Othello act summary

Act 1, scene 1

The play opens with Iago and Roderigo engaged in a dispute; from the very start of Othello the scene is set for conflict. Roderigo is unhappy Desdemona has married the Moor and not him whilst Iago is unhappy that Othello has promoted Cassio over him.

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Act 1, scene 2

Cassio gives O a message from the Duke who needs him at a Venetian council meeting. Brabantio confronts Othello on his marriage, but Othello denies his accusations of bewitching Desdemona. Brabantio wants to attend the meeting, tell Duke about O

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Act 1, scene 3

The Duke of Venice and senators prepare war against the Turks about their invasion of Cyprus. Desdemona asks to accompany her husband on his military campaign. Brabantio warns Othello against trusting Desdemona.Iago says he will help Roderigo seduceD

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Act 2, scene 1

The Turkish fleet is destroyed by a storm.Iago dislikes the way Cassio greets Emilia.Iago persuades Roderigo to provoke Cassio into losing his temper in the hopes of discrediting him.Iago wants revenge on Othello and suspects them of cuckholding him.

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Act 2, scene 2

Peace is restored in Cyprus, Othello has called for a night of revelry to celebrate the annihilation of the Turkish fleet as well as his recent marriage.

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Act 2, scene 3

Othello and Desdemona leave to consummate their marriage.Iago persuades Cassio to join in.Roderigo provokes Cassio into having a fight which injures Montano,Othello comes to end the fight and dismiss Cassio from his post. I advises Cas to talk Des

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Act 3, scene 1

C has musicians play outside O’s window, O sends a clown to pay the musicians to leave.Cassio asks Emilia about what O and D have been saying about him. O says Montano is powerful in Cyprus so its not easy give his job back. D speaks highly of C.

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Act 3, scene 2

Othello sets out to inspect the fortifications in the town with Iago at his side.

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Act 3, scene 3

D asks O to reinstate C.I hints to O that C and D have committed adultery, O begins to doubt her love and becomes jealous.D drops her handkerchief, Emilia picks it up and gives it to Iago. O demands Iago to give him proof.

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Act 3, scene 3 (continued)

Iago describes how C spoke about D whilst asleep in a dream and that he saw Cwith her handkerchief.O asks I to kill C and he promotes I.Othello intends to kill Desdemona.

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Act 3, scene 4

D tells a clown to inform C she has pleaded for him.D realises the handkerchiefs gone,feels uneasy.O asks D to lend him the handkerchief and becomes angry when she says she cannot find it and changes the conversation to C.C meets Bianca, gives hankie

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Act 4, scene 1

I torments O with images of D’s infidelity, this leads to O falling into a fit.C and I have a conversation about Bianca whilst O listens, believing its actually about D.Bianca enters arguing to C about the handkerchief belonging to another mistress,

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Act 4, scene 1 (continued)

Seeing B with it causes Othello to become more angry.O vows to kill his wife and have I kill C.Venetian visitors (Lodovico) tell O he will return to Venice and C will take over his role in Cyprus.Othello strikes Desdemona.

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Act 4, scene 2

O questions Em about D but does not believe that what she is saying about her faithfulness is true.O confronts D, he tries to get her to confess and pays Em for guarding the door.D appeals to I for help, and asks why he is acting this way.

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Act 4, scene 2 (continued)

Iago persuades Roderigo to kill Cassio, he says that his death will make Othello and Desdemona stay in Cyprus rather than Mauritania which is a lie.

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Act 4, scene 3

O sends D to prepare for bed.Em says she wishes D never met O, but D says she still loves her husband.• The women discuss female in infidelity,Emilia says that its men who cheat first.

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Act 5, scene 1

Rod attacks C but is wounded, I comes from behind and stabs C in the leg.Othello hears cries, believes Cassio has been killed which encourages his revenge on Desdemona.

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Act 5, scene 1 (continued)

Lodovico and Graziano come to the noise, they tend to C’s wounds, I identifies Rod as the attacker and kills him.B appears and I accuses her of being part of the plot to kill C.• Iago sends Emilia to tell Othello and Desdemona what happened.

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Act 5, scene 2

D weeps when O tells her C is dead, believing that she loved C, he smothers her with a pillow.Em is horrified when a dying D tells her she caused her own death.O tries to explain to Em why he killed her, she insults him and summons Montano,Graziano,I

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Act 5, scene 2 (continued)

I denies her accusations of villainy, then stabs E and tries to run away.Guards return with I, he will not explain his actions and O uses a sword to wound him.Letters from R reveal his plot and O kills himself at the realisation.

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Act 5, scene 2 (ending)

Lodovico demands that Iago look upon the destruction he has caused. He notes that Graziano is Othello's heir, and says that Cassio is to carry out the execution of Iago.

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Othello act summary

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