Othello Synopsis.

Act III

• Cassio brings musicians to play outside Othello’s door, leading to a comic scene with the Clown.
• Cassio sends a message to Desdemona’s waiting woman [Emilia].
• Iago arrives and offers to help arrange the conversation.
• Emilia reports that Othello is already leaning toward accepting Cassio back, but Cassio asks to speak to Desdemona.

• Othello sends dispatches home to Venice, then leaves to inspect the fortifications.

• Desdemona reassures Cassio that she will speak for him.
• As Othello and Iago arrive, Cassio leaves.
• Iago remarks on the guilty departure.
• Desdemona pleads Cassio’s case strongly.
• When Othello relents, Desdemona says he has surrendered too easily.
• Othello asks her to leave.
• Iago asks for some information about the early relationship between Othello and Desdemona, and Othello reveals that Cassio often acted as his messenger.
• Iago’s questions and implications provoke Othello.
• Iago continues to manipulate the conversation around Cassio’s appearance of honesty, while refusing to utter any accusation that might contradict that appearance.
• He claims to be protecting Othello’s peace of mind and his own reputation.
• Othello, angered, demands Iago speak, and Iago warns him about the dangers of sexual jealousy [so the suspicion is planted without direct statement] and laments the fate of husbands who re betrayed continuously.
• Othello counters that he would act promptly on suspicion.
• Only now does Iago suggest that Othello watch Cassio and Desdemona with neither trust nor suspicion, then draws Othello’s attention to the deception of Brabantio as evidence of Desdemona’s capabilities.
• Othello insists he’s not disturbed by the conversation and that he does not suspect Desdemona.
• Iago suggests she may act unnaturally, because she has married outside her society, class and colour.
• Iago briefly leaves, but returns to discourage Othello from acting hastily, either to accuse Cassio or to allow him back as lieutenant.
• Othello privately states that he would release his wife forever if she were unfaithful, and he then begins to speak as though he is certain of his suspicions.
• Desdemona returns to remind him of the dinner they have arranged for the Cypriots, and he claims he has a headache but will accept no comfort, and in the exchange her handkerchief falls to the ground.
• As they leave, Emilia enters and picks up the handkerchief, the first gift Desdemona received from Othello and which she agreed to carry always.
• Iago has been asking her to steal it, and she decides to give it to him now.
• She insists he tell her why he wants it, but he sends her away.
• He then reveals in a soliloquy that he plans to hide it in Cassio’s lodging.
• Othello returns, deeply troubled and certain of the infidelity but regretting his “knowledge” of it.
• He announces that he cannot remain a soldier, and then demands that Iago give him visible proof or face torture and death.
• Iago laments the pains he suffers for his honesty.
• Othello reveals that he believes and doubts both Desdemona and Iago.
• Iago wonders whether Othello actually wants to witness her in the act of being unfaithful [the kind of certain proof he seems to be demanding].
• He suggestions that circumstantial evidence may be enough, then lead the conversation toward the handkerchief, which he claims he has seen Cassio using.
• Othello accepts this as proof and leaps into a dark rage, repudiating his love and swearing vengeance.
• Iago pleads for patience, but Othello refuses and swears vengeance, as Iago swears to serve “wronged Othello.”
• Othello orders Cassio’s execution within three days.
• Iago pleads for Desdemona’s life but Othello insists he will find a means to kill her.
• He promotes Iago to lieutenant.

• Desdemona, looking for Cassio, encounters the Clown.
• She sends the Clown to discover where Cassio lives, then asks Emilia where she could have lost the handkerchief.
• She is concerned that, if Othello were in any way a jealous man (something she considers impossible) he would be suspicious of the loss.
• Othello arrives and, after a series of comments that suggest she is either generous or loose, he asks to use the handkerchief he gave her.
• Othello reveals that the handkerchief was given to his mother by an Egyptian sorceress who said it would capture her husband’s [his father’s ] heart as long as she kept it, but if she lost or gave it away, her husband would distrust her.
• He describes the witchcraft use in its weaving, and Desdemona is horrified.
• She says she has not lost it, and Othello demands to see it.
• She tries to change the subject to Cassio, and Othello leaves.
• Cassio and Iago arrive and Iago encourages Cassio to pursue his suit with Desdemona.
• Desdemona, believing she cannot convince Othello because of his anger, agrees to try her best.
• Iago remarks that he has never seen Othello angry, and goes to find him.
• Desdemona and Emilia wonder if some state matter has provoked Othello, but Emilia suspects jealousy.
• The women leave, and Cassio’s lover Bianca arrives.
• He gives Bianca the handkerchief and, answering her suspicions that it comes from a new lover, asks her to copy its embroidery.
• Cassio asks her to leave, because he does not want Othello to see he has a woman.

Act IV

• Iago and Othello use a handkerchief as an analogy for virtue.
• Iago reports that Cassio has spoken publicly about seducing Desdemona, and Othello is provoked to rage; he is barely coherent and demands Cassio be hanged and then required to confess.
• Othello then falls into a trance as Iago gloats.
• Cassio enters while Othello is in his trance/seizure, but Iago sends him away to let Othello recover.
• Iago provokes further anger by talking about how common cuckoldry is in the world.
• He asks Othello to hide nearby until Cassio returns, so that Othello can observe his gestures (but not hear) while Cassio talks about the affair.
• Iago reveals that he actually intends to ask Cassio about Bianca.
• Iago asks him whether he will marry Bianca, and Cassio begins to talk about and demonstrate her seductive behaviour toward him.
• Bianca enters with Desdemona’s handkerchief, which she angrily returns to Cassio, believing him unfaithful.
• She storms off and Cassio follows her.
• Othello laments the contrast of Desdemona’s skills and virtues with her unfaithfulness.
• Othello plans to poison her, but Iago argues she should be strangled in the bed where she betrayed her husband.
• Iago intends to kill Cassio before midnight.
• Lodovico arrives with a message from Venice, and while Othello reads it Desdemona discusses Cassio’s suit with Lodovico, saying she plans to pursue it for her love of Cassio.
• Lodovico reports that the message summons Othello back to Venice and appoints Cassio commander in Cyprus.
• Desdemona is pleased, but Othello, enraged strikes her.
• He refuses to apologize and she leaves.
• Lodovico is startled by the change in Othello, and wonders if his wits are sound.
• Iago tells him to observe for himself.

• Othello questions Emilia about Desdemona’s conversations with Cassio.
• Emilia swears by her soul that Desdemona is honest.
• Othello summons his wife and angrily orders Emilia from the room.
• Othello accuses Desdemona of disloyalty, but she believes he refers to the summons home and denies any involvement.
• Othello, in agony, accuses her of being a whore.
• Desdemona denies any wrongdoing, by her soul.
• Othello, not believing, leaves. Desdemona’s spirit is broken.
• Emilia brings Iago; Desdemona cannot repeat Othello’s charge.
• Emilia suspects that a villain seeking an office has slandered her; Desdemona prays that heaven pardon such a man while Emilia argues he should be hung and sent to hell.
• Iago protests, but Emilia says that exactly this sort of man must have prompted Iago’s jealousy over Emilia and Othello.
• Desdemona pleads with Iago to intervene with Othello.
• Iago claims it is only the summons to Venice that has provoked Othello.
• Roderigo arrives, suspicious that Iago is stringing him along; Iago has bankrupted him by taking jewels to pass to Desdemona.
• Roderigo intends to confront Desdemona and ask for the jewels back, or demand restitution from Iago.
• Iago flatters Roderigo for his forthrightness and intelligence.
• He claims that Othello has been reassigned to Mauritania (putting Desdemona out of reach), but this might be prevented if his successor Cassio were killed.

• Othello orders Desdemona to bed without her attendant.
• Desdemona sends Emilia away, asking that one of the sheets of her wedding bed be her shroud.
• Desdemona, depressed, mourns her lost love.
• She and Emilia discuss adultery; Emilia would do it for the whole world, to advance her husband.
• Desdemona believes that no woman would actually do this, but Emilia disagrees.
• But she also blames men if women stray, because of their neglect, abuse and unfaithfulness.

Act V

• Iago has Roderigo hide in ambush for Cassio.
• Iago will have to repay Roderigo if he lives, and might be exposed by Cassio if he lives.
• Cassio wounds Roderigo.
• Iago maims Cassio with a wound to the leg.
• Othello arrives, then leaves intending to kill Desdemona.
• Lodovico and Gratiano hear the wounded men’s cries for help, but hesitate to enter the dark alley until Iago arrives with a light.
• Cassio identifies Roderigo as a murderer, and Iago kills his accomplice.
• Bianca arrives and Iago suggests she is involved.
• He arranges transportation to a surgeon for Cassio.
• Emilia arrives, and Iago suggests that the quarrel relates to Bianca’s profession of prostitute, which she denies.

• Othello, seeing her sleeping, struggles with his decision to kill Desdemona.
• She wakes and Othello accuses her openly; she disputes the charge but Othello smothers her.
• Emilia arrives, frantic, to report on the fight.
• Desdemona stirs, attracting Emilia’s attention, but she dies without accusing Othello.
• Othello confesses to Emilia and identifies Iago as the course of his information.
• Emilia, stunned, curses Iago, defends Desdemona, and calls Othello “her most filthy bargain”.
• As he threatens her with death, she cries murder.
• When Montano, Gratiano [Desdemona’s uncle] and Iago respond to her cry, Emilia confronts Iago and asks the gentlemen’s leave to speak.
• Gratiano reveals that Brabantio died of grief over the marriage.
• Othello recites the evidence and Emilia realizes what has happened; before she can speak, Iago draws on her, and when she reveals that she gave the handkerchief to Iago, Othello attacks him.
• In the confusion, Montano disarms Othello; Iago stabs Emilia fatally and then escapes.
• Montano orders he be killed on sight.
• Othello finds a second sword and invites Gratiano to kill him.
• Lodovico arrives with Cassio’s litter, and Montano arrives with Iago as his prisoner.
• Othello lashes out and wounds Iago but is disarmed again.
• As the gentlemen try to investigate, Iago refuses to speak further and is threatened with torture; Lodovico, however, reveals letters relating to Cassio’s death found on Roderigo’s body.
• Cassio relates that Iago had confessed to planting the handkerchief and that Roderigo’s letters include evidence about his own dismissal for fighting.
• Lodovico orders Othello to be imprisoned for trial in Venice and appoints Cassio commander in Cyprus.
• Othello pleads for a fair hearing, but then stabs himself and dies kissing Desdemona.
• Lodovico, leaving for Venice, turns Iago over to Cassio for torture and execution.

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