Summary Detailed timeline of Othello

Act One, Scene One  At the start it is unknown who
Iago and Roderigo is arguing about, which
 Roderigo frustrated with Iago as feels cheated starts the play with audience in confusion
as he paid Iago to secure a marriage between and conflict.
him and Desdemona, she instead ends up o Othello then described by
marrying Othello a ‘Moor’. Roderigo with “thick lips”.
 Iago also expresses anger at Othello for giving  Iago states that he only follows Othello for
the promotion to Lieutenant to Cassio. money “serve my turn upon him” and “not
 Iago and Roderigo go to Brabantio to tell him of what I am”.
Desdemona’s elopement, at first, he thinks o Iago shows his incapability to
Roderigo is just trying to woo Desdemona but understand love and he describes
after checking for Desdemona in bed, realises men that do so as “honest knaves”
they were correct and asks to be led to who fail to look after their own
Desdemona and Othello. interests.
o Iago uses crude descriptions of
Othello “tupping your white ewe”.
o Full of Dramatic Irony as Iago
shows who is straight away but
Roderigo overlooks this, and the
audience has the scene set to
watch Iago’s manipulation unfold.
However, Brabantio says to Iago
“Thou art a villain”.
o Physical conflict of the invasion of
Cyprus, but mental conflict of deception of Iago to Roderigo and Othello marrying
Desdemona secretly. Jealousy also making an early entrance as Iago jealous of
Cassio’s promotion and Roderigo jealous of Othello.


Act One, Scene Two.
o Iago deception evident in his fake
 Iago talks of the insulting wat Roderigo and
concern for Othello “Against
Brabantio talked about Othello.
your honour” when discussing
 Othello and his men called to the Venetian
Iago’s previous conversation.
council on urgent military business.
 Othello assures the audience of his love
 On the way there approached by Brabantio and
for Desdemona and he’s not what he’s
his men with swords and accuses Othello of
been painted out to be “But I love the
bewitching Desdemona.
gentle Desdemona” and beliefs his title
 Othello not worried as has high social standing
would protect him “parts…title, and…
and reassures all his love for Desdemona.
perfect soul” “manifest me rightly”.
 Brabantio accuses Othello of enchanting
Desdemona “thou hast enchanted her”.

, Act One, Scene Three.  Despite the war and disgrace over their
marriage Othello and Desdemona are
 The Senate discusses the war with the Turks but still very much in love and wish not to
when Othello and Brabantio became a trial on be parted, she says did love the Moor
Othello’s relationship as Brabantio determined to live with him”.
Desdemona was bewitched and not “half the  Othello states Desdemona “loved me
wooer”. for the dangers I had passed/ And I
 Desdemona recalls how she fell in love with her loved her that she did pity them”
husband fairly and wishes to accompany him to Desdemona fell in love with Othello’s
Cyprus, Brabantio warns Othello of Desdemona’s exoticness and Othello Desdemona’s
betrayal but Othello states he trusts his wife with Venetian sympathetic powers. They fell
“faith”. in love with the idea of each other.
 Contextual- Renaissance Venice known
 Roderigo wants to drown himself after he feels cosmopolitan atmosphere, rigid
he can’t win Desdemona, Iago convinces him he hierarchal society, Venetians known to
still has a chance. provide sexual pleasure alongside
 Scene ends with Iago soliloquy where he admits hospitality and religious zeal.
he is manipulating Roderigo “for my sport and  Desdemona being placed in Iago care is
profit”, Iago then decides that he will be able to ironic and can be seen as one of the
manipulate Othello’s good and honest nature by catalysts to her downfall.
creating a plot that Cassio and Desdemona are  Brabantio tells Othello to “use
having an affair. Desdemona well” – which hints at the
Dramatic irony as Othello will be the
end of Desdemona.
 Iago refers to “Hell and night Must
bring this monstrous birth to the worlds light” Devil imagery around Iago.

 Turkish fleet removed by Shakespeare
as Othello’s marriage and jealousy
Act Two, Scene one.
now needs to become the centre of
 Montano eagerly awaits Othello’s arrival in Cyprus, the play and Montano’s concern over
whilst the Venetians defeat the Turkish fleet during Othello shows the high esteem Othello
the storm. is thought of.
 Emilia and Desdemona arrive in Cyprus and anxiously  Characters isolated in Venice.
await Othello’s arrival, nervously Desdemona makes  Othello’s appearance calms fears,
small talk one of which Iago expresses how he sees however, the audiences are not
women as talkative and deceitful, Cassio apologises calmed as they see the unravelling of
for his behaviour and touches Desdemona in a Iago’s plot through asides and
friendly manner. soliloquys.
 Iago states in an aside that he will use Cassio’s  Iago’s misogynistic comments shows
gallantry against him. his true character seeping in to his
 Othello and Desdemona greet each other lovingly as every day everyday persona.
Iago states in an another aside that he will put the Alongside, his misogynist comments
couple at odds. giving him a honest façade that will
 Iago manipulates Roderigo to help him by suggesting later help him to manipulate Othello.
that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, so  Iago demonstrates personal and
agrees to provoke Cassio later that evening. professional jealousy around Othello
 Iago left along on stage goes over his hatred of
Othello’s “constant, loving, noble nature” and then
goes over his wish to revenge on Othello.