Othello- Plot summary

Question 1

What happened in Act 1, Scene 1?

Answer 1

• Iago explains his hatred of Othello to Roderigo.
• Brabantio is informed of Desdemona and Othello’s relationship.

Question 2

What happened in Act 1, Scene 2?

Answer 2

• Iago manipulates the situation by warning Othello of Brabantio’s soon-to-come arrival.
• We are introduced to the conflict in Cyprus by Cassio.
• Brabantio enters, accused Othello of enchanting Desdemona.
• Othello remains calm, doesn’t retaliate.
• They find out the Duke is in council.

Question 3

What happened in Act 1, Scene 3?

Answer 3

• Enter Duke’s council chamber, talks of war.
• Duke complimentary of Othello, not so much Brabantio.
• Brabantio tells Duke his daughter is ‘stolen’.
• Othello says he is willing to die if Desdemona says she doesn’t love him.
• Duke on Othello’s side after his speech.
• Desdemona says she loves Othello.
• Duke reverts conversation back to the war, Othello has to return to battle and Desdemona wants to go with him.
• Roderigo depressed, loves Desdemona.
• Iago’s soliloquy, we find out his plan.

Question 4

What happened in Act 2, Scene 1?

Answer 4

• In Cyprus, we learn of terrible weather at sea.
• People fearful Othello will not return safely, Cassio praying for his safety.
• Desdemona arrives, greets Cassio.
• Iago expresses misogynist views and plant seeds of Desdemona’s infidelity.
• Othello arrives, Desdemona and him in love.
• Iago tells Roderigo their relationship is futile, Desdemona loves Cassio.

Question 5

What happened in Act 2, Scene 2?

Answer 5

• Herald makes proclamation of the war being over.
• Threat of war is now over.

Question 6

What happened in Act 2, Scene 3?

Answer 6

• Celebration of war being over.
• Iago manipulates Cassio into getting drunk.
• Cassio strikes Roderigo.
• Iago planting seeds, tells Montano that Othello puts too much trust into Cassio.
• Othello fires Cassio, who later confides in Iago.

Question 7

What happened in Act 3, Scene 1?

Answer 7

• Comic interlude of the clown and musicians (Cassio’s desperate attempt at Othello’s wedding).
• Asks for Emelia to communicate with Desdemona.
• Emelia gives him hope, saying Des and Othello have been speaking of him.

Question 8

What happened in Act 3, Scene 2?

Answer 8

• Othello’s headquarters, making military commands.
• Iago abides, false loyalty.

Question 9

What happened in Act 3, Scene 3?

Answer 9

• Othello’s lodgings, Desdemona assuring Cassio she will reinstate him. Emelia ironically saying how concerned Iago is.
• Cassio says Desdemona needs to act quick or Othello will forget his virtues. Des. says she will die before giving up the cause.
• Othello and Iago enter, Cassio instantly leaves, Iago can plant seed.
• Desdemona begging Othello to reinstate Cassio.
• Iago starts planting seeds into Othello’s mind.
• Emelia steals handkerchief, gives it to Iago.
• Othello demands evidence.
• Iago says he heard Cassio in his sleep saying sexually explicit things about Desdemona.
• Says he saw Cassio wiping his beard with the handkerchief.
• Othello wants Cassio dead.

Question 10

What happened in Act 3, Scene 4?

Answer 10

• Another comic interlude with clown, confused conversation with Desdemona about where Cassio is sleeping.
• Desdemona asks Emelia where the handkerchief is.
• Othello states Desdemona’s hand is moist, inferring lust.
• Refers to Desdemona as ‘chuck’.
• Othello asks Des for handkerchief, says she does not know where it is.
• Othello furiously exits.
• Emelia tells Des. about misfortunes men cause,
• Cassio and Iago enter.
• Bianca enters, Cassio has been ignoring her, believes handkerchief is from a mistress.

Question 11

What happened in Act 4, Scene 1?

Answer 11

• Iago continues to torment Othello with vivid descriptions of Desdemona’s alleged affair.
• Othello falls into epileptic fit.
• Cassio enters, Iago tells him to leave.
• Iago plans with Othello for him to hide and Cassio will confess.
• Iago’s sililoquy, will actually question Cassio of Bianca.
• Othello’s fury grows, wants to kill Des.
• Lodovico and Desdemona enter, gives Othello a letter, Cassio will replace Othello.
• Othello strikes Desdemona.
• Iago tells Lodovico that Othello is much changed.

Question 12

What happened in Act 4, Scene 2?

Answer 12

• Othello questioning Emelia about Cassio and Desdemona as though Emelia is a mistress of a brothel and Des is a prostitute.
• Othello telling Desdemona she isn’t loyal.
• Calls Desdemona a whore and a ‘strumpet’.
• Desdemona highlights she is a Christian and wouldn’t.
• Des weeps to Emelia, Othello is changed, Iago reassures Des.
• Roderigo furious with Iago, he has not won over Des.
• Iago tells Roderigo Des and Othello are leaving for Manaturia.
• Roderigo can stop this by killing Cassio.

Question 13

What happened in Act 4, Scene 3?

Answer 13

• Othello walking with Lodovico, orders Desdemona to go to bed.
• Emelia discusses the marriage with Desdemona.
• Talks of maid Barbary- died in love.
• Des sings the willow song- willow is a sign of rejected love.
• Desdemona doesn’t believe women would ever abuse their husbands but Emelia assures her that women have desires like men.

Question 14

What happened in Act 5, Scene 1?

Answer 14

• Outside Bianca’s house, Iago preparing Roderigo to attack Cassio, uncomfortable but Iago is confident.
• Roderigo lunges at Cassio, fails, Cassio wounds Roderigo, Iago wounds Cassio in the leg.
• Othello thinks Cassio is dead from shriek, departs to kill Desdemona.
• Iago kills Roderigo, who realises he betrayed him.
• Lodovico and Gratiano tend to Cassio, Bianca arrives.
• Iago opportunistic, accuses her of plotting against Cassio.

Question 15

What happened in Act 5, Scene 2?

Answer 15

• Desdemona is asleep in bed when Othello enters. Kisses her and wakes her, charges her with infidelity.
• Asks her if she has prayed, symbol of love.
• Othello smothers her, Desdemona loyal until death.
• Emelia comes to tell Othello about the violence.
• Emelia sees Desdemona, brings Iago, Montano and Gratiano.
• Iago, under pressure, admits to accusing Desdemona.
• Emelia discloses truth about handkerchief and Othello in state of despair.
• Iago threatens to kill Emelia.
• Othello unsuccessfully tries to kill Iago.
• Iago kills Emelia.
• Othello kills himself.