Othello or the Moor of Venice

See also: Othello

Othello or the Moor of Venice ( Othello, the Moor off Venice in English) is a Tragédie of William Shakespeare, written in 1604.

Summary of work

In a street in Venice, Iago complains in Roderigo that Othello the Moor chose Cassio to be its lieutenant, rather than him. Iago swears to remain honest towards Othello only for its interest.

Roderigo and Iago inform Brabantio then that his/her daughter, Desdémone, married in secrecy with Othello. Brabantio hesitates to believe them, since Roderigo was an applicant of its daughter, but it notes soon that she is not in her house. Iago returns to Othello then Brabantio and Roderigo leaves.

Cassio and other officers arrive to the Moor (Othello) so that it goes to the Doge de Venise for urgent questions. Iago arrives then, then Brabantio and Roderigo arrive and order to stop Othello, until he learns that he is convened by the doge. With the council of the doge, Brabantio shows Othello to employ potions to gain Desdémone. Othello proves that it is not thus and Brabantio blesses their marriage unwillingly.

At this point in time we learn that the Turkish fleet sails towards Cyprus to take it by storm. The doge asks Othello to defend Cyprus. He thus leaves to Cyprus with Desdémone, Émilia (the woman of Iago) and the devoted one domesticates of Desdémone, Iago, Roderigo, with which Iago promises to recover Desdémone, and Cassio, its faithful lieutenant. Iago, for its part, which employs only Roderigo for its money, starts to trace its revenge against Othello by convainquant it that Desdémone misleads it with Cassio.

In Cyprus, a storm reversed the Turkish fleet, eliminating their threat effectively. Then, Cassio arrives. Then, Iago, Émilia, Desdémone and finally, Othello. He convinces Roderigo to fight with Cassio (Cassio, like Othello, does not know Roderigo) so that Cassio to lose its post of lieutenant what functions with wonder. Roderigo causes Cassio that Iago enivré and Cassio continues it. Montano interposes, which causes a combat with Cassio. It is wounded. Iago makes pretense continue Roderigo which causes a riot. Then he tells all in Othello (he seems to want to minimize the fault of Cassio, which produces the opposite effect). Cassio is returned. Iago made accept Roderigo that Cassio, lover of Desdémone, were to be distant and that would delay the departure of Othello and Desdémone, making it possible Roderigo to conquer Desdémone.

At this point in time Iago convinces Cassio to request Desdémone to require of Othello to restore it. Iago will employ their meetings deprived to convince Othello that Desdémone is unfair. Cassio thus requests Desdémone to help it, which it accepts. Desdémone thus starts to take party for Cassio so that it is made begin again by her husband. Iago starts to make the suggestions of its “suspicions” of the connection of Cassio and Desdémone with Othello. It makes lapses and boathooks (voluntary) and seems to want to cover Cassio and choke the suspicions of Othello, which creates an opposite effect. It ends up telling in Othello that Cassio dreamed one night of love with Desdémone (they is false).

Thus, Iago insinuates the doubt that Desdémone was unfair towards Othello. Othello starts to believe the history of Iago. Émilia finds the handkerchief which means for Othello the love between him and Desdémone, that Iago takes to make doubt even more the Moor of the fidelity of his wife while going to hide it in the room of Cassio, which offers it to Bianca (courtesan), its mistress. Thus, Iago can worsen the case of Cassio, which attends the courtesans and offered the handkerchief to Bianca (what wants to say for Othello that Cassio does not pay attention to Désdémone).

Othello reveals in Iago how the suspicions that it has towards his wife are unbearable. Othello requires the proof of the suspicions that Iago subjected to him. Iago claims whereas he heard the conversation of Cassio of his love for Desdémone in his sleep. Iago also claims that he saw that Cassio essuie his beard with the handkerchief of Desdémone. After these revelations, Othello appoints Iago its lieutenant and orders in Iago to kill Cassio. As for Desdémone, Othello wishes also to see it dying. Iago comes in Othello and convinces it to strangle Desdémone in the bed this night, while Iago promises to deal with Cassio. Lodovico, noble from Venice, arrives to Cyprus and gives a letter to Othello. Already irritated, the letter puts in Othello anger because she orders to him to leave her place to Cassio. With the citadel, Othello questions Émilia on the honesty of Desdémone. This one swears that Desdémone is honest but Othello does not believe it.

Little time afterwards, Roderigo comes to complain in Iago from the lack about result with Desdémone. Iago the calm one and convinces it to kill Cassio to have Desdémone. When the night fall, Iago and Roderigo develop the plan to kill Cassio. Iago wants in fact that they die both: it is jealous of Cassio and its beauty, fears that it does not include/understand anything while speaking to the Moor, wants to replace Cassio and is jealous (Cassio had taken the post of lieutenant). It stole the gifts of Roderigo for Desdémone instead of transmitting them (moreover, Roderigo knows). Cassio appears and Roderigo the attack, but misses it. Cassio then kills Roderigo and Iago wounds it with the leg then is run away. Lodovico arrives, joined by Iago which requires of him what there is then finds Cassio and Roderigo. It completes Roderigo (supposedly to avenge Cassio); Bianca arrives, and Iago sends Émilia to warn Othello and Desdémone.

Shortly after Othello appears in the room of Desdémone, ready to kill her but it is not able to make the blow. It is after having informed Desdémone which it was going to die that it chokes it. Émilia appears and says to Othello that Roderigo died, but that Cassio is alive. Émilia thus discovers that Othello killed.

At this point in time Iago appears connected by Montano and Gratiano and that Othello discovers the plot that Iago had established with the explanations of Émilia (which tells the flight of the handkerchief). Iago kills Émilia then and flees. Montano disarms Othello, Gratiano and Lodovico stops iago (which acknowledged partly), that Othello tries to kill. Othello acknowledges that it was of agreement for the death of Cassio and Désdémone with Iago. Lodovico arrives with Cassio and reveals that one found two letters in the pocket of Roderigo: one proves that Iago and Roderigo were accessory to kill Cassio, the other is a letter of reproaches on the flight of the gifts and the failure with Desdémone, that Roderigo wanted to send to Iago before their meeting. Cassio reveals that in the letter, it is known as that Roderigo and Iago had plotted to make lay off Cassio. Cassio reveals that Roderigo denounced Iago while dying.

It is after this moment which Othello carries out what it made and decides to commit suicide. Iago, it, will be tortured, then carried out.

Extract

Part of William Shakespeare.

“Othello. - What do you want to say?

Iago. - Oh! Take guard, monseigneur, with the jealousy! It is the monster with the green eyes which produces the food of which it is nourished! This cuckold lives in joy which, certain of its fate, does not like that which misleads it; but, oh! What a damnées minutes it counts, that which raffole, but doubt, that which suspects, but likes passionately!

Othello. - O misery!

Iago. - The poor one which is content is rich; and rich person with abundance; but the richness without boron is poorer than the winter for that which always fears to become poor. Lenient skies, preserve jealousy the hearts of all my tribe!

Othello. - Let us go! To which purpose this? Do you believe that I would make me a life of jealousy, to follow without delay all the moon changes to the trailer of new suspicions? Not! For me, being in the doubt, it is to be solved… Échange me against a goat, the day when I will occupy my heart of these exaggerated suspicions and hollow which your conjecture implies. One No will not return to me jealous while saying that my wife is pretty, fond of delicacies, likes the company, has the free speech, sings, plays and dances well! Where is the virtue, it is as many new virtues. It is not either the weakness of my own merits which will make me conceive the least feared, the slightest doubt on its fidelity, because it had eyes, and it chose me! … Not, Iago! Before doubting, I want to see. After the doubt, the proof! And, after the proof, my party is taken: good-bye at the same time love and jealousy!

Iago. - I am charmed by it; because I am now authorized to show you my affection and my devotion to you with less reserve. Therefore, since I am held there, receive to ego this confidence… I do not speak yet about proof… Veillez on your wife, observe it with Cassio well, carry your glances without jealousy as without safety; I would not like that your frank and noble nature was victim of its generosity even… Take care there! I know well manners of our region. In Venice, the women let see with the sky the fredaines which they do not dare to show with their husbands; and, for them, the case to hold it hidden.

Othello. - Is this your opinion there?

Iago. - It misled her father by marrying you; and it is when it seemed to tremble and fear your glances that it liked them more.

Othello. - It is true.

Iago. - Eh well! Conclude then….”

Film adaptations

Othello was adapted many times to the Cinéma. The most known adaptations are:

but the first adaptation (by Franz Porten, Germany) date of 1907.

Wikisource

  • Othello Translation François Victor Hugo
  • The Tragedy off Othello, The Moor off Venice

Simple: Othello

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