Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in othello, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The story of an african general in the venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. Shakespeares famous play of love turned bad by unfounded jealousy, begins in venice with iago, a soldier under othellos command arguing with roderigo, a wealthy venetian. Othello short summary by shakespeare english summary. I have an exam on it today and i just dont understand the book why do. Othello a moor an african, a general in the defense forces of the city state of venice. In spite of his elevated status, he is nevertheless easy prey to insecurities because of his age, his life as a soldier, and his race. Over her protests that she loves him and is innocent, he smothers her. William shakespeares play, othello, is a powerful story of race, love, jealousy and betrayal. In this lesson, we will explore some of the plays strongest themes. The rich roderigo has been paying iago to help him get desdemona love, but he has seen no progress.
Because othello is black and desdemona white, there is a great deal of controversy surrounding their marriage. Othello notices cassios speedy departure, and iago quickly seizes the opportunity to point out that cassio seems to be trying to avoid the moor. Summary plot overview othello begins on a street in venice, in the midst of an argument between roderigo, a rich man, and iago. Everyone knew him for his strength and determination. The book this retelling of shakespeares play recounts the story of othello, a mercenary soldier who falls in love with the lords daughter, desdemona. Othello by william shakespeare book summary minute. Brabantio, othello, and desdemona appear before the duke of venice. His successful profession brings him high status in venice, but his foreign origins and color separate him from those with whom he lives and works. Othello, the protagonist of the tragedy is trapped in the conspiracies. In the opening of the play, roderigo, a young gentleman who loved and hoped to get desdemona, is talking about the elopement of desdemona with othello.
Card sort and powerpoint providing a summary of the key plot points in othello. When he eventually finds out and is completely furious he. Iago first asks roderigo to tell desdemonas father, brabantio, that his daughter has left to marry othello, a marriage brabantio opposes because othello is a moor. But though othello has some sense again, he still wounds iago. From a general summary to chapter summaries to explanations of famous quotes, the.
First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. This story has a lot of characters, such as othello, desdemona, iago, cassio, and. Summary in the opening of the play, roderigo, a young gentleman who loved and hoped to get desdemona, is talking about the elopement of desdemona with othello, the moor. Othello a brilliant military mind and respected leader in venices elitist society, othello is a moor an african and is not fully excepted because of his origins and color. Othello is a general in the venetian army, and he just chose another man, cassio, to be his lieutenant.
The tragedy of othello lesson plans othello summary. The story revolves around its two central characters. Brabantio was dead set on poking othello full of holes but unfortunately for our. A complete summary of william shakespeares play, othello. Roderigo and iago go to inform about the incident to her father senator brabantio. But roderigo has just learned that desdemona has married othello, a general whom iago begrudgingly serves as ensign. Othello hurries to the duke, brabantio following along, intent on confronting othello about desdemona.
Othello even strikes her in the presence of her relative, lodovico, who has arrived as an ambassador from venice. Asroderigodespairsoverthe lossofdesdemona, iagoadvises him tofollowherto cyprus,promisingthatherloveforothellowillnotlast. At the heart of shakespeares othello is the doomed romance between othello and desdemona. The force of evil in othello has its origin, like the origin of everything else in the tragedy, in the character of its hero, mark van doren wrote. Although brabantio accuses othello of seducing his daughter by witchcraft, othello. William shakespeares othello takes place in 16thcentury venice and also cyprus. Othello was an admired general of a big and powerful doge of venices military. Othellos agitation at what he hears brings on an epileptic fit. Read a brief othello summary, five minute read or listen. Othello short summary by william shakespeare othello is considered to be one of the best tragedies of all times. Shakespeares othello is a tragic tale of jealousy and deceit set in venice.
This is a quick book summary of othello by william shakespeare. Othello, a moorish general in the venetian army, and his treacherous ensign, iago. This story has a lot of characters, such as othello, desdemona, iago, cassio. Othello summary at wikisummaries, free book summaries. He is a military man, with a reputation for courage in battle and good judgment in military matters. Othello the tragedy of othello, the moor of venice is a tragedy by william shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1603. Act 1 scene 1 the shakespearian play othello begins on a street in venice, with an argument between roderigo and iago. He was appreciated for being a goodhearted man that was loved between him superiors and inferiors. Othello, hearing cassios cries for help, believes that half of the revenge is completed and hastens to fulfil his undertaking.
Iago knows that desdemona, the daughter of nobleman brabantio, has run off to. After many successful military ventures, he finds and falls in love with desdemona, the daughter of a senator. Quick and easy othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and. Iago and roderigo decide to get back at othello by making a nighttime visit to brabantio, the father of desdemona a. Othello insists that he is an honorable murderer, but he is driven to kill out of his own shortcomings v.
This angers iago, who wanted the position for himself. The duke, however, takes othellos side in the matter, partially due to othellos earnest professions of love for desdemona and his description of how they fell in love. In this lesson, meet shakespeares tragic hero, othello, and some of his friends and foes. She is the noblest and most unselfish character in the play. Iago says he hates othello, who recently passed him over for the position of lieutenant in favor of the inexperienced soldier michael cassio. Othello begins on a street in venice, in the midst of an argument between roderigo, a rich man, and iago.
Othello takes the hint and says something like, well, i tell my stories pretty well, so maybe we should be friends. We learn that iago is angry that othello passed him up for the position of lieutenant choosing michael cassio instead. Youll also get a brief summary of each play by shakespeare, if you need help remembering what a specific play is about. The question and answer section for othello is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Othello summary shakespeare s othello is a tragic tale of jealousy and deceit set in venice. Bertie runs away to avoid his new wife, helena, but she follows him and tricks him into being her. Desdemona, a woman roderigo hoped to marry, has already been married to othello, a venetian general. The text published in the first folio of 1623 seems to have been based on a version revised by shakespeare himself that sticks close to the original almost line by line but introduces numerous.
Othello, in full othello, the moor of venice, tragedy in five acts by william shakespeare, written in 160304 and published in 1622 in a quarto edition from a transcript of an authorial manuscript. Roderigo is angry with iago for neglecting to tell him about othello and desdemonas elopement. Check out william shakespeares othello video sparknote. Othello questions and answers discover the community of teachers, mentors and students just like you that can answer any question you might have on othello.
Othello by william shakespeare book summary minute book. Othello summary is divided by the five acts of the play and is an an ideal introduction before reading the original text. Desdemona immediately and enthusiastically begins to beg othello to pardon cassio, as she promised, and will not stop her pleading until othello, preoccupied with other thoughts, agrees. The villain iago from othello is a central character, and understanding him is key to understanding shakespeares entire play.
Emilia enters and desdemona revives for a moment, declaring herself guiltless. They are in love, but othello cant get past his selfdoubt as to why such a lovely woman would love him. Find out more about how iago manipulates everyone around him and the rise of othellos jealousy. Daughter of brabantio, wife of othello, and victim of iagos machinations and othellos jealousy. He tells her to pray a last prayer as he has no wish to kill her soul. Iago tells roderigo that he serves othello, the moor who is the armys general, only in order to serve himself. Iago, an ensign in the venetian army, is bitter about being passed over for lieutenant in favor of cassio. In the opening scene, iago complains to roderigo thatothello, his commander, has passed him over to promote the handsome young cassio to be his lieutenant. Quick and easy othello synopsis, analysis, and discussion of major characters and themes in the play.
To blame desdemonas death on iago is to turn othello into a pawn, and that violates the. One of shakespeares more famous plays, othello is a classic tragedy featuring love, jealousy, and ultimately, death. Othello claims desdemona loves him for the dangers he had escaped, and he loves her for the pity with which she appreciates his dangerous escapes. Shakespeares sources for othello movie adaptations full book quiz. Roderigo has just found out that desdemona has married othello, a general whom iago serves as a. Find out where the infamous moor went wrong, and read some of the famous quotes from the play. A christian moor and general of the armies of venice, othello is an eloquent and physically powerful figure, respected by all those around him. This 36page guide for othello by william shakespeare includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 15 chapters, as well as several more indepth sections of expertwritten literary analysis. This leaves his mind susceptible to the tragic poisoning by the scheming iago, even though desdemona has done nothing wrong. Othello gives iago some letters to send to the venetian senate, and tells him to meet him on. Desdemona cannot understand othellos change of attitude towards her.
When othello blows out the candle it represents the end of her life. In the opening scene, iago complains to roderigo that othello, his commander, has passed him over to promote the handsome young cassio to be his lieutenant. Othello who is a noble black warrior in the venetian army that secretly married a beautiful white woman called desdemona who is the daughter of a prominent senator named brabantio. Roderigo has been paying iago to help him in his suit to desdemona.
The villainous iago plans and executes his elaborate revenge on othello. Iago is able to plant his cruel seeds of jealousy only because othellos character is so thoroughly prepared to receive them. Act 1, scene 1 othello and desdemonia are married takes place in venice starts in the middle of an argument between roderigo and iago iago has been passed over for the job of lieutenant roderigo pays iago to help him get desdemona two men yell that roderigo. He says hes going to put out the light and then put. He is jealous of cassio for obtaining the position of lieutenant over him, jealous of othellobelieving that he has bedded his wifeand jealous of othellos position. The play takes place in venice as two friends, roderigo, and iago, are arguing. Act i scene 1 when roderigo learns that desdemonas hand in marriage, for which he had handsomely paid iago, has been given to othello, he accuses iago of fraud, of making himroderigobelieve that iagos hatred of othello would stand in the way of othellos love for desdemona and pave the way to the consummation of hisrodrigosardor for desdemona. Iago then insults cassio by saying that he is book smart but knows nothing of battle.
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