5:1

Question 1

What happens in the scenen?

Answer 1

Iago tells Roderigo to wait for Cassio and kill him

Roderigo attempts but fails

Cassio stabs Roderigo instead

Iago wounds Cassio and then exists

Othello hears Iago and runs over to carry out his part as he believes the murder of Cassio has been carried out by
Iago on the order of Othello

Lodovico and Grancino hearing the commotion go to find the noise

Iago enters pretending it’s his first time there

Iago gives Roderigo a fatal wound to kill him in retaliation for stabbing Cassio

Bianca tries to defend herself

At night Iago can be kept hidden while completing the assassination (link to Brabantio)

Roderigo was an unnecessary complication
Iago’s plan has gone ahead smoothly before until this (reputation as an honest man)

Question 2

How does 5:1 link to tragedy?

Answer 2

Roderigo is the only character who was aware of Iago’s true self, with his death this truth also dies

Structurally this is the penultimate science and death is put here to reinforce that this is a tragedy, not a happy ever after

Chaos within the scene represents the chaos in society
Roderigo came to Cyprus for Desdemona and has lost everything because of this

Question 3

How does 5:1 link to masculinity?

Answer 3

Gentlemen but with misogynistic language and behaviour- the women are their possessions

Iago is cowardly which subverts the typical male as he gets Roderigo to carry out his dirty work

Cassio is masculine in 5:1 and he is violent

Adds to the tragedy as pointless- for selfish gain