the summary of shakespeare's othello by orhero mathais

7/29/2019 The Summary of Shakespeare's Othello by Orhero Mathais

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Department of English and Literary Studies

Delta State University, Abraka

Name: Orhero Mathais Iroro

Course Code: ELS 422

Course Title: Studies in DramaCourse Lecturer: Prof. G.G. Darah

Assignment Question: Write a summary of William

Shakespeare’s Othello in three pages.



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Othello, the Moor of Venice was written by William Shakespeare during the

Renaissance period and it adopts the regular structure and convention of a classical

tragedy. The play opens at a scene where Iago and Roderigo both expose their

malicious tendencies towards Othello, the black Moor. Iago affirms his solidarity

for Roderigo, a young Venetian merchant, and he expresses his feigned loyalty for

Othello. Iago affirms Roderigo that he will surely get his revenge for Othello’s

appointment of Cassio as his lieutenant instead of himself, (Iago), being appointed.

They both hatch a plot that will bring down the glory of the Moor and they start

their plot by conniving together to dispatch Othello’s marriage to Desdemona to

Brabantio, Desdemona’s father who is unaware of the liaison between the love

birds. They approach Brabantio’s house and informs him that a black sheep is on

top his white ewe which is a metaphor for Othello and Desdemona. Brabantio did

not believe at first as he thought they were up to no good until Roderigo challenges

him to look into Desdemona’s room to see if she is there and true to his

convictions, Brabantio notices her absence and with rage, he charges Roderigo to

lead him and his soldiers to the home of Othello and it is at this point that Iago

decides to return so that he may not be found disloyal.

Meanwhile, Othello has married Desdemona and both are planning for their

honeymoon when the Duke of Venice sends messengers to Othello informing him

of the approach of the Turks and almost immediately, Brabantio and his men,

together with Roderigo, approach Othello and try to fight him. Othello calms them

down and requests of the trouble that brings Brabantio. Brabantio accuses Othello

of using charms to lure Desdemona away into marriage and the humble Othello

peacefully requests to be tried according to law and he, afterwards, informs

Brabantio of his duty call by the Duke. Brabantio replies that his matter is much

more important than the pressing matters of the state although he finally takes

Othello to see the Duke. While with the Duke, Brabantio recaps his pains that

Othello has used charms to seduce his daughter, Desdemona, and in defence,

Othello speaks of how he used to visit Brabantio and how he tells his tales of war,

chivalry and adventure and how Desdemona was very much in love with his tales



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that she constantly requested of him to tell them and this, Othello says, made

Desdemona to fall in love with him. He concludes that his stories are his charms

and Desdemona is brought to testify which she does. Brabrantio enters a state of

melancholy as he gives his only daughter to Othello. He says that if perchance he

breeds more daughters, they’ll be tied with a chain. After Brabantio’s issue has

been resolved, the Duke informs Othello about the approach of the Turks(Ottoman

fleets) and Othello heads for Cyprus in a bid to intercept the Turks. Desdemona

pleads to follow Othello and Othello appoints Iago’s wife, Emilia, to attend to

Desdemona.

Meanwhile, Iago and Roderigo hatch a new plot in the background. Roderigo

hampers on his love-feelings for Desdemona and Iago promises to act faster and he

asks Roderigo for more money. Roderigo agrees to sell all his lands in other to

woo Desdemona which Iago promises him of marrying. Iago hatches a conspiracy

plot to oust Cassio and implicate Desdemona and he takes this plot to Cyprus

where he is welcome by Montano. Othello arrives at Cyprus after his ship passed

through some hurdles at sea and he is immediately welcomed by Desdemona and

the others. Othello settles down there in a bid to enjoy his honeymoon. Iago brings

to realization, his plot to oust Cassio by making him drink alcohol. Roderigo,

working with Iago, sets up Cassio by starting a fight and Cassio is immediately

detected and labelled a drunk. Othello hears of the matter and he is much angered

and therefore strips Cassio of his position as lieutenant. Cassio approaches

Desdemona to plead to Othello for him and Iago takes advantage of this to plant a

seed of discord between the couples. Iago makes his wife steal a precious

handkerchief given to Desdemona by Othello as a heirloom from his mother and

this handkerchief is dropped at the home of Cassio. Iago, ironically, is the most

trusted fellow in the house of Othello and when he suggests to Othello that his wife

may be having an affair with Cassio, Othello is quick to see the possibility based

on Iago’s honour. However, he asks Iago to provide a proof of this allegation. This

thought is fuelled up in the mind of Othello by Desdemona’s constant

pressurization of Othello to reinstate the position of Cassio. Iago tells Othello to



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ask Desdemona to provide the handkerchief as he asserts that he saw it with

Cassio. Othello proceeds to ask Desdemona of the handkerchief which she forgot

how it was lost. She cannot account for it and this makes Othello’s suspicion more

potent and his jealousy more powerful. Othello, in a bid to preserve his personal

honour which was a prominent feature of Elizabethan drama, hatches a plot with

Iago in other to murder Cassio and Desdemona.

Othello starts attacking Desdemona verbally and physically and he points

accusing fingers at her. Iago, on the other hand, meets with Roderigo who has sold

all he has and he tells Roderigo to waylay Cassio and murder him as it is the only

way he can get Desdemona. Roderigo does this and the fight between himself and

Cassio becomes brutal. Cassio kills Roderigo and Iago wounds Cassio by striking

his sword at him from the background. The death immediately attracts Gratiano

and Lodovico who are relations to Brabantio. Othello finally asks Emilia to leave

Desdemona and he kills her by asphyxiation with a pillow. Emilia brings the

message of Roderigo’s death to Othello when she finds out that Othello has

murdered Desdemona.

In the final scene, Emilia recounts, in the presence of Montano, Lodovico,

Gratiano, Iago and others, that she was sent by her husband to steal the

handkerchief which stirred Othello’s act of vengeance from Desdemona and

Cassio. Cassio confirms what Emilia has confessed and he exonerates himself and

Desdemona but Iago kills Emilia and runs away. Othello now sees the harm he has

done and the “mistake in his judgement” and having already killed Desdemona in

the process, he kills himself as well as is quite expected of tragic heroes. Cassio

inherits Othello’s properties and Lodovico will return to Venice to recount all that

happened and the play ends.

the summary of shakespeare's othello by orhero mathais

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