Overview:
Othello is the story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his
wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. First performed around 1604, the play is
also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. Read Othello here, with side-by-side No Fear
translations into modern English.
Act 1
Scene 1: Iago and Roderigo tell Brabantio that Othello has married Desdemona so that
Brabantio will go after Othello.
Scene 2: As Brabantio and Roderigo arrive to attack Othello, Othello is called to see the Duke of
Venice. Brabantio decides to talk to the Duke directly about Othello and Desdemona.
Scene 3: Desdemona chooses Othello over her father, which tortures Roderigo. The Duke sends
Othello to defend Cyprus from the Turks, and Desdemona goes with him. Iago thinks Othello
slept with his wife Emilia and vows revenge.
Act 2
Scene 1:The Turks die in a storm, but Othello makes it to Cyprus. Iago plans to frame Cassio by
convincing Roderigo that Cassio wants to sleep with Desdemona.
Scene 2: Othello's herald announces a feast, celebrating Cyprus' safety and Othello's marriage.
Scene 3: Iago gets Cassio drunk, who then stabs Mayor Montano, and Othello fires Cassio. Iago
suggests that Cassio ask for Desdemona's help getting his job back.
Act 3
Scene 1: Emilia tells Cassio that Desdemona is trying to get Othello to rehire him, but Othello is
unsure because of Montano's political influence and popularity in Cyprus.
Scene 2: Othello asks Iago to deliver letters to his ship's captain and give his regards to the
Senate of Venice.
Love2Learn
Othello is the story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his
wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. First performed around 1604, the play is
also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. Read Othello here, with side-by-side No Fear
translations into modern English.
Act 1
Scene 1: Iago and Roderigo tell Brabantio that Othello has married Desdemona so that
Brabantio will go after Othello.
Scene 2: As Brabantio and Roderigo arrive to attack Othello, Othello is called to see the Duke of
Venice. Brabantio decides to talk to the Duke directly about Othello and Desdemona.
Scene 3: Desdemona chooses Othello over her father, which tortures Roderigo. The Duke sends
Othello to defend Cyprus from the Turks, and Desdemona goes with him. Iago thinks Othello
slept with his wife Emilia and vows revenge.
Act 2
Scene 1:The Turks die in a storm, but Othello makes it to Cyprus. Iago plans to frame Cassio by
convincing Roderigo that Cassio wants to sleep with Desdemona.
Scene 2: Othello's herald announces a feast, celebrating Cyprus' safety and Othello's marriage.
Scene 3: Iago gets Cassio drunk, who then stabs Mayor Montano, and Othello fires Cassio. Iago
suggests that Cassio ask for Desdemona's help getting his job back.
Act 3
Scene 1: Emilia tells Cassio that Desdemona is trying to get Othello to rehire him, but Othello is
unsure because of Montano's political influence and popularity in Cyprus.
Scene 2: Othello asks Iago to deliver letters to his ship's captain and give his regards to the
Senate of Venice.
Love2Learn
