“Othello” by William Shakespeare- Notes on Act Five
Act Five, Scene One
● Iago and Roderigo enter, discussing their plan for Roderigo to kill
Cassio. Iago promises to remain near and support Roderigo in this
endeavor.
● In an aside, Iago reveals to the audience that he does not mind if
Roderigo dies in his attempt, as the deaths of both Cassio and Roderigo
can serve Iago’s purpose. This portrays Iago as conniving and
demonstrates his opportunistic habits.
○ “Now, whether he kill Cassio, / Or Cassio him, or each do kill the
other, / Every way makes my gain.”- Iago
○ Iago is indebted to Roderigo (and thus wishes for him to die). Iago
fears that Cassio will convince Othello that there has been no
affair between Cassio and Desdemona, as well as just generally
hates him out of jealousy.
○ “If Cassio do remain / He hath a daily beauty in his life / That
makes me ugly”- Iago
■ Contrast of beauty/ugliness. This reveals Iago’s jealousy,
and how this jealousy has corrupted him into a cruel and
“ugly” man, particularly when compared to the virtue of the
men who are exploited by him.
■ A level of self-awareness from Iago in regards to his
corruption. At other times, he justifies his actions to himself,
but not here.
■ Iago feels triumphant.
■ Aside.
● Cassio enters, and Roderigo attacks him. Cassio retaliates.
Approaching from behind, Iago attacks Cassio, then leaves. It is
important to note that Cassio is not killed by this, merely injured. The
, loud, sudden violent brutality precedes the quiet violence of the final
scene.
○ “[IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, and exit]”
○ Iago’s style of attack connotes betrayal and cowardice.
● Othello enters, and believes (incorrectly) that Iago has succeeded in
killing Cassio, as Iago had promised.
○ “O brave Iago, honest and just, / That hast such noble sense of
thy friend’s wrong.”- Othello
○ Dramatic irony, as Othello believes both that Iago is a noble friend
and that it was Iago who attacked Cassio. Whilst Iago did stab
Cassio in the leg, it was Roderigo, not Iago, who attacked Cassio
in earnest.
● Othello imagines, almost joyfully, telling Desdemona about Cassio’s
death. He plans to find her and kill her now.
○ “And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come. / Forth of my heart
those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; / Thy bed lust-stained with
lust’s blood be spotted. [Exit]”- Othello
○ The personification of destiny heightens the inevitable sense of
foreboding- Desdemona’s death appears imminent. By explaining
her fate as “unblest”, Shakespeare may be referring to Othello’s
own sin as well as the one that he perceives Desdemona as
having committed.
○ There is additional discussion of witchcraft. Desdemona’s
charming innocence has become, in Othello’s eyes, nothing more
than further proof of her transgressions.
○ Othello punctuates his anger with a rhyming couplet before
exiting.
● Iago reappears, carrying a light, and tends to Cassio’s wounds. At this
stage, Cassio is unaware that it is Iago who has injured him. Bianca
enters and attempts to comfort Cassio, but is forced aside by Iago
(dismissing her as a common prostitute). Iago suggests that Bianca was
Act Five, Scene One
● Iago and Roderigo enter, discussing their plan for Roderigo to kill
Cassio. Iago promises to remain near and support Roderigo in this
endeavor.
● In an aside, Iago reveals to the audience that he does not mind if
Roderigo dies in his attempt, as the deaths of both Cassio and Roderigo
can serve Iago’s purpose. This portrays Iago as conniving and
demonstrates his opportunistic habits.
○ “Now, whether he kill Cassio, / Or Cassio him, or each do kill the
other, / Every way makes my gain.”- Iago
○ Iago is indebted to Roderigo (and thus wishes for him to die). Iago
fears that Cassio will convince Othello that there has been no
affair between Cassio and Desdemona, as well as just generally
hates him out of jealousy.
○ “If Cassio do remain / He hath a daily beauty in his life / That
makes me ugly”- Iago
■ Contrast of beauty/ugliness. This reveals Iago’s jealousy,
and how this jealousy has corrupted him into a cruel and
“ugly” man, particularly when compared to the virtue of the
men who are exploited by him.
■ A level of self-awareness from Iago in regards to his
corruption. At other times, he justifies his actions to himself,
but not here.
■ Iago feels triumphant.
■ Aside.
● Cassio enters, and Roderigo attacks him. Cassio retaliates.
Approaching from behind, Iago attacks Cassio, then leaves. It is
important to note that Cassio is not killed by this, merely injured. The
, loud, sudden violent brutality precedes the quiet violence of the final
scene.
○ “[IAGO from behind wounds CASSIO in the leg, and exit]”
○ Iago’s style of attack connotes betrayal and cowardice.
● Othello enters, and believes (incorrectly) that Iago has succeeded in
killing Cassio, as Iago had promised.
○ “O brave Iago, honest and just, / That hast such noble sense of
thy friend’s wrong.”- Othello
○ Dramatic irony, as Othello believes both that Iago is a noble friend
and that it was Iago who attacked Cassio. Whilst Iago did stab
Cassio in the leg, it was Roderigo, not Iago, who attacked Cassio
in earnest.
● Othello imagines, almost joyfully, telling Desdemona about Cassio’s
death. He plans to find her and kill her now.
○ “And your unblest fate hies. Strumpet, I come. / Forth of my heart
those charms, thine eyes, are blotted; / Thy bed lust-stained with
lust’s blood be spotted. [Exit]”- Othello
○ The personification of destiny heightens the inevitable sense of
foreboding- Desdemona’s death appears imminent. By explaining
her fate as “unblest”, Shakespeare may be referring to Othello’s
own sin as well as the one that he perceives Desdemona as
having committed.
○ There is additional discussion of witchcraft. Desdemona’s
charming innocence has become, in Othello’s eyes, nothing more
than further proof of her transgressions.
○ Othello punctuates his anger with a rhyming couplet before
exiting.
● Iago reappears, carrying a light, and tends to Cassio’s wounds. At this
stage, Cassio is unaware that it is Iago who has injured him. Bianca
enters and attempts to comfort Cassio, but is forced aside by Iago
(dismissing her as a common prostitute). Iago suggests that Bianca was
