These Othello summaries offer an in-depth guide to fully prepare you for English Paper Two. Included are a comprehensive play summary, detailed character descriptions, analyses of themes and symbols, and a selection of potential essay topics to enhance your practice.
,Full Play Summary
Othello begins on a street in Venice, in the midst of an argument between Roderigo,
a rich man, and Iago. Roderigo has been
paying Iago to help him win Desdemona's
hand in marriage. But Roderigo has just
learned that Desdemona has married
Othello, a general whom Iago begrudgingly
serves as ensign. Iago says he hates
Othello, who recently passed him over for the position of lieutenant in favor of the
inexperienced soldier Michael Cassio.
Unseen, Iago and Roderigo cry out to Brabantio that his daughter Desdemona has
been stolen by and married to Othello, the Moor. Brabanzio finds that his daughter is
indeed missing, and he gathers some officers to find Othello. Not wanting his hatred
of Othello to be known, Iago leaves Roderigo and hurries back to Othello before
Brabanzio sees him. At Othello’s lodgings, Cassio arrives with an urgent message
from the duke: Othello’s help is
needed in the matter of the imminent
Turkish invasion of Cyprus. Not long
afterward, Brabanzio arrives with
Roderigo and others, and accuses
Othello of stealing his daughter by
witchcraft. When he finds out that Othello is on his way to speak with the duke,
Brabanzio decides to go along and accuse Othello before the assembled senate.
Brabanzio’s plan backfires. The duke and senate are very sympathetic toward
Othello. Given a chance to speak for himself, Othello explains that he wooed and
won Desdemona not by witchcraft but with the stories of his adventures in travel and
By: Jade Skye Crous
, war. The duke finds Othello’s explanation convincing, and Desdemona herself enters
at this point to defend her choice in marriage and to announce to her father that her
allegiance is now to her husband. Brabanzio is frustrated but acquiesces and allows
the senate meeting to resume. The duke says that Othello must go to Cyprus to aid
in the defense against the Turks, who are headed for the island. Desdemona insists
that she accompany her husband on his trip, and preparations are made for them to
depart that night.
In Cyprus the following day, two gentlemen stand on the shore with Montano, the
governor of Cyprus. A third gentleman
arrives and reports that the Turkish fleet
has been wrecked in a storm at sea.
Cassio, whose ship did not suffer the
same fate, arrives soon after, followed
by a second ship carrying Iago,
Roderigo, Desdemona, and Emilia, Iago’s wife. Once they have landed, Othello’s
ship is sighted, and the group goes to the harbor. As they wait for Othello, Cassio
greets Desdemona by clasping her hand. Watching them, Iago tells the audience
that he will use “as little a web as this” hand-holding to ensnare Cassio (II.i.169).
Othello arrives, greets his wife, and announces that there will be reveling that
evening to celebrate Cyprus’s safety from the Turks. Once everyone has left,
Roderigo complains to Iago that he has no
chance of breaking up Othello’s marriage.
Iago assures Roderigo that as soon as
Desdemona’s “blood is made dull with the
act of sport,” she will lose interest in
Othello and seek sexual satisfaction
elsewhere (II.i.222). However, Iago warns that “elsewhere” will likely be with Cassio.
By: Jade Skye Crous
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