OTHELLO TEXTS AND CONTEXTS FULL
OTHELLO TEXTS AND CONTEXTS FREE

When Brabantio and Othello arrive, the duke insists on evidence to support the old man’s charge that Othello has bewitched Desdemona. Act 1, scene 3 The duke and the senators discuss the movements of the Turkish fleet and conclude that its target is, indeed, Cyprus.Brabantio and his armed band come to seize Othello, who persuades Brabantio to accompany him to the duke, where Othello has been summoned and where Brabantio can present his case against Othello for his “theft” of Desdemona. Cassio arrives with orders for Othello: Othello is to meet with the duke and senators of Venice about a Turkish invasion of the Venetian colony of Cyprus. Act 1, scene 2 Iago warns Othello about Brabantio’s anger, but Othello is confident in his own strength and in his love for Desdemona.This news enrages Brabantio, who organizes an armed band to search out Othello. At Iago’s suggestion, he and Roderigo, a former suitor to Desdemona, awake Desdemona’s father to tell him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello. Act 1, scene 1 In the streets of Venice, Iago tells Roderigo of his hatred for Othello, who has given Cassio the lieutenancy that Iago wanted and has made Iago a mere ensign.Othello goes mad with jealousy and later smothers Desdemona on their marriage bed, only to learn of Iago’s treachery. Iago uses this and other ploys-misinterpreted conversations, insinuations, and a lost handkerchief-to convince Othello that Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. He lures Cassio into a drunken fight, for which Cassio loses his new rank Cassio, at Iago’s urging, then begs Desdemona to intervene. The Senate agrees to let her join Othello in Cyprus.In Cyprus, Iago continues to plot against Othello and Cassio. She tells of her love for Othello, and the marriage stands. The Senators wish to send Othello to Cyprus, which is under threat from Turkey. Before the Venetian Senate, Brabantio accuses Othello of bewitching Desdemona. Othello has promoted Cassio, not Iago, to be his lieutenant.Iago crudely informs Brabantio, Desdemona’s father, that Othello and Desdemona have eloped. Entire Play In Venice, at the start of Othello, the soldier Iago announces his hatred for his commander, Othello, a Moor.Before this, all the characters, whether male or female, were played exclusively by men. This production is of particular importance because it marked the first time a woman was accepted on the English stage. One performance of Othello, produced in 1660, starred an actress by the name of Margaret Hughes in the role of Desdemona. Players in your housewifery, and housewives' in your beds. Saints m your injuries, devils being offended, The purest of all sentiments is, in his mind, a mere 'lust of the blood and a permission of the will.' It is utterly foreign to his nature indeed, we cannot even conceive of lago's loving anything.' Read on.Ĭome on, come on you are pictures out of doors,īells in your parlors, wild-cats in your kitchens, Hudson says, Iago is 'severely introversive,' and is only satisfied by dipping what is good into his own vileness and bringing it forth reeking in the filth of his own evil nature. All things pure and noble in their nature are looked upon as far beneath his 'learned spirit.' As Mr. He neither respects moral beauty as seen in Desdemona, nor the grand nobleness of the mighty-souled Othello. Probal to thinking, and, indeed, the course

OTHELLO TEXTS AND CONTEXTS FREE

When this advice is free I give and honest, Shakespeare Quotations (by Play and Theme)Īnd what's he, then, that says I play the villain? Seneca's Tragedies and the Elizabethan Drama Shakespeare and Race: The Relationship Between Othello and Desdemona Iago's Motives: The Relationship Between Othello and Iago The Play of Othello as a Whole: Its Rank Among Shakespeare's Roderigo, Emilia and Shakespeare's Secondary Characters The Moral Enigma of Shakespeare's Othello Play Construction and the Suffering and Murder of Desdemona Shakespeare's Iago Compared with the Original A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA in bed asleep

OTHELLO TEXTS AND CONTEXTS FULL

Please see the bottom of each scene for full explanatory notes.Please see the bottom of this page for helpful Othello resources.The complete text of Othello: Scenes from Shakespeare's Othello

Othello texts and contexts