Othello by William Shakespeare
Name: Jadeja Yoginiba Jagdishsinh
T.Y. B.A. Sem.5
Paper Name : Othello by Williams Shakespeare
Othello by William Shakspeare
( Class assignment )
Summary on Othello
by Shakespeare
Othello Play Summary Othello begins on a street in Venice, in the midst of an argument between Roderigo, a rich man, and Iago. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him win.
Desdemona's hand in marriage. But Roderigo has just learned that Desdemona has married Othello, a general whom Iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. Iago says he hates Othello, who recently passed him over for the position of lieutenant in favor of the inexperienced soldier Michael Cassio. Unseen, Iago and Roderigo cry out to Brabantio that his daughter Desdemona has been stolen by and married to Othello, the Moor. Brabanzio finds that his daughter is indeed missing, and he gathers some officers to find Othello. Not wanting his hatred of Othello to be known, Iago leaves Roderigo and hurries back to Othello before.
Brabanzio sees him. At Othello’s lodgings, Cassio arrives with an urgent message from the duke: Othello’s help is needed in the matter of the imminent Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Not long afterward, Brabanzio arrives with Roderigo and others, and accuses Othello of stealing his daughter by witchcraft.
When he finds out that Othello is on his way to speak with the duke, Brabanzio decides to go along and accuse Othello before the assembled senate.
Brabanzio’s plan backfires. The duke and senate are very sympathetic toward Othello. Given a chance to speak for himself, Othello explains that he wooed and won Desdemona not by witchcraft but with the stories of his adventures in travel and war.
The duke finds Othello’s explanation convincing, and Desdemona herself enters at this point to defend her choice in marriage and to announce to her father that her allegiance is now to her husband. Brabanzio is frustrated but acquiesces and allows the senate meeting to resume. The duke says that Othello must go to Cyprus to aid in the defense against the Turks, who are headed for the island.
Roderigo that as soon as Desdemona’s “blood is made dull with the act of sport,” she will lose interest in Othello and seek sexual satisfaction elsewhere (II.i.222). However, Iago warns that “elsewhere” will likely be with Cassio. Iago counsels Roderigo that he should cast Cassio into disgrace by starting a fight with Cassio at the evening’s revels. In a soliloquy, Iago explains to the audience that eliminating Cassio is the first crucial step in his plan to ruin Othello. That night, Iago gets Cassio drunk and then sends Roderigo to start a fight with him. Apparently provoked by Roderigo, Cassio chases Roderigo across the stage.
Governor Montano attempts to hold Cassio down, and Cassio stabs him. Iago sends Roderigo to raise alarm in the town. The alarm is rung, and Othello, who had left earlier with plans to consummate his marriage, soon arrives to still the commotion. When Othello demands to know who began the fight, Iago feigns reluctance to implicate his “friend” Cassio, but he ultimately tells the whole story.
Othello then strips Cassio of his rank of lieutenant. Cassio is extremely upset, and he laments to Iago, once everyone else has gone, that his reputation has been ruined forever. Iago assures Cassio that he can get back into Othello’s good graces by using Desdemona as an intermediary. In a soliloquy, Iago tells us that he will frame Cassio and Desdemona as lovers to make Othello jealous. In an attempt at reconciliation, Cassio sends some musicians to play beneath Othello’s window. Othello, however, sends his clown to tell the musicians to go away. Hoping to arrange a meeting with Desdemona, Cassio asks the clown, a peasant who serves Othello, to send Emilia to him. After the clown departs, Iago passes by and tells Cassio that he will get Othello out of the way so that Cassio can speak privately with Desdemona. Othello, Iago, and a gentleman go to examine some of the town’s fortifications. Desdemona is quite sympathetic to Cassio’s request and promises that she will do everything she can to make Othello forgive his former lieutenant. As Cassio is about to leave, Othello and Iago return. Feeling uneasy, Cassio leaves without talking to Othello. Othello inquires whether it was Cassio who just parted from his wife, and Iago, beginning to kindle Othello’s fire of jealousy, replies, “No, sure, I cannot think it, That he would steal away so guilty-like, / Seeing your coming” .
take vengeance on his wife and on Cassio, and Iago vows that he will help him. When Othello sees Desdemona later that evening, he demands the handkerchief of her, but she tells him that she does not have it with her and attempts to change the subject by continuing her suit on Cassio’s behalf.
( Home assignment )
Character of Othello
Othello's major Characters
# Othello:
Othello is the hero of the play. He is a soldier and a leader in the Venetian army. People respect him for his bravery and skills. Othello loves his wife, Desdemona, very much. But he has some doubts about himself because he is older, a soldier, and of a different race than most people around him. His trusting nature makes it easy for Iago to trick him and make him jealous.
# Desdemona
Desdemona is a young woman from Venice and the daughter of a senator named Brabantio. She secretly marries Othello because she loves him. Desdemona is kind, loving, and brave. Even when Othello wrongly accuses her of being unfaithful, she remains loyal to him.
# Iago
Iago is Othello’s assistant and the villain of the story. He hates Othello because he was not promoted and wants to ruin his life. Iago is very good at lying and tricking people. He causes most of the problems in the play by making Othello believe Desdemona is cheating on him.
# Cassio:
Cassio is Othello’s young officer. He is honest and respects Othello. But after a drunken fight, Cassio loses his position. Iago uses this situation to make Othello think Cassio is in love with Desdemona.
# Emilia :
Emilia is Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maid. She is smart and practical. Emilia loves Desdemona and helps her, but she doesn’t trust her own husband, Iago. She reveals Iago’s lies at the end of the play
# Roderigo:
Roderigo is a rich man who loves Desdemona. Iago uses Roderigo to carry out his plans. Roderigo believes Iago will help him win Desdemona’s love, but Iago betrays him
# Bianca :
Bianca is a woman who loves Cassio. She appears in the play to show another side of love—one that is not returned.
Othello's minor character
# Brabantio:
Brabantio is Desdemona’s father. He is angry when he finds out that Othello married Desdemona secretly.
# The Duke of Venice:
The Duke is an important leader in Venice. He respects Othello and tries to keep peace between Othello and Brabantio.
# Montano:
Montano is the governor of Cyprus before Othello. He is a calm and wise leader.
# The Clown:
The Clown is Othello’s servant. He appears in short scenes to make jokes and give a break from the serious story.
Eassy
About the Author
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.He is often called England's national poet and the"Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations,consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Introduction
Othello is a play written by William Shakespeare. It is a tragedy, which means it tells a sad and serious story. Shakespeare wrote it in the years 1603–1604, and it was first published in 1622 in a small book called a "quarto." This version was based on a copy of Shakespeare’s original writing. A second version of the play was published in 1623 in a collection of Shakespeare’s works called the First Folio. This version seems to have been revised by Shakespeare himself. It is almost the same as the earlier version but has some small changes in words and phrases, as if Shakespeare was rethinking and rewriting it as he went. The story of Othello is based on a tale from an Italian book called De gli Hecatommithi by Giambattista Giraldi, written in 1565. Shakespeare likely read the story in its original Italian, even though it was also available in French. At that time, it had not been translated into English.
Detailed, explanation of Othello
Act I: The Conflict Begins The play opens in Venice with a heated discussion between Roderigo, a wealthy man, and Iago, a soldier. Roderigo has been paying Iago to help him win Desdemona’s love. Roderigo is heartbroken because Desdemona, the woman he loves, has married Othello, a respected general. Meanwhile, Iago reveals his hatred for Othello because he was passed over for a promotion, which was given to Michael Cassio, a less experienced soldier. To take revenge, Iago devises a plan to manipulate those around him. Iago and Roderigo inform Desdemona's father, Brabantio, about her secret marriage to Othello, hoping to create chaos. Brabantio accuses Othello of using magic to win Desdemona’s love, but Othello defends himself, explaining that their love is genuine. The Duke of Venice sides with Othello, and Desdemona confirms her love for him.
Act II: Manipulation in Cyprus The scene shifts to Cyprus, where Othello is sent to defend the island against the Turks. (Island from the Turks" means protecting the island of Cyprus from an attack by the Turks. In the play Othello, the Ottoman Turks are the enemies planning to invade Cyprus, and Othello is sent there to defend it.)The Turkish fleet (Fleet" means a group of ships.)is destroyed in a storm(A strong storm sinks the Turkish ships, so they can’t attack Cyprus.), but Iago continues his scheme. During a celebration,That night, Iago gets Cassio drunk and incites a fight between him and Roderigo. When Cassio injures Montano ,Othello, disappointed in Cassio, strips him of his position. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona’s help in restoring his reputation, planting the seeds of suspicion. Iago begins to hint to Othello that Desdemona’s kindness toward Cassio might be more than friendship.
Act III: Seeds of Jealousy Iago tricks Othello by saying that Desdemona might be cheating on him. He uses her kindness to Cassio as fake “proof.” Iago takes Desdemona’s special handkerchief and puts it in Cassio’s room to make it look like she gave it to him. Othello, jealous and upset, asks for proof. Iago lies and says it’s true. Othello, heartbroken and angry, plans to take revenge.
Act IV: The Tragic Plan Unfolds Othello’s jealousy consumes him. He confronts Desdemona, who continues to deny any wrongdoing. Othello misinterprets her innocence as further evidence of her guilt. Meanwhile, Iago manipulates Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio, hoping to eliminate all obstacles. Roderigo attacks Cassio but fails, and Iago wounds Cassio to make it look like he was trying to help. Othello, still convinced of Desdemona’s betrayal, plans to kill her.
Act V: The Tragic Climax In their bedroom, Othello accuses Desdemona of cheating one final time. Despite her pleas and protests of innocence, Othello smothers her. Emilia, Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s maid, enters and exposes Iago’s lies. She reveals that Iago stole the handkerchief and used it to frame Desdemona. Realizing the truth, Othello is overcome with grief and guilt. He admits his crime, bids farewell, and takes his own life. Iago is arrested but remains silent about his motives.
