Othello: Act summaries
Act One
Othello, a Moor and respected general in the venetian army, secretly marries Desdemona,
daughter of senator Brabantio. Brabantio is informed of the marriage by Roderigo, who had
hopes of marrying Desdemona himself. Brabantio is furious. He makes his way to the senate
and accuses Othello of bewitching his daughter. These accusations are proved false when
the newlyweds arrive and tell of how they fell in love. The Duke of Venice tries to reconcile
Brabantio to his Daughter’s marriage, but in his anger, he disowns his daughter. The senate
then sends Othello to Cyprus to defend it from an imminent Turkish invasion. Desdemona
accompanies him, as does Iago and his wife Emilia. Iago is bitter and jealous as young Cassio
got the promotion to lieutenant instead of him. This prompts Iago to seek revenge on Cassio
and Othello, a plan that begun with him making Roderigo tell Brabantio of Othello and
Desdemona’s marriage.
Act Two
The setting moves from Venice to Cyprus. The threat of a Turkish invasion disappears as the
fleet was destroyed in a storm, meaning the focus of the tension moves to the characters
themselves. There is a night of festivities to celebrate the destruction of the Turkish fleet
and Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. However, a threat to the couple’s happiness is
emerging in the from of Iago. He has persuaded Roderigo to follow Desdemona to Cyprus,
under the false promise that he will help him woo her. Iago manipulates Roderigo in to
thinking that Cassio is his true rival for Desdemona’s affections, goading him into challenging
Cassio to a fight. The fight ensues, Cassio is disgraced and Othello dismisses him from his
post. Iago tells a distraught Cassio that his best way of winning back Othello’s favour is
through Desdemona. Iago is laying the foundations for the next phase of his plan- to
convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.
Act Three
Over the course of Act Three, Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona has committed
adultery with Cassio. He contrives ‘proof’ of this using Desdemona’s dropped handkerchief,
claiming he found it in Cassio’s bedchamber. At first, Othello is reluctant to believe his wife
is unchaste, but he is soon convinced after a series of sly insinuations by Iago. He vows to
seek revenge on Cassio and Desdemona by killing them. Iago, playing the role of loyal friend,
promises to help. Othello then questions Desdemona about the handkerchief, frightening
her. Yet, she continues to plead for Cassio, unaware she is only exacerbating Othello’s
jealousy. Cassio finds the handkerchief and gives it to his mistress, Bianca, unaware of
whose it is and the weight it holds.
Act Four
Iago continues tormenting Othello with insinuations of Desdemona and Cassio having sex.
Othello becomes so overwhelmed he falls down in a fit. Iago creates another opportunity to
prove Desdemona a whore. He persuades Othello to hide and observe his and Cassio’s
conversation. Iago manipulates the conversation, making it appear to the hidden Othello
that he is laughing about adultery with Desdemona. Bianca returns the handkerchief to
Act One
Othello, a Moor and respected general in the venetian army, secretly marries Desdemona,
daughter of senator Brabantio. Brabantio is informed of the marriage by Roderigo, who had
hopes of marrying Desdemona himself. Brabantio is furious. He makes his way to the senate
and accuses Othello of bewitching his daughter. These accusations are proved false when
the newlyweds arrive and tell of how they fell in love. The Duke of Venice tries to reconcile
Brabantio to his Daughter’s marriage, but in his anger, he disowns his daughter. The senate
then sends Othello to Cyprus to defend it from an imminent Turkish invasion. Desdemona
accompanies him, as does Iago and his wife Emilia. Iago is bitter and jealous as young Cassio
got the promotion to lieutenant instead of him. This prompts Iago to seek revenge on Cassio
and Othello, a plan that begun with him making Roderigo tell Brabantio of Othello and
Desdemona’s marriage.
Act Two
The setting moves from Venice to Cyprus. The threat of a Turkish invasion disappears as the
fleet was destroyed in a storm, meaning the focus of the tension moves to the characters
themselves. There is a night of festivities to celebrate the destruction of the Turkish fleet
and Othello and Desdemona’s marriage. However, a threat to the couple’s happiness is
emerging in the from of Iago. He has persuaded Roderigo to follow Desdemona to Cyprus,
under the false promise that he will help him woo her. Iago manipulates Roderigo in to
thinking that Cassio is his true rival for Desdemona’s affections, goading him into challenging
Cassio to a fight. The fight ensues, Cassio is disgraced and Othello dismisses him from his
post. Iago tells a distraught Cassio that his best way of winning back Othello’s favour is
through Desdemona. Iago is laying the foundations for the next phase of his plan- to
convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are having an affair.
Act Three
Over the course of Act Three, Iago persuades Othello that Desdemona has committed
adultery with Cassio. He contrives ‘proof’ of this using Desdemona’s dropped handkerchief,
claiming he found it in Cassio’s bedchamber. At first, Othello is reluctant to believe his wife
is unchaste, but he is soon convinced after a series of sly insinuations by Iago. He vows to
seek revenge on Cassio and Desdemona by killing them. Iago, playing the role of loyal friend,
promises to help. Othello then questions Desdemona about the handkerchief, frightening
her. Yet, she continues to plead for Cassio, unaware she is only exacerbating Othello’s
jealousy. Cassio finds the handkerchief and gives it to his mistress, Bianca, unaware of
whose it is and the weight it holds.
Act Four
Iago continues tormenting Othello with insinuations of Desdemona and Cassio having sex.
Othello becomes so overwhelmed he falls down in a fit. Iago creates another opportunity to
prove Desdemona a whore. He persuades Othello to hide and observe his and Cassio’s
conversation. Iago manipulates the conversation, making it appear to the hidden Othello
that he is laughing about adultery with Desdemona. Bianca returns the handkerchief to
