Othello Flashcards
What happens in Act 1 Scene 1?
Roderigo and Iago bitterly discuss Cassio’s promotion. Iago outs himself as a dishonest chap to the audience before the two of them go to Brabantio’s house to tell him about his daughter’s relationship with Othello. He’s not overly impressed.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 2?
Othello and Iago discuss Brabantio’s fury; Othello reckons his status will outweigh his wrongdoing. Othello is called for by the Duke, but an angry Brabantio approaches them. The two have a verbal scrap, which they seek to resolve with help from the Duke.
What happens in Act 1 Scene 3?
We learn of the Turkish attack on Cyprus through a conversation between the Duke and Senators, which is interrupted by Othello and Brabantio bursting in and each telling them about the Desdemona issue. Desdemona is brought in to sort it out- she agrees with Othello and asks to follow him to Cyprus. Iago and Roderigo have a conversation about the situation, in which Iago manipulates Roderigo to put money in his purse by selling all his land.
What happens in Act 2 Scene 1?
Montano and his fellow Cypriots await news on the Turkish situation. It is revealed that a great storm destroyed many of the Turkish ships and forced a retreat. Cassio enters, soon followed by Iago, Desdemona and Emilia- no sight of Othello just yet. Iago playfully mocks Emilia and women in general to a slightly annoyed but amused Desdemona. Cassio courteously takes Desdemona aside for a moment, and Iago directly tells the audience that he will use this to hurt Cassio/Othello. Othello arrives and is greeted by Desdemona. Iago lays out most of his plan to Roderigo.
What happens in Act 2 Scene 2?
A Herald announces that there is to be a great celebration that evening to honour the Turkish defeat and Othello’s recent marriage respectively
What happens in Act 2 Scene 3?
Othello leaves Cassio in charge while he goes to consummate his marriage during the celebration. Iago discusses Desdemona with Cassio and then manipulates him to get drunk despite his initial protests. Roderigo is instructed to provoke the drunk Cassio, which he easily achieves and ends in a fight between Cassio and Montano. Othello comes in and asks what happened, and Iago “reluctantly” tells him. Cassio is fired- he is gutted. Roderigo has spent his money and is getting frustrated, but is easily talked down.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 1?
Cassio has a conversation with a Clown and some musicians- he pays the Clown to fetch Emilia for him. Iago enters and Cassio explains that he wishes to see Emilia so he can talk to Desdemona about getting his position back. Emilia comes in and reassures Cassio that Desdemona is already fighting his corner.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 2?
Othello, Iago and a gentleman walk together. Othello gives Iago some letters to give to the Venetian senate, then tells him to meet him on the fortifications
What happens in Act 3 Scene 3?
Desdemona reassures Cassio that she will help him restore his relationship with Othello. Cassio dashes away as Othello and Iago approach, which Iago comments on before pretending to play it down, therefore planting a seed in Othello’s mind. Desdemona enthusiastically asks Othello to talk about Cassio, which obviously seems quite suspicious. She leaves, and Othello discusses Cassio’s honesty with Iago, who tells him to watch Desdemona closely.
Desdemona and Emilia re-enter to tell Othello to come to dinner. Desdemona offers her handkerchief to help soothe Othello’s head, but he rejects it, dropping it on the floor. They leave, and Emilia picks up the handkerchief, stating that Iago has often asked her to steal it. She wants to make a replica for him, but Iago comes back in and takes it from her instead.
Othello returns and is angry that Iago put this thought into his mind with no proof. Iago tells him that he recently slept in the same bed as Cassio and heard him whispering Desdemona’s name. He also says that he saw Cassio wiping his beard with Desdemona’s handkerchief. Othello gets really angry and vows to kill Desdemona.
What happens in Act 3 Scene 4?
Desdemona asks the Clown where Cassio is and receives only a promise to tell him she was looking for him. She wonders where the handkerchief is, but Emilia doesn’t confess anything. Othello comes in and Desdemona strikes up conversation about Cassio, but he is more interested in seeing the handkerchief for his ‘headache’. Desdemona says that it isn’t lost but she doesn’t have it after Othello tells her that a woman who loses the handkerchief will lose her husband. Desdemona mentions Cassio again, and Othello angrily exits.
Cassio and Iago come in, and Cassio asks Desdemona for an update on his situation- she tells him to be patient because Othello is weirdly angry. Iago promises to investigate this anger and leaves. Emilia wonders if Othello is jealous, but Desdemona has no clue why he would be. They leave, Bianca enters. Cassio gives her the handkerchief.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 1?
Othello and Iago talk about infidelity, and Iago claims that Cassio told him he has slept with Desdemona. Othello has a fit and becomes unconscious. Cassio walks in concerned, but is told to come back and talk to Iago soon. Othello wakes up; Iago suggests that he listen in to his conversation with Cassio.
Iago explains to the audience that he will talk to Cassio about Bianca but pretend otherwise. Cassio laughs with Iago about Bianca’s affection for him, and this drives Othello mad. Bianca then enters and chucks the strawberry handkerchief at Cassio, saying that he has given her another mistress’ handkerchief. She leaves with Cassio following on.
Othello comes out guns blazing, threatening to kill Cassio. They agree that Iago will deal with Cassio while Othello kills Desdemona. Lodovico and Desdemona arrive with the news that the Duke of Venice wants Othello to return home. Desdemona mentions the falling out with Cassio and Othello hits Desdemona; Lodovico is outraged and forces an apology of sorts. Lodovico cannot believe that the unshakeable Othello behaved in that way and Iago tells him to observe Othello closely.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 2?
Emilia tells Othello that she has never seen anything suspicious from Desdemona. Othello interrogates Desdemona about her supposed infidelity, but she maintains that she has no clue what he’s on about. The women lament their confusion to Iago, stating that there must be somebody behind all of this, although they obviously don’t know who.
Roderigo confronts Iago, angry that he has not yet gotten anywhere with Desdemona. Iago weasels out of this by telling him that Cassio has been appointed to replace Othello, and both he and Desdemona are being sent to Mauritania (a lie). He tells Roderigo that he must dispose of Cassio if he wants to keep Desdemona around.
What happens in Act 4 Scene 3?
Othello sends Desdemona to bed and instructs her to dismiss Emilia when she gets there. Desdemona has asked Emilia to lay the bed with her wedding sheets. Desdemona starts to sing a song that she learned from her mother’s maid. They then talk about adultery; Emilia seems to think that if the stakes were high enough she would cheat on Iago. Desdemona cannot comprehend this.
What happens in Act 5 Scene 1?
Iago and Roderigo prepare to attack Cassio. Roderigo cannot do the job, so Iago stabs Cassio in the leg from behind. Othello hears the commotion and goes off to kill his wife. Lodovico and Gratiano enter, but cannot see a thing. Iago enters with a light and uncovers the two injured men, declaring Roderigo as a villain and stabbing him. Bianca enters horrified and concerned for Cassio, but Iago implicates that she may have been involved. Emilia enters and curses Bianca as she (Bianca) is arrested by Iago.
What happens in Act 5 Scene 2?
Othello smothers Desdemona, not even allowing her to live long enough to pray after she began to weep upon hearing the news of Cassio’s death. Emilia enters and Desdemona cries out that she has been murdered, although denies this on her final breath to protect Othello. Othello is proud of his actions, though, and tells Emilia how he learned his wife was false. Emilia declares that Iago was lying and cries murder.
Montano, Gratiano and Iago enter. Gratiano expresses his gratitude that Brabantio was not around to see this
