OTHELLO
THE MOOR OF VENICE — LITERATURE NOTES
PLOT SUMMARY
Act One — Venice
1. On Othello and Desdemona’s wedding night, Iago and Roderigo plot against
them and wake Brabantio to expose the secret marriage.
2. Brabantio reports Othello to the Duke, who summons Othello.
3. Othello and Brabantio present their cases to the duke; Othello professes his
undying and eternal love for Desdemona.
Othello is sent to Cyprus to deal with the Turkish invasion
Act Two – Cyprus
1. The ships arrive in Cyprus, with Othello and Desdemona being separated by
travelling separately
2. The Turkish fleet is destroyed in a storm.
3. Othello proclaims a day of public celebration and Iago encourages Cassio to
drink. Cassio has a brawl with Montano and Roderigo; he is punished and
demoted.
Act Three
1. Cassio asks Desdemona to convince Othello to reinstate him
2. Desdemona pleads on behalf of Cassio. Iago plants suspicions and doubts in
Othello’s mind of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Desdemona loses her
handkerchief. Othello succumbs to his jealousy and vows to kill Desdemona.
3. Othello and Desdemona fight over the missing handkerchief, Iago plants the
handkerchief in Cassio’s room, who gives it to his mistress to create a copy.
Act Four
1. Lodovico arrives from Venice. Iago torments Othello, Othello then strikes
Desdemona.
2. Othello denounces Desdemona as a whore. Iago persuades Roderigo to murder
Cassio.
3. Othello walks with Lodovico and dismisses Desdemona. Emilia and Desdemona
discuss infidelity.
Act Five
1. Roderigo attacks Cassio, Iago wounds Cassio and kills Roderigo.
2. Othello wakes Desdemona and strangles her. Emilia reveals Iago’s lies. Iago kills
Emilia. Othello wounds Iago and kills himself.
, 3. Cassio is promoted and Iago is punished for his crimes.
THEMES
Jealousy
Quote / Moment Significance / how it supports an argument
She has deceived her Brabantio warns Othello that Desdemona is most
father and may thee likely going to be unfaithful to Othello, which
plants the seed of doubt in his mind about her.
I hate the Moor Shows Iago’s jealousy for Othello and how he
hates him deeply and is jealous of him for many
reasons, this is why he wants to destroy his life
and reputation.
I’ll pour this pestilence Iago plans to corrupt Othello by whispering lies to
into his ear him to corrupt his mind and cause him to feel
jealousy.
O, beware my lord of Iago describing how jealousy is all-consuming and
jealousy, it is the can destroy one’s life.
green-eyed monster
which doth mock the
meat it feeds on
Villain, be sure thou Othello demanding ocular proof from Iago, he is jealous,
prove my love a whore but he does not believe that Desdemona has cheated on
him.
O curse of marriage, Othello suggests that marriage is cursed because
that we can call these it creates the possibility of infidelity. How can we
delicate creatures say that someone is ours if we cannot know or
ours and not their control their sexual appetite and desire.
appetites
Farewell the tranquil Othello finally succumbs to Iago’s manipulation
mind! Farewell and says farewell to any peace he might have felt
content! in his love for now he is all-consumed by his
jealousy. He says that this jealousy will cause him
to lose his honour, his love, his status, his
satisfaction etc. Therefore, it proves that jealousy
is a monster which destroys lives.
This is some minx’s token Bianca experiences jealousy as she confronts Cassio
about the handkerchief. She also experiences jealousy
because she does feel for Cassio, but he clearly does not
care for her.
A horned man’s a Shows how Othello believes that jealousy causes
monster and a beast shame on his identity and how he is so
, overwhelmed with jealousy he is no longer a man,
but rather a monster and a beast.
Ay let her rot, and perish, Othello’s love turns sour and becomes hatred and desire
and be damned tonight to murder Desdemona. Shows how all-consuming love
can be and how it can turn someone into the opposite of
who they are.
Cuckold me? Othello is furious that Desdemona would dare
cheat on him and disrespect him in such a way.
Thy bed, lust-stained, Othello proclaims that the same bed Desdemona
shall with lust’s blood be cheated on him with, will be the bed in which she dies.
spotted
Manipulation & Appearance vs Reality
Quote / Moment Significance / how it supports an argument
I am not what I am Iago explains that he will act as Othello’s right-
hand man but in reality, he will manipulate him
and cause his downfall.
I follow him to serve Iago only follows Othello to betray him later on;
my turn upon him their entire relationship is a façade
I must show out a flag Iago must pretend to show love to Othello even though
and sign of love he hates him “like he hates hell pains”
Put money in thy Iago manipulates Roderigo so that he can
purse continue to abuse him financially and keep him on
a short leash to do his bidding.
Will tenderly be led by Iago states that while Othello is noble, he is far
the nose as asses are too trusting and will be easy to manipulate and
control.
With as little a web as Iago plans to manipulate Cassio with a simple but
this will I ensnare as effective plan.
great a fly as Cassio
Shall make the net Iago explains how he will use Desdemona’s
that shall enmesh goodness and turn it into “pitch” which he will
them all use to bring about everyone’s downfall.
I’ll pour this pestilence Iago plans to corrupt Othello by whispering lies to him to
into his ear corrupt his mind and cause him to feel jealousy.
THE MOOR OF VENICE — LITERATURE NOTES
PLOT SUMMARY
Act One — Venice
1. On Othello and Desdemona’s wedding night, Iago and Roderigo plot against
them and wake Brabantio to expose the secret marriage.
2. Brabantio reports Othello to the Duke, who summons Othello.
3. Othello and Brabantio present their cases to the duke; Othello professes his
undying and eternal love for Desdemona.
Othello is sent to Cyprus to deal with the Turkish invasion
Act Two – Cyprus
1. The ships arrive in Cyprus, with Othello and Desdemona being separated by
travelling separately
2. The Turkish fleet is destroyed in a storm.
3. Othello proclaims a day of public celebration and Iago encourages Cassio to
drink. Cassio has a brawl with Montano and Roderigo; he is punished and
demoted.
Act Three
1. Cassio asks Desdemona to convince Othello to reinstate him
2. Desdemona pleads on behalf of Cassio. Iago plants suspicions and doubts in
Othello’s mind of Desdemona’s unfaithfulness. Desdemona loses her
handkerchief. Othello succumbs to his jealousy and vows to kill Desdemona.
3. Othello and Desdemona fight over the missing handkerchief, Iago plants the
handkerchief in Cassio’s room, who gives it to his mistress to create a copy.
Act Four
1. Lodovico arrives from Venice. Iago torments Othello, Othello then strikes
Desdemona.
2. Othello denounces Desdemona as a whore. Iago persuades Roderigo to murder
Cassio.
3. Othello walks with Lodovico and dismisses Desdemona. Emilia and Desdemona
discuss infidelity.
Act Five
1. Roderigo attacks Cassio, Iago wounds Cassio and kills Roderigo.
2. Othello wakes Desdemona and strangles her. Emilia reveals Iago’s lies. Iago kills
Emilia. Othello wounds Iago and kills himself.
, 3. Cassio is promoted and Iago is punished for his crimes.
THEMES
Jealousy
Quote / Moment Significance / how it supports an argument
She has deceived her Brabantio warns Othello that Desdemona is most
father and may thee likely going to be unfaithful to Othello, which
plants the seed of doubt in his mind about her.
I hate the Moor Shows Iago’s jealousy for Othello and how he
hates him deeply and is jealous of him for many
reasons, this is why he wants to destroy his life
and reputation.
I’ll pour this pestilence Iago plans to corrupt Othello by whispering lies to
into his ear him to corrupt his mind and cause him to feel
jealousy.
O, beware my lord of Iago describing how jealousy is all-consuming and
jealousy, it is the can destroy one’s life.
green-eyed monster
which doth mock the
meat it feeds on
Villain, be sure thou Othello demanding ocular proof from Iago, he is jealous,
prove my love a whore but he does not believe that Desdemona has cheated on
him.
O curse of marriage, Othello suggests that marriage is cursed because
that we can call these it creates the possibility of infidelity. How can we
delicate creatures say that someone is ours if we cannot know or
ours and not their control their sexual appetite and desire.
appetites
Farewell the tranquil Othello finally succumbs to Iago’s manipulation
mind! Farewell and says farewell to any peace he might have felt
content! in his love for now he is all-consumed by his
jealousy. He says that this jealousy will cause him
to lose his honour, his love, his status, his
satisfaction etc. Therefore, it proves that jealousy
is a monster which destroys lives.
This is some minx’s token Bianca experiences jealousy as she confronts Cassio
about the handkerchief. She also experiences jealousy
because she does feel for Cassio, but he clearly does not
care for her.
A horned man’s a Shows how Othello believes that jealousy causes
monster and a beast shame on his identity and how he is so
, overwhelmed with jealousy he is no longer a man,
but rather a monster and a beast.
Ay let her rot, and perish, Othello’s love turns sour and becomes hatred and desire
and be damned tonight to murder Desdemona. Shows how all-consuming love
can be and how it can turn someone into the opposite of
who they are.
Cuckold me? Othello is furious that Desdemona would dare
cheat on him and disrespect him in such a way.
Thy bed, lust-stained, Othello proclaims that the same bed Desdemona
shall with lust’s blood be cheated on him with, will be the bed in which she dies.
spotted
Manipulation & Appearance vs Reality
Quote / Moment Significance / how it supports an argument
I am not what I am Iago explains that he will act as Othello’s right-
hand man but in reality, he will manipulate him
and cause his downfall.
I follow him to serve Iago only follows Othello to betray him later on;
my turn upon him their entire relationship is a façade
I must show out a flag Iago must pretend to show love to Othello even though
and sign of love he hates him “like he hates hell pains”
Put money in thy Iago manipulates Roderigo so that he can
purse continue to abuse him financially and keep him on
a short leash to do his bidding.
Will tenderly be led by Iago states that while Othello is noble, he is far
the nose as asses are too trusting and will be easy to manipulate and
control.
With as little a web as Iago plans to manipulate Cassio with a simple but
this will I ensnare as effective plan.
great a fly as Cassio
Shall make the net Iago explains how he will use Desdemona’s
that shall enmesh goodness and turn it into “pitch” which he will
them all use to bring about everyone’s downfall.
I’ll pour this pestilence Iago plans to corrupt Othello by whispering lies to him to
into his ear corrupt his mind and cause him to feel jealousy.
