Othello
By William Shakespeare
Characters
1. Othello: a general in Venetian army
2. Desdemona: a beautiful girl whom Othello
loves
3. Iago : a very cunning person, the
villain of the story
4. Cassio ; a soldier in Othello s’
army
5. Emilia: the wife of Iago and maid
of Desdemona
6. Montano: the governor of Cypress
7. Barbantio: the father of
Desdemona
Summary
The play starts in a street of Venus
where two men are talking with each other. One is Iago and other is Roderigo. Iago
says that Barbantio s’ daughter Desdemona has eloped with Othello. Othello has
misguided the innocent girl. Iago hates Othello as he has appointed Cassio as
his lieutenant. Now he wants to take revenge from Othello. He is jealous of his
success.
They both go to Barbantio s’ home and
informs him of his daughter s’ elopement with Othello. Barbantio takes this
matter to the duke. Iago here plays double game and he also informs Othello about
Barbantio s’ access to duke. The duke calls for Othello there Othello says that
he has not seduced Desdemona. He has only told her his brave adventures and she
gets impressed. Now they are in love with each other.
Duke also favours Othello as he is a
brave general and also is the need of the hour. So duke legalize their
marriage. Duke further orders Othello to protect and guard the Venetian fleet
from the attack of Turks at Cypress. He also allows Othello to take Desdemona with
him to Cypress. Iago and Roderigo also go with them.
Here Iago consoles Roderigo not to worry
about Desdemona and he will take revenge from Othello. Then Montano the
governor of Cypress informs that Turkish fleet has sunk in the sea due to a
severe hurricane. Now there is no danger of Turkish attack.
Othello appoints Cassio as lieutenant
and Cassio and Desdemona become good friends. Othello has no objection on this.
When they are sure shot that Turkish fleet has been destroyed by the angry
waves of the ocean, they start merry making and dancing. After some time
Othello orders Cassio to handle the situation as he is going to Desdemona s’
room.
After his going, Iago s’ cunning mind
makes a plan. He makes Cassio overdrunk and makes him fight with Montano the
governor of cypress. Othello overhears the fuss from the room and comes there.
He sees Cassio and Montano fighting with each other. Othello first scolds
Cassio for neglecting his duties and crossing his limits and then de ranks him.
Iago is very happy now but his jealousy
does not end here. He goes to Desdemona and tells all the incident how Othello
scolded and de ranked Cassio who does not deserve all this. He requests Desdemona
to make Othello understand that Cassio is a good fellow. Desdemona does not
understand the cunningness of Iago and insists Othello to give Casio his rank
back. Othello agrees to it.
But the jealousy of Iago does not stop
here, he poisons Othello s’ ears that they are unfair relation between Desdemona
and Cassio. Iago plans further, with the help of his wife Emilia he steals the
handkerchief of Desdemona which was given to her by Othello as the gift of
love. Iago very secretly keeps that handkerchief in Cassio s’ room.
He tells Othello that his handkerchief is
with Cassio. Othello goes to Desdemona and asks for Handkerchief which she
fails to produce. Now Othello is sure about Iago s’ information. Iago further
exploits the situation and adds fuel to fire by saying that what will be of
Desdemona.
Iago provokes Roderigo to kill Cassio.
He attacks Cassio but Cassio retaliates and injure Roderigo. When he asks for
help from Iago, he kills him.
Othello hears the cries of Roderigo and
becomes happy that Iago has killed Cassio. Then he goes to Desdemona s’ room
and suffocates her to death. There comes Emilia and reveals the real situation.
Iago escapes from the scene. Later he is arrested and executed. Othello repents
much on his action and at the end he kills himself with his sword.
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