Iago enter in the middle of a conservation about what is acceptable behaviour in a woman. Iago reminds Othello of the handkerchief and Othello says he had almost forgotten it - but cannot do so.
• Iago continues to torment Othello, first implying, and then stating that he has heard Cassio boast about having had sex with Desdemona “𝗮𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘀… 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝘀𝗲 / 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗯”

• Othello is so disturbed he collapses in an epileptic fit.
“[𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦]”

• While Othello lies in a trance, Iago gloats over this evidence that his plan is working, “𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗼𝗻 / 𝗠𝘆 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸! 𝗧𝗵𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁, / 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝘀, / 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵”.
• Iago asks Cassio to withdraw because Othello’s fits can be violent. He tells Cassio he wants to speak with him on an important matter after Othello has recovered.
• Othello revives and Iago’s question about his head prompts him to think Iago sees him with the horns of a cuckold, “𝗗𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗺𝗲?… 𝗔 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗻’𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁”.
• Iago tells him to hide himself and listen as he talks to Cassio about his affair with Desdemona. Othello agrees and withdraws.
• Iago confides in the audience “𝗡𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗶𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗮”. He knows that Cassio cannot help laughing when he hears of Bianca - and the watching Othello will believe Cassio is talking about Desdemona.
• Cassio enters and Iago jokes with him about his relationship with Bianca. Othello believes they are talking about Desdemona.
• Bianca then arrives angrily returning the handkerchief to Cassio, saying, “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝘅’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻”.
• Othello is convinced by Iago that Cassio was laughing about his affair with Desdemona, that she gave him the handkerchief “𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲” (said by Iago)
• Othello is determined to kill Desdemona that night, saying “𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀” and concludes he will poison her. Iago suggests not to poison her but instead “𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 / 𝗯𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱”. This idea appeals to Othello because it seems like she should die where she sinned.
• Iago asks to deal with Cassio and Othello agrees.
• Just then, Desdemona enters with Lodovico. He brings a letter from Venice telling Othello to travel home and leave Cassio in command of Cyprus. Desdemona tells Lodovico of the rift between him and Cassio while Othello is distracted with the letter.
• Desdemona, in talking to Lodovico about Cassio, feels Othello’s anger and he hits Desdemona and tells her to get out of his sight.
• He tells Lodovico that Desdemona can pretend to do his bidding while going her own way, “𝗦𝗶𝗿, 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗴𝗼 𝗼𝗻 / 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻”
• Othello then leaves, after attempting to regain his composure. Lodovico is shocked at Othello’s behaviour asking “𝗜𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁?”
• Iago implies that he knows but mustn’t say, but suggests that Othello’s behaviour has become increasingly erratic.
• He tells Lodovico to follow Othello and then he will see what state he is in.

Question 12

Act 4 Scene 2

Answer 12

• Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona and Emilia defends her and vows on her own life that Desdemona is honest saying “𝗟𝗮𝘆 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲…𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗳 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲’𝘀 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆”.
• He then dismissed Emilia as if she were a brothel keeper and questions Desdemona herself, calling her “𝗜𝗺𝗽𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁” and “𝗰𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗩𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗲”, and expressing his disgust at her but does not ask her directly about Cassio or the handkerchief.
• Desdemona insists on her Christian beliefs in keeping her body purely for her husband, and says she is his wife and hopes Othello thinks her honest. She says”𝗕𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴” but he refuses to believe her.
• Desdemona asks Emilia to put her wedding sheets on her bed and to fetch Iago.
• Alone, Desdemona reflects on Othello’s treatment of her and wonders what she has done to deserve it.
• Iago seems to comfort Desdemona and wants to know how Othello could have got in this mood. Emilia convinced “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗮𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗸𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗲” but Iago tells her “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗴𝗼 𝘁𝗼”.
• Desdemona asks Iago to help her win Othello back, swearing she has never been unfaithful to him. Iago suggests that “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲”.
• He sends the women away with the promise that “𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹”.
• Roderigo arrives, angry that Iago’s promises to help him win Desdemona have come to nothing, despite all the jewels he has given Iago to give to Desdemona, “𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗸𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿”.
• Roderigo threatens to go to Desdemona and asks for his gifts (which she never received, Iago having kept them) to be returned, and promise to give up his suit. If not, he says he will “𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂” (challenge Iago to a duel)
• Iago tries to calm Roderigo and promises that satisfaction is about to be given.
• Iago convinces Roderigo that in order to stop Othello and Desdemona leaving Cyprus, he must remove Cassio by “𝗸𝗻𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀”. He dares Roderigo be the one to kill Cassio, which will remove Cassio and keep Desdemona in Cyprus.
• Iago explains how he and Roderigo can waylay Cassio this coming night. He says he will give Roderigo compelling reasons to kill Cassio.

Question 13

Act 4 Scene 3

Answer 13

• Emilia helps Desdemona get ready for bed and expresses her concern about Othello’s behaviour “𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗺”.
• Desdemona remains loyal to him, “𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗼 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗺; / 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗯𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀, 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀… 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺”, but cannot get a song out of her head which she heard sung by her mother’s maid “𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗿𝘆” who was in love with a man who went mad, “𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁”.
• Desdemona sings the willow song.
• Desdemona says she cannot believe that any woman would be unfaithful to her husband, “𝗕𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗿𝗲𝘄 𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗳 𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱”.
• Emilia blames men for not understanding that women have feelings just like they do, saying “𝗜 𝗱𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗶𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀’ 𝗳𝗮𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗳 𝘄𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗼 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹”.

Question 14

Act 5 Scene 1

Answer 14

• On a very dark night, Iago leads a reluctant Roderigo to ambush Cassio. Roderigo wants Iago near in case he fails.
• Iago explains to the audience that whoever dies, it will be to his advantage.
• Roderigo tries to attack Cassio but Cassio stabs him.
• Iago, unseen by either, wounds Cassio and leaves.
• Othello enters, believing Iago has carried out his promise to kill Cassio. In his mind, he tells Desdemona that her lover is dead and that he is coming to kill her, “𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱, / 𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁, 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲”.
• Othello goes, not realising Cassio is only wounded.
• Lodovico and Gratiano hear the yelling and decide to fetch help.
• They meet Iago who is horrified at Cassio’s injury “𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?”
• Cassio tells Iago he has been wounded with villains, and believes one of them is nearby.
• Iago secretly finds the injured Roderigo and stabs and kills him. His last words are “𝗢 𝗱𝗮𝗺𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗜𝗮𝗴𝗼! 𝗢 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗴!”
• Iago attends to Cassio’s wound.
• Bianca enters and is distraught at Cassio’s injuries. Iago expresses suspicion that Bianca is involved.
• He identifies the corpse as Roderigo, “𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀, 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗺𝗮𝗻 / 𝗥𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗼?”
• Cassio doesn’t know Roderigo or the cause of the fight. Iago asks Bianca why she looks pale and encourages Lodovico and Gratiano to see Bianca’s behaviour as guilty.
• Emilia enters and Iago tells her what happened. Emilia calls Bianca a whore, which Bianca refutes.
• Iago sends Emilia to tell Othello and Desdemona what has happened. He tells the audience “𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 / 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝘁𝗲”.

Question 15

Act 5 Scene 2

Answer 15

• Desdemona is asleep on her bed. Othello entes, sure that he must kill Desdemona in the name of justice or “𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗲𝗻”. He can scarcely bring himself to do the deed, since Desdemona is so beautiful in her sleep.
• He kisses her and she wakes up.
• He tells her to pray because “𝗜 𝘄𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁”. She is shocked at the talk of killing and prays for mercy.
• She can see that Othello’s eyes are rolling and his whole body is shaking.
• Othello accuses Desdemona of giving the handkerchief to Cassio. She denies this, “𝗡𝗼, 𝗯𝘆 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹” and suggests he asks Cassio.
• He replies that Cassio has already confessed to having an affair with her. Desdemona insists that Cassio will speak for her but Othello tells her that Cassio is dead.
• Desdemona realises that there is no one who can vouch for her innocence, “𝗔𝗹𝗮𝘀, 𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗲”.
• She asks his to banish her rather than kill her, or at least give her time to pray. Othello cannot hold back and smothers her.
• Emilia, outside, calls Othello, but he, not wanting Desdemona to linger in pain, perseveres until she is dead. He veers between shock at the death of Desdemona and putting on an act of calm before Emilia enters.
• He lets Emilia in. She tells him that Cassio killed Roderigo and that Cassio lives. Othello realises that revenge has gone wrong.
• Desdemona recovers briefly, and tells Emilia that no one has killed her but herself, “𝗡𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆. 𝗜 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳. 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹”.
• Othello confesses “𝗧𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗜 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿”, adding “𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿” and “𝗧𝗵𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝘀𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹”.
• Emilia is shocked at her husband’s involvement “𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝘆! 𝗛𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵’𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁” and tells Othello he was lying.
• She yells for help and Montano, Gratiano and Iago rush in.
• Emilia confronts Iago, who admits he told Othello that Desdemona was unfaithful with Cassio and tries to stop her talking, “𝗚𝗼 𝘁𝗼, 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘂𝗲”.
• Emilia says, “𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸: / 𝗠𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝗱”.
• Othello tries to justify himself saying, “𝗧𝗶𝘀 𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗳𝘂𝗹, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝗜𝗮𝗴𝗼 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗱” and says he saw his handkerchief in Cassio’s hand.
• Emilia now knows what happens and promises to tell everything, Iago attacks her, but is restrained.
• Finally, Othello realises the truth and tries to attack Iago, Montano disarms him. Iago stabs Emilia and runs away. Montano runs after him.
• Othello and Emilia are left alone with Desdemona’s body.
• Emilia reminds Othello of Desdemona’s virtue and love. She prays for her own soul and dies.
• Othello says he has reached the end of his life.
• Lodovico, Montano and Cassio come in with Iago as a prisoner.
• Othello wounds Iago and is disarmed.
• Iago says, “𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗜 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱”, refusing to explain.
• They piece together what has happened from letters found in Roderigo’s possession.
• Othello is arrested. Lodovico tells Othello “𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼 𝗿𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝘆𝗽𝗿𝘂𝘀”.
• Othello wants to be remembered with fairness as one who loved too much and was tricked into extreme jealousy. Othello expresses his desire to be recorded as the man who killed a Turk who insulted the state of Venice, and kills himself, dying on Desdemona’s bed and kissing her as he does so.
• Lodovico tells Iago to contemplate the tragic results of his plots.
• Lodovico leaves Gratiano on guard and gives him Othello fortune.
• Cassio is left to deal with Iago, while Lodovico returns to Venice.