Summaries Flashcards
Act 1 Scene 1
The play opens on a street in Venice. Roderigo, who has been pushing his advances with Desdemona is talking to Iago. Roderigo is outraged when he is informed that Othello has just eloped with Desdemona and promoted Cassio as his lieutenant. They go and wake up Brabantio outside his house using sexually suggestive and racist language to warn him his daughter has ran away. Brabantio is disgusted with these accusations as Iago hides his identity to stay in Othello’s good graces while Roderigo joins Brabantio with the search party.
Act 1 scene 2
Iago demonstrates his loyalty by warning Othello that an enraged Brabantio is searching for him. However, Cassio arrives with a message from the Duke: Othello is urgently needed due to the aggression of the Turkish fleet. When Brabantio arrives to confront Othello he stands up for himself confidently. Othello is then needed to go to the Duke’s court.
Act 1 Scene 3
When Othello and Brabantio arrive at court Brabantio accuses Othello of drugging and bewitching daughter into marrying hi. Othello responds with an account of how Brabantio invited him to his house, where Desdemona fell in love with him because of his stories. When Desdemona arrives she agrees with Othello and insists to go to Venice with him which upsets Roderigo.
Act 2 Scene 1
The play’s setting moves from Venice to Cyprus, where Cassio has arrived first. A storm has caused delay and there is concerns for Othello’s safety. Desdemona travels with Iago and Emilia, while they wait for Othello, they banter about women’s desires, which give us a clearer idea of Iago’s underlying hostility towards women. Once Iago notices Cassio and Desdemona are friendly he uses this to his advantage as he hatches a plan to use jealousy for revenge. Then Othello arrives and announces that the Turkish fleet has been destroyed by the storm.
Act 2 Scene 2
Othello sends a herald to announce that there will be a celebration to mark the destruction of the Turkish fleet as well as his recent marriage,
Act 2 Scene 3
Iago encourages Cassio to drink, hoping to take advantage of his inability to handle liquor. Cassio easily falls into a trap and ends up in a drunken brawl with Roderigo. Both Montano and Roderigo are injured by Cassio, the incident disturbs Othello’s private time with Desdemona and so he demotes Cassio from his service.
Cassio complains to Iago about his carelessness and Iago encourages him to speak to Desdemona to get his job back. Iago does this to play into his larger strategy of making Othello believe Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.
Iago gives a soliloquy and Roderigo is disappointed once again however Iago reassures him.
Act 3 Scene 1
Cassio hires musicians to play outside Othello’s and Desdemona’s room, presumably in order to cheer up Othello however this only angers him and he pays them to stop. Once the musicians have left, Cassio pays the servant to take a message to Emilia but Iago goes to get her himself and promises to lure Othello away so Cassio can ask for Desdemona’s help.
Act 3 Scene 2
At the citadel in Cyprus Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver for him to a ship bound for Venice. Othello then embarks on a tour of the fortifications.
Act 3 Scene 3
Desdemona is assuring Cassio she’ll help him get his rank back. When Cassio sees Othello and Iago approaching, he leaves in a hurry. In response, Iago begins to feed Othello with jealousy.
When Othello asks Desdemona what she has been doing, she tells him she’s been doing she says she has been talking to a suitor which has a double meaning of a romantic interest and someone who needs something from her. Desdemona then asks Othello to consider listening to Cassio.
Iago continues to feed Othello with jealously and Desdemona drops her handkerchief which Emilia picks up and gives to Iago. Othello is filled with rage and jealousy when Iago is convincing Othello his wife is cheating with him and this makes him swear he will kill Desdemona and Iago promises to kill Cassio
Act 3 Scene 4
Desdemona uses strong determination to try and get Othello to forgive Cassio only for her to be confronted by her handkerchief. Once Othello exits Cassio and Desdemona speculate what has started Othello’s jealousy.
Act 4 Scene 1
Othello’s mind is full with images of Desdemona’s affair with Cassio. Iago offers explicit displays of sexuality to infuriate Othello and sends him into a trance.
After Othello recovers Iago instructs him to hide while Iago and Cassio have a conversation. Othello is mislead to believe it is about Desdemona and becomes enraged.
