59 Rendering 5 The Story of Othello

Othello is a tragedy about the power of jealousy. Shakespeare wrote it in 1604. The action takes place in the late 1400s in Cyprus which was conquered bу Venice.

Othello is a Moor who was stolen from his home when he was a child. When the story begins, Othello is a well respected soldier who has risen to the rank of General in the Venetian Army. He has been sent to govern the island of Cyprus. Othello's wife Desdemona is a beautiful Venetian lady who defied her father in order to marry Othello. They are passionately in love. The other important characters are the villainous Iago, his wife Emilia, and Cassio, one of Othello's soldiers.

Iago is an ambitious, evil man who believes he deserves to be Othello's lieutenant (second in command). Instead, Othello gives the job to Cassio. Iago pretends to be a loyal friend, but secretly he despises Othello. Iago gets into motion a plot to bring down both Cassio and Othello.

It so happens that in celebration of their victorious battle against the Turks, the soldiers enjoy a huge party where the wine flows freely. Iago knows that Cassio gets drunk easily, and he arranges for him to have more wine than he can handle. Iago then sends a soldier to pick a fight with Cassio. When Othello runs in to stop the violence, Iago blames the chaos on Cassio. Othello is furious with Cassio and dismisses him saying, "You are no longer my lieutenant." Iago has accomplished the first step of his plan.

The next day Iago tells Cassio he should go plead his case with Desdemona and she will ask Othello to forgive him. Othello enters the hall just as Cassio leaves Desdemona after talking to her. Othello sees them together and Iago gives him to understand that there was something roman­tic about the encounter. Othello is driven into a jealous rage.

Then Desdemona sees her husband, the first thing she does is innocently beg Othello to forgive Cassio. Othello's jealousy steadily increases. Desdemona sees that Othello is very upset, but she has no

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idea why, and she offers him her handkerchief to wipe his forehead. Othello rejects the handkerchief, and it falls to the floor where Emilia, Iago's wife and a servant to Desdemona, picks it up. Iago argues with Emilia, then grabs the handkerchief from her and hides it in his shirt. Later Iago tells his next big lie, claiming that he heard Cassio talking in his sleep about being in love with Desdemona. Iago then asks Othello about Desdemona's handkerchief. "Well," says Iago, (knowing the handkerchief is hidden in his own shirt), "I have seen it in Cassio's hand” The furious Othello now wishes Cassio had many lives, since killing him once is not enough punishment.

Later, Othello calls Desdemona to him and tries to trick her into admitting that she has been unfaithful. Othello asks her to show him her handkerchief. She says she doesn't have it, but will find it later. Once more she asks him to forgive Cassio. Bу now Othello has nearly lost his mind with jealousy, and he openly accuses her of unfaithfulness. She is shocked and denies everything. Iago makes it look as if Cassio got the handkerchief from Desdemona.

Desdemona has retired to her bedroom. She falls to her knees to say her evening prayers. She is asleep when Othello comes into the room. He approa­ches the bed and kisses Desdemona three times.

Then she awakens. Othello tells her if she has anything to confess to Cod, she should do it now. With horror Desdemona realises that Othello is planning to kill her. Othello stifles her pleas for mercy and strangles her.

Emilia knocks on the door, and Othello lets her in. With her dying breath Desdemona tells Emilia that she has killed herself. Emilia calls for help, Iago, Cassio and other soldiers come running in, horrified to find Desdemona murdered. Then Emilia accuses her husband Iago of lying, explaining how he took the handkerchief from her. Iago races from the room and the soldiers go after him to arrest him. Othello is left with the reality of what he has done to his innocent wife. Before the others can stop him, he pulls a dagger from his shirt and stabs himself.

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