OTHELLO SET IN VENICE / CYPRUS

CHARACTERS OTHELLO – MOOR, EXCELLENT MILITARY MAN,OUTSIDER. IAGO- ENSIGN TO OTHELLO. THE VILLIAN

The Main Characters Othello: a Moorish army general in the service of the Duke of Venice Desdemona : Othello's wife, daughter of Brabantio Iago: Othello's ensign (standard-bearer) thought to be a friend of Othello's Emilia: Iago's wife, companion to Desdemona Cassio: Othello's lieutenant Bianca: in love with Cassio Brabantio: A Venetian Senator, father of Desdemona Roderigo: A Venetian gentleman, in love with Desdemona

PLOT OUTLINE:IN VENICE Othello is the head of the armed forces of Venice Iago is jealous because Othello does not promote him to lieutenant. He says he “hates the Moor.” Iago is appointed as “ancient”(ensign), a lower rank he despises. Michael Cassio is Othello’s second in command. He has never fought a battle. Iago has fought in many battles and has the support of many important citizens. Cassio is Othello’s best friend and is not from Venice, two other things that make Iago angry. Desdemona, Brabantio’s daughter, is in love with Othello, and marries him without telling her father Roderigo is jealous because Othello has married Desdemona, the woman he is in love with.

Roderigo and Iago go to Brabantio’s house and yell horrible sexual and racial slurs against Othello Brabantio and his men find Othello and his men at the inn where Othello lives, but Othello will not fight him. We learn that both Othello and Brabantio are summoned to a council of war. Brabantio and Othello go to the Duke to settle their dispute Brabantio is accusing Othello of seducing his daughter by way of drugs and witchcraft Othello says to bring Desdemona and question her. Then they may kill him if they find he has been lying. Othello says he was always welcome at Brabantio’s house and considered him his friend. There he used to tell amazing stories about his travels and adventure.

Desdemona listened to these stories and Othello says that it was his stories that made Desdemona fall in love with him. Desdemona arrives and tells the council that while she loves her father, her loyalty belongs now to Othello, her husband. The Duke and his ruling council need Othello to fight Venice’s wars The council is sympathetic to Brabantio, but it needs Othello’s services more. Brabantio gives his daughter to Othello, but warns him that she may also deceive him some day. Almost everyone heads off to Cyprus to stop the Turkish invasion Roderigo goes in disguise for Iago has a plan to begin the destruction of Othello. In the final speech we learn that Iago also despises Roderigo and is using him for his money.

IN CYPRUS When they arrive, they find that a storm has destroyed the Turkish fleet, and all break out in celebration Iago, who resents Othello for favoring Cassio, takes the opportunity of Othello being away from home to manipulate his superiors and make Othello think that his wife has been unfaithful.. He persuades Roderigo to engage Cassio in a fight, then gets Cassio drunk. When Othello discovers Cassio drunk and in a fight, he strips him of his ranks, and confers them upon Iago After Cassio sobers up a bit, Iago persuades Cassio to try Desdemona as an intermediary on Othello. Iago now works on Othello to make him suspicious of Desdemona and Cassio

As it happens, Cassio is seeing a woman named Bianca. Desdemona drops a handkerchief that was Othello's first gift to her Emilia obtains this for Iago, who has asked her to steal it, having decided to plant it in Cassio's lodgings as evidence of Cassio and Desdemona's affair. After he has planted the handkerchief, Iago tells Othello to hide, and goads Cassio on to talk about his affair with his mistress Bianca, Othello thinks that Cassio is referring to Desdemona Bianca, on discovering the handkerchief, leaves Cassio. Enraged and hurt, Othello decides to kill his wife and orders Iago to kill Cassio. Iago convinces a sexually-frustrated Roderigo to kill Cassio

Roderigo attacks Cassio in the street. They fight. Both are wounded Pretending to help Cassio. Iago secretly stabs Roderigo to stop him talking and accuses Bianca of conspiracy to kill Cassio. In the night, Othello confronts Desdemona, and then kills her, smothering her in bed out of intense jealousy, before Iago's wife, Emilia, arrives. At Emilia's distress Othello tries to explain himself, justifying his actions by way of her affair Emilia calls for help The Governor arrives, with Iago and others, and Emilia begins to explain the situation. When Othello mentions the handkerchief (distinctively embroidered) as proof, Emilia realizes what Iago has done, and she exposes him, just before he kills her. Othello, realizing Desdemona's innocence, attacks Iago but is disarmed. Lodovico, a Venetian nobleman, apprehends both Iago and Othello, but Othello commits suicide.