Othello summary12/29/2023 ![]() ![]() Recognizing the handkerchief as the one she stole for her husband, she is stunned and reveals Iago’s guilt. A horrified Emilia enters, and Othello justifies himself, citing the handkerchief as proof. She awakens, and despite her pleas for life, Othello smothers her with a pillow. In Desdemona’s bedchamber, Othello gazes down at the innocent beauty of his sleeping wife. As she prepares for sleep and fearing Othello’s dark mood, she sings “A Willow Song,” a wistful song taught to her about a maid who was forsaken by her lover. That evening, Othello orders Desdemona to await him alone in bed. ![]() When Desdemona cannot produce the handkerchief, Othello is certain she has been unfaithful and swears an oath of vengeance on his wife and Cassio. Iago tricks his wife, Emilia into stealing the handkerchief, then convinces Othello that Desdemona has given it to Cassio as a love token. Iago’s final “proof” of Desdemona’s infidelity revolves around the loss of a special handkerchief Othello had given her during their courtship. Othello soon becomes obsessively jealous and willing to believe anything he is told about his innocent wife. Then Iago goads Othello into believing that Desdemona is Cassio’s lover. He gets Cassio, whom Othello promoted ahead of Iago, drunk while on duty, thereby prompting Othello to dismiss the dishonored Cassio from his service and make Iago his lieutenant. A storm disperses the Turkish fleet, ending the threat to Cyprus, and Othello is quickly reunited with Desdemona on the island. When Othello is sent from Venice to defend Cyprus from the Turks, Desdemona sails to join him, in the safekeeping of Iago and his wife, Emilia. Iago, however, is not so easily defeated and he soon enlists the help of Roderigo, a rejected suitor of Desdemona, in his future attempts to ruin Othello. Enraged, Brabantio appeals to the duke of Venice to punish Othello but gives up in his efforts when he realizes that Desdemona truly loves her new husband. His first attempt in this villainy is in awakening Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, and telling him of his daughter’s marriage to the black Moor. Partly to be avenged for this slight and partly because of his dark nature, Iago has determined to destroy Othello’s happiness. Iago, a Venetian soldier and ensign, is passed over for promotion by Othello, a Moorish nobleman who has reached the pinnacle of his career: he is general of the Venetian army and has secretly married Desdemona, daughter of an important statesman in Venice.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |