Act I
- We learn that Othello is a racial outsider, yet still a highly respected soldier in Venice.
- Iago’s speech indicates that he is displeased with Cassio’s promotion and is developing a plot to get revenge on Othello. The line indicates his two faced tendancies. Othello, married to Desdemona, holds a place of honor as a general. Iago, one of Othello’s soldiers becomes angry that Othello has passed him up for promotion and develops a complex plan to ruin Othello by starting rumors about Desdemona
- He declares that his daughter was stolen from him by the magic of the Black Moor and has then attack Othello.
- Iago does not go with the Brabantios to Othello’s house. Instead he waits to visit after they left and gives advice to Othello.
- Brabantio is particularly mad because Desdemona is his daughter and he does not want to see her mistreated in any way. He feels that Othello may have used magic to seduce her.
- Othello claims that it was his visits with Brabantio that he first met Desdemona. His tales of daring and heroics eventually won her heart.
- Brabantio suggests that Desdemona must then change her loyalties. He also refused to allow her to stay with him while Othello goes to Cyprus.
- Iago reveals that he believes Othello slept with his wife Emilia
- He plans to tell Othello that Cassio slept with Desdemona, thus causing trouble between the two men to benefit Iago.
Act II
- He implies that Roderigo is being used by Othello and is nothing more than Othello’s slave to do his bidden. He plays upon Roderigo’s insecurities about being of lower class.
- He implies that he should take Cassio’s position
Act III
- He says it to raise suspicion at Desdemona speaking on the behalf of Cassio. He uses this statement to set up a confrontation while allowing himself to seem innocent.
- This statement contrasts with his previous one because in this one he is confessing his loyalty to Othello stating that he would hate to see anything happen to him. He also warns him not to let jealous get the best of him despite his earlier confession of his jealousy and hatred of Othello.
- Othello begins to get very jealous and begins to plot revenge against Desdemona.
- Deep in his mind he begins to doubt Desdemona’s loyalty and her sticking up for Cassio further heightens his fear. He handles the first conflict set up by Iago, with dignity and grace. He carefully disproves the rumors and reaches out to those who know him well to collaborate his story. However, it would seem that like all great men, Othello has a weakness. His is the insecurity he feels in his marriage
- Because she knew Iago’s obsession with Desdemona. She hoped to impress him by having her hankerchief.
- The hankerchief that Emilia picked up of Desdemona’s
- Emilia was jealous of Desdemona because she thought Iago was lustful towards her although she most likely didn’t know all of the plot.
- He asks to have the hankerchief copied. He doesn’t know that it is Desdemona’s
Act IV
- Othello sees Bianca, Cassio’s girlfriend, throw the hankerchief back to Cassio which he reconizes as Desdemona’s
- Emilia holds men in low reguard, she speaks loudly about her distrust of men. In contrast Desdemona is greatly distressed by Othello’s actions and feels betrayed by the poor actions of the men while Emilia accepts it.
V.
23. This statement means that Othello was too obsessed with his passion and jealousy spurned by Desdemona to think clearly about his actions. He made very foolish choices by deciding to not believe his wife over someone who didn’t have his best interests in mind. The killing of Desdemona can be interpreted as Othello’s attempt to save her from sin, but in truth murder is murder. One must wonder if Othello perpetrates the murder truly for Desdemona’s sake or to save his own ego. It is true that Othello isn’t perfect, but no one is. His greatest flaw seems to be his infallible trust in whom he perceived a friend and his deep love for his wife that would not allow him to lose her to another man. “Othello, the Moor of Venice” proves that trust and love can be both virtues and flaws. After the murder of his wife we see immediate regret in Othello, his rage blinded him from the truth . When the rumor was disproven, the agony of realizing his mistakes was more than he could handle. Othello has a realization of what a fool he was. To his credit he learned his lesson and was willing to face the consequences.This gained knowledge made his death meaningful and served as a lesson to others not to follow his path
