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179 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back

Act 1, Scene 1

Begins in Venice, in the midst of an argument between Roderigo and Iago. Iago speaks of his hatred for Othello. The two men come to the street outside the house of Desdemona’s father, Brabantio, and cry out that Desdemona and Othello are 'making the beast with two backs'.

Act 1, Scene 2

Othello and Cassio's first appearance. Othello is wanted by the duke of Venice to discuss a matter concerning Cyprus.


Brabantio, Roderigo, and their men arrive to accost Othello. Othello brings the confrontation to a halt by calmly and authoritatively telling both sides to put up their swords. They both attend the Duke's meeting so Brabantio can bring a case about Othello.

Act 1, Scene 3

The military meeting is interrupted by the arrival of Brabantio etc. who claims his daughter has been stolen from him by Othello's witchcraft.


Othello admits that he married Desdemona, but he denies having used magic to woo her and claims that Desdemona will support his story. He discusses the life stories he told Desdemona (battles etc.), who was moved to love him by them.


Desdemona enters, speaks for herself and tells Brabantio she owes obedience to Othello, not him.


Othello is chosen to go to Cyprus to defend the island from the Turks; he takes Desdemona with him. The scene finishes only Roderigo and Iago. Iago insists that all will be well for Roderigo, if he will 'put by money in thy purse'.


Iago delivers his first soliloquy, declaring his hatred for Othello and his suspicion that Othello has slept with Emilia. He begins to craft his plan.

Act 2, Scene 1

On the shores of Cyprus, Montano, watches a storm, which Turkish fleet does not survive.


It is still uncertain whether Othello’s ship has been able to survive the storm.


Desdemona etc. arrive. While the company waits for the ship, Iago takes the opportunity to criticize women in general as deceptive and hypocritical, saying they are lazy in all matters except sex: 'You rise to play and go to bed to work'.


Cassio speaks with Desdemona privately, while Iago plots.Othello arrives safely and greets Desdemona.


Iago and Roderigo are left, and Roderigo tries to argue to Iago that Cassio was being polite by taking Desdemona’s hand. Iago convinces Roderigo to start a quarrel with Cassio that evening. He


Left alone onstage again, Iago begins another soliloquy. He lays out his plan to usurp Cassio and become even with Othello 'wife for wife'.

Act 2, Scene 2

A herald announces that Othello plans revelry for the evening in celebration of Cyprus' safety from the Turks, and also in celebration of his marriage to Desdemona.

Act 2, Scene 3

Othello leaves Cassio on guard during the revels. Iago enters and joins Cassio on guard. Iago persuades Cassio to have a drink. It is not long before he becomes intoxicated and wanders offstage, assuring his friends that he isn’t drunk. Cassio chases Roderigo across the stage, threatening to beat him. Montano steps in to prevent the fight and is attacked by Cassio. An alarm bell is rung, and Othello arrives with armed attendants.


Iago feigns reluctance to incriminate Cassio. Othello falls into Iago’s trap, stating that he can tell that Iago softened the story out of honest affection for Cassio. Othello dismisses Cassio from his service.Desdemona has been awakened by the commotion, and Othello leads her back to bed.


Cassio laments the permanent damage now done to his reputation. Iago suggests that Cassio appeal to Desdemona.


Iago jokes about the irony of his villainy as he has given Cassio good advice. He threatens to 'turn [Desdemona’s] virtue into pitch'.Roderigo enters, upset etc. and Iago persuades him to return to Venice for a short while.

Act 3, Scene 1

Clown scene with Cassio.


Emilia and Cassio discuss his situation and Emilia goes to fetch Desdemona.

Act 3, Scene 2

Iago, Othello, and a gentleman walk together at the citadel. Othello gives Iago some letters to deliver and decides to take a look at the town’s fortification.

Act 3, Scene 3

Desdemona vows to do everything she can on Cassio’s behalf. Cassio quickly departs and Othello notices.


Desdemona entreats Othello to forgive Cassio and reinstate him as lieutenant - 'I will deny thee nothing'. Alone with Othello, Iago begins his insinuations of an affair between Cassio and Desdemona. Othello asks Iago whether he believes Cassio to be honest, and Iago manipulates him through evasion - 'these stops of thine fright me the more'.


Iago/Jealousy line.


Othello's first soliloquy.


Emilia picks up the handkerchief.


Iago talks to Othello about Cassio's 'dreaming' and Othello demands 'ocular proof'.


Parody of marriage part - 'Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell!'... 'I am your own forever.'

Act 3, Scene 4

Desdemona and the clown scene.


Othello and Desdemona argue over her supposed sexual promiscuity, the loss of the handkerchief and Cassio. Othello explains the handkerchief’s history. Emilia laments the fickleness of men. Emilia speculates that Othello is jealous, but Desdemona maintains her conviction that Othello is upset by some political matter. Bianca, a prostitute, enters and accuses him of making her copy the embroidery of a love gift from some other woman.

Act 4, Scene 1

Othello and Iago enter in mid-conversation. Iago goads Othello by suggesting that Cassio has slept with Desdemona. Othello 'falls in a trance'.Cassio enters, and sees Othello. Iago tells him to leave.


Iago orders Othello to hide nearby and observe Cassio’s face during their conversation.


When Othello withdraws, Iago jokes with Cassio about Bianca so it appears to Othello to be about Desdemona. Bianca returns with the handkerchief and again accuses Cassio again.


Othello has recognized his handkerchief and, coming out of hiding, plots with Iago to murder Cassio and Desdemona.Desdemona enters with Lodovico. Othello strikes her when she speaks of her happiness to leave Cyprus. Lodovico asks Othello to call back Desdemona, who has left the stage. Othello does so, only to accuse her of being a false and promiscuous woman. Lodovico cannot believe that the Othello he has just seen is the same self-controlled man he once knew.

Act 4, Scene 2

Othello interrogates Emilia about Desdemona’s behavior, but Emilia insists that Desdemona has done nothing suspicious. Othello accuses Desdemona once more of adultery and she denies it ('cunning whore of Venice').


Desdemona tells Emilia to lay her wedding sheets on the bed for that night.Desdemona asks Iago for reasons for Othello's behaviour. Emilia says that Othello must have been deceived by some villain. Iago assures Desdemona that Othello is merely upset by some official business.


Later, Roderigo enters, threatening Iago for wasting his money and robbing him of his jewels. Iago placates him and persuades him to murder Cassio.

Act 4 Scene 3

In Desdemona's bedchambers, she and Emilia discuss the maid, Barbary, and men etc.


The willow song.


Emilia acts as a character foil as to Desdemona's chastity, an ideal that the Jacobean audience subscribed to.

Act 5 Scene 1

Iago and Roderigo ambush Cassio. Cassio enters, and Roderigo stabs at him but Cassio is only wounded.


Othello believes that Iago has killed Cassio and returns to his bedroom to kill Desdemona. Lodovico and Gratiano enter, but can see nothing because of the darkness. Iago enters carrying a light. He first pretends to discover Cassio, who begs him for help, and then murders Roderigo, who realises Iago is a villain a little too late. Bianca enters and begins to cry out when she sees the wounded Cassio. Iago and Emilia blame Bianca.


Iago takes Bianca under arrest,and sends Emilia to tell Othello and Desdemona what has happened. Iago ends the scene with an aside: 'This is the night/That either makes me or fordoes me quite.'

Act 5 Scene 2

Holding a candle, Othello stands over the sleeping Desdemona and prepares to kill her. Othello refuses to believe Desdemona’s denial of the charge of adultery. Wrestling with her as she begs to be allowed to live just a little longer, Othello finally succeeds in smothering his wife.


As Othello begins to realize that his plans have gone awry, Desdemona cries out that she has been murdered, but admits she did it herself.


Othello triumphantly admits to Emilia that he killed Desdemona. Emilia calls out for help, bringing Montano, Gratiano, and Iago to the scene.As the truth of Iago’s villainy begins to come out through Emilia’s accusations, Othello falls weeping upon the bed that contains the body of his dead wife. Emilia reveals Iago and he kills her, she dies next to Desdemona. Iago flees and is pursued by Montano and Graziano.


The other characters return with Iago held prisoner. Othello stabs Iago, but Iago does not die and refuses to say anything more about what he has done. Lodovico produces a letter found in Roderigo’s pocket that reveals everything that has happened.


Refusing to be taken away before he has spoken, Othello asks his captors, to listen to his (final) speech. He kills himself, pledging to “die upon a kiss,” Othello falls onto the bed with his wife’s body.


Lodovico prepares to leave for Venice to bear the news from Cyprus to the duke and senate.

'Tis better...

as it is.'

Epithet for Othello?

'Valiant'

'My parts, my title and my perfect soul...

Shall manifest me rightly.'

'I won...

his daughter.'

'Send for...

the lady to the Sagittary.'

'My life upon...

her faith!'

'She loved me for the dangers I had passed...

And I loved her that she did pity them.'

'The Moor is of a free and open nature...

will as tenderly be led by the nose/As asses are.'

'Honey, you shall be...

well desired in Cyprus.'

'The greatest discords be...

That e'er our hearts shall make.'

'Iago's most...

honest.'

'Now by heaven/ My blood begins...

my safer guides to rule.'

'He that is approved in this offence,/ Though he had twinned with me at birth...

Shall lose me.'

'I will deny

thee nothing.'

'These stops of thine fright me the more/ For such things in a disloyal knave...

Are but tricks of custom.'

'Think'st thou I'd...

make a life of jealousy.'

'Haply for I am black...

And have not those soft parts of conversation.'

'I'll tear her

all to pieces!'

'All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven; 'Tis gone...

Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell.'

'I am bound...

to thee forever.'

Tragedy of miscommunication and lack of chaining shown in the quote?

'The handkerchief!'

'My lord is...

not my lord.'

[He falls...

in a trance].

'Ay, let her rot and perish, and be damned tonight...

for she shall not live.'

'I will chop...

her into messes.'

'She says enough; yet she's a simple bawd...

That cannot say as much.'

Visceral imagery conveyed in?

'[He strikes her.]'

'I cry you mercy then:/ I took you for that...

cunning whore of Venice./ That married with Othello.'

'Yet I'll not shed her blood...

skin... as monumental alabaster.'

'O balmy breath, that doth almost...

persuade Justice to break her sword.'

'I am that am cruel am yet merciful...

I would not have thee linger in thy pain.'

'Not Cassio killed! Then murder's out of tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh!'

Thou art...

a devil.'

'I am not...

valiant neither.'

'I have done the state some service...

and they know't.'

'Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away...

Richer than all his tribe.'

'Of one that loved not wisely;...

but too well.'

'I took by th' throat the circumcised dog...

And smote him thus.'

'I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this...

Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.'

'O treason...

of the blood!'

'I love the...

gentle Desdemona.'

'A maiden never bold;/Of spirit so...

still and quiet that her motion/ Blushed at herself.'

'She gave me for my pain...

a world of sighs.'

'Let me go...

with him.'

'I challenge that I may profess (her obedience)...

Due to the Moor my lord.'

'So will I turn...

her virtue into pitch.'

'If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it...

To the last article.'

'He hath left a part of his grief with me...

To suffer with him.'

'She did deceive her father...

marrying you.'

'If she be false, O then heaven mocks itself;...

I'll not believe it.'

'You'll never meet a...

more sufficient man.'

'We must not think men are gods,/Nor of them look...

for such observancy as fits the bridal.'

'Alas the day, I never...

gave him cause.'

'for the love...

I bear to Cassio.'

'I have not...

deserved this.'

Lodovico on arriving in Cyprus and seeing Desdemona?

'Truly an obedient lady.'

'I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest...

Lay down my soul at stake.'

'Your wife, my lord;...

your true and loyal wife.'

'By heaven,...

you do me wrong.'

'I am a Christian...

preserve this vessel for my lord.'

If any such (villain) there be,...

heaven pardon him.'

'No, by this...

heavenly light.'

'Beshrew me, if I would

do such a wrong for the whole world.'

'Guiltiness...

I know not.'

Othello's murder of Desdemona?

'[He smothers her]'

'Nobody; I myself. Farewell...

Commend me to my kind lord. O farewell!'

Emilia and Desdemona's association with light and heaven.

'She was heavenly true!'

'For thou hast killed the sweetest innocent...

That e'er did lift up eye.'

'She was too fond...

of her most filthy bargain.'

'That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse...

As if the strings were thine.'

'I follow him to...

serve my turn upon him.'

'I am not...

what I am.'

'an old black ram...

Is tupping your white ewe.'

'Thou art...

a villain.'

'I lack iniquity...

Sometimes to do me service.'

Iago's epithet?

'Honest'


'A man he is of honesty and trust.'

'Put money...

in thy purse.'

'I hate...

the Moor.'

'He's done...

my office.'

'To get his place and to plume...

up my will/ In double knavery.'

'With as little web as this...

will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.'

'I do love her too,/ Not out of absolute lust.'

'Till I am evened with him, wife for wife.'

Roderigo is described by Iago as?

'My sick fool'

'How am I then a villain...

To counsel Cassio'

'Divinity of

hell!'

'I'll pour this...

pestilence into his ear.'

'My wife must move...

for Cassio to her mistress.'

'O beware, my lord, of jealousy...

It is the green eyed monster which doth mock/The meat it feeds on.'

'My wayward husband hath a hundred times...

Wooed me to steal it.'

'The Moor already changes...

with my poison.'

'To be direct...

and honest is not safe.'

'Witness that here Iago doth give up...

To wronged Othello's service.'

'I am your own...

forever.'

'Lie -'

'With her, on her, what you will.'

'Work on...

My medicine, work!'

'O 'tis foul...

in her.'

'Do it not with poison;...

strangle her in her bed.'

'yet would I knew...

That stroke would prove the worst.'

'Now I see there's...

mettle in thee.'

'whether he kill Cassio/ or Cassio him, or each do kill the other...

Every way makes my gain.'

Iago murders Roderigo.

[He stabs Roderigo]

'O damned Iago!

O inhuman dog!'

'This is the night/ That either makes me...

or foredoes me quite.'

[Iago draws his sword...

and threatens Emilia.]

'I bleed, sir,...

but not killed.'

'Demand me nothing; what you know, you know...

From this time forth, I never will speak word.'

'If it be not for some purpose of import,/ Give't me again...

Poor lady, she'll run mad when she shall lack it.'

'They are all but stomachs...

and we all but food.'

'Jealous souls will not be answered so...

'Tis a monster/Begot upon itself, born upon itself.'

'A halter pardon him...

and hell naw his bones!'

'I would you had...

never seen him.'

'who would not make her husband a cuckold...

to make him a monarch?'

'we have galls...

yet have we some revenge'

'Then let them use us well; else let know...

The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.'

'Let husbands know/...

Their wives have sense like them.'

'Thou dost belie her...

and thou art a devil.'

'If he say so, may his pernicious soul...

Rot half a grain a day!'

'I care not...

for thy sword.'

'I will not charm my tongue;...

I am bound to speak.'

'Tis proper I obey him, but not now/Perchance...

Iago, I will never go home.'

'So speaking as I think...

I die, I die.'

'O Cassio, whence came this?

This some token from a newer friend.'

'This is some minx's token...

I'll take out no work on't!'

'I am no strumpet, but of life as...

honest/As you that thus abuse me!'

'God save you,...

worthy general!'

'Make her amends;...

she weeps.'

'Truly an obedient lady....

I do beseech your lordship, call her back.'

'I am sorry that...

I am deceived in him.'

'Wrench his sword...

from him.'

'The object poisons sight;

Let it be hid.'

'To the state...

This heavy act with heavy heart relate.'

'It is a business...

of some heat.'

'A fellow... That never set a squadron in the field...

Nor the devision of a battle knows/More than a spinster.'

'The divine...

Desdemona.'

Cassio takes Othello's epithet.

'Valiant Cassio.'

'That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms.'

'Tis my breeding/That gives me this bold show of courtesy.'

'[He kisses Emilia]'

'Very good, well kissed, an excellent courtesy...

Would they were clyster pipes for your sake!'

'For I fear Cassio...

with my night-cap too.'

'I have very poor and unhappy brains...

for drinking.'

'I'll do it, but...

it dislikes me.'

'Reputation, reputation, reputation!

I have lost the immortal part of myself!'

'Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,...

He's never anything but your true servant.'

'Not that I...

love you not.'

'I marry her? What! A customer!

I prithee, bear some charity to my wit!'

'I would do much/ T'atone for them...

for the love I bear to Cassio.'

'Dear general,

I never gave you cause.'

'Cassio rules...

in Cyprus.'

'I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors; in honest plainness thou hast heard me say...

My daughter is not for thee.'

'I'll sell...

all my land.'

'Thus do I ever...

make my fool my purse.'

'But, sir, be you...

ruled by me.'

'My money..

is almost spent.'

'I will no longer...

endure it.'

'If she will return me (his jewels) -

if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.'

'There's mettle...

in thee.'

'I will hear...

further reason for this.'

'I have no great devotion...

to the deed.'

'Venice

A Street at night.'

'Something from Cyprus, as I may divine.

It is a business of some heat.'

'Tis a pageant./

To keep us in false gaze.'

'Desperate...

tempest.'

Setting of all but Act 1?

'Cyprus'

'I cannot twixt the heaven and the main...

Descry a sail.'