Iago manipulates Othello into believing that his wife Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio through lies and deceit involving a handkerchief. Othello, enraged by Iago's tricks, smothers Desdemona to death, only realizing too late that she had been faithful. Iago's scheming is ultimately exposed, leading to arrests, but not before more blood is shed as Iago kills his wife Emilia and Othello commits suicide over his misdeeds.

1. Othello
William Shakespeare
Presented By: Rehan, Saif, Zain Fatima & Masooma
Course: Classical & Renaissance Drama
Department: BS English 6th Sem

2. Content Page
1. Introduction (Author & Play)
2. Characteristics
3. Summary

3. William Shakespeare
23 April (1564-1616)
Stratford, England
John Shakespeare,
Prosperous Tradesman
Stratford Grammar School,
studied Latin
First professional theater
performance, at 11
Left school at 15, to help
his family
Married Anna Hathaway at
19, left for London in 1587
Successful actor,
playwright in 1592
New Place in 1597, now
turned into museum
Shareholder in Globe and
Blackfriars theater
Went back to Stratford
at 46, continue to write
Wrote 37 plays and
154 sonnets
Buried in Holy Trinity
Church

4. Othello
Tale of The Moor, 16th century Italian tale
Tragedy written by Shakespeare probably in 1603
Venice, Cyprus, wars between Venice and Turkey
Revolves around Iago, Othello and Desdemona
Othello secretly marries Desdemona
Othello’s marriage is manipulated by Iago

5. Othello
Iago is Othello’s ensign and is jealous of him
Othello smothers Desdemona with a pillow
Othello kills himself, Iago is taken away
It is one of the non-manipulated plays
Othello’s 1st performance occurred on 1 November
1604, at Whitehall Palace in London

6. Characteristics
 Othello
A general in Venetian army..
 Desdemona
A beautiful girl whom Othello loves..
 Brabantio
Father of Desdemona..
 Roderigo
Lover of Desdemona..

7. Characteristics
 Iago
A very cunning person and antagonist..
 Cassio
Lieutenant in Othello’s army..
 Emilia
Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s friend/maid..
 Duke of Venice
Chief judge and leader of Venice..

8. Characteristics
 Bianca
A prostitute in love with Cassio..
 Montano
Former governor of Cyprus..
 Clown
Servant of Othello..

9. Summary
Roderigo complains to his friend Iago, an ensign, that Iago has not told him
about the recent secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of
Brabantio, a senator, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army.
Roderigo is upset because he loves Desdemona and had asked her father,
Brabantio, for her hand in marriage. Iago hates Othello for promoting a
younger man named Cassio above him, whom Iago considers a less
capable soldier than himself.
Iago tells Roderigo that he plans to exploit Othello for his own advantage
and convinces Roderigo to wake Brabantio and tell him about his
daughter's elopement. Meanwhile, Iago sneaks away to find Othello and
warns him that Brabantio is coming for him.

10. Summary
Brabantio seeks to confront Othello, he finds Othello's residence full of the
Duke of Venice's guards. News has arrived in Venice that the Turks are going
to attack Cyprus, and Othello is therefore summoned to advise the senators.
Brabantio has no option but to accompany Othello to the Duke's
residence, where he accuses Othello of seducing Desdemona
by witchcraft. Othello defends himself before the Duke of Venice,
Brabantio's kinsmen and various senators.
Othello explains that, while he was invited to Brabantio's home,
Desdemona fell on love with him for hos stories he told of his life before
Venice. Desdemona confirms that she loves Othello, but Brabantio leaves,
saying that Desdemona will betray Othello

11. Summary
By order of the Duke, Othello leaves Venice to command the Venetian
armies against invading Turks on the island of Cyprus, accompanied by his
new wife, his new lieutenant Cassio, Iago, and Iago's wife, Emilia, as
Desdemona's attendant.
The party arrives in Cyprus to find that a storm has destroyed the Turkish
fleet. Othello orders a general celebration and leaves to consummate his
marriage with Desdemona. Iago gets Cassio drunk, and then persuades
Roderigo to draw Cassio into a fight.
Montano tries to calm down an angry and drunk Cassio. This leads them
to fighting and Montano gets injured. Othello arrives and questions the
men as to what happened. Othello blames Cassio for the disturbance and
strips him of his rank.

12. Summary
Cassio, is then persuaded by Iago to ask Desdemona to persuade her
husband to reinstate him. Iago persuades Othello to be suspicious of Cassio
and Desdemona's relationship. When Desdemona drops a handkerchief
(the first gift given to her by Othello) , Emilia finds it and gives it to Iago
at his request, unaware of his plans. Othello then being convinced by Iago
of his wife's unfaithfulness, vows for the death of Desdemona and Cassio,
after this he will make Iago his lieutenant.
Iago goads Cassio on to talk about his affair with Bianca, a local
courtesan, but whispers her name so quietly that Othello believes the two
men are talking about Desdemona. Later, Bianca accuses Cassio of giving
her a second-hand gift, received from another lover.

13. Summary
Othello sees this, and Iago convinces him that Cassio received the
handkerchief from Desdemona. Enraged and hurt, Othello resolves to kill his
wife and tells Iago to kill Cassio. Othello proceeds to Desdemona strikes her
in front of visiting Venetian nobles.
Meanwhile, Roderigo complains that he has received no results from Iago
in return for his money and efforts to win Desdemona, but Iago convinces
him to kill Cassio. Roderigo attacks Cassio in the street, him. Iago comes
and cuts Cassio’s leg badly.
In the darkness, he manages to hide his identity, when Lodovico and
Gratiano hear Cassio's cries, Iago joins them. When Cassio identifies
Roderigo as one of his attackers, Iago secretly stabs Roderigo to death and
then accuses Bianca of attack on Cassio.

14. Summary
Othello confronts sleeping Desdemona. She denies being unfaithful, but he
smothers her. Emilia arrives, and Othello accuses Desdemona of adultery.
Emilia calls for help. The former governor Montano arrives with Gratiano
and Iago.
When Othello mentions the handkerchief as proof, Emilia realizes what
Iago has done, and she exposes him. Othello, belatedly realizing
Desdemona's innocence, stabs Iago. In the scuffle, Iago kills his own wife
Emilia and later he refuses to explain his motives.
He vows to remain silent from that moment on. Lodovico apprehends both
Iago and Othello for the murders of Roderigo, Emilia, and Desdemona,
but Othello commits suicide. Lodovico appoints Cassio as Othello's
successor and exhorts him to punish Iago.

15. Summary
Othello confronts sleeping Desdemona. She denies being unfaithful, but he
smothers her. Emilia arrives, and Othello accuses Desdemona of adultery.
Emilia calls for help. The former governor Montano arrives with Gratiano
and Iago.
When Othello mentions the handkerchief as proof, Emilia realizes what
Iago has done, and she exposes him. Othello, belatedly realizing
Desdemona's innocence, stabs Iago. In the scuffle, Iago kills his own wife
Emilia and later he refuses to explain his motives.
He vows to remain silent from that moment on. Lodovico apprehends both
Iago and Othello for the murders of Roderigo, Emilia, and Desdemona,
but Othello commits suicide. Lodovico appoints Cassio as Othello's
successor and exhorts him to punish Iago.

16. That’s it for today.
Any Questions?