About Othello

The Original Story

Shakespeare used existing stories as the basis for many of the
plots of his plays. He took some from history (Macbeth, for
example is based on Holinshed's Chronicles) and some from
stories that were circulating in books at the time. Shakespeare's
tragedy Othello, written and performed in 1604 and first printed
in 1622, is based on a tale in Cinthio's Hecatommithi (1565), "Un
Capitano Moro." What's interesting to modern readers is how
Shakespeare adapted these stories, turning bare narratives into
gripping drama.
The original tale, "Un Capitano Moro," concerns an unnamed
Moor who marries a beautiful lady, Desdemona, despite her
parents' opposition. The Moor and Desdemona live happily in
Venice, and the Moor is appointed commander of troops sent to
the garrison at Cyprus. He takes his wife with him.
The Moor's wicked ensign falls in love with his commander's wife,
Desdemona. The ensign is afraid he will be killed if the Moor
discovers his secret, and all his efforts to impress Desdemona go
unnoticed because she only thinks of her husband. The ensign
imagines that she loves someone else, a handsome young captain
who is also in Venice, and his love turns to bitter hatred. He plots
to kill the captain and revenge himself on Desdemona.
The ensign bides his time. He sees his opportunity when the
Moor degrades the captain for wounding a soldier and
Desdemona tries to make peace between her husband and the
captain. The ensign hints that Desdemona has her own reason to
want the captain reinstated. When his wife claims that the
demotion was an overreaction, the Moor becomes very angry and
suspects that his ensign had spoken truthfully. When the ensign
tells the Moor that the captain told him of the affair, the Moor
demands to see proof of it.
The ensign and his wife have a daughter aged about three, and
one day when Desdemona visits their house, he puts the child on
her lap. As Desdemona and the child play, the ensign steals one of
her handkerchiefs. The ensign then leaves the handkerchief on the
bed of the young captain, who recognizes it and goes to return it
to Desdemona. When the Moor answers his knock at the door,
the captain runs away, but not before the Moor recognizes him.
Later, the ensign laughs and jokes with the captain where the
Moor can see them; he then tells the Moor him that he and the
captain were talking about the captain's love affair with
Desdemona and a handkerchief that she had given him. The
Moor, believing that the handkerchief constitutes proof of his
wife's infidelity, demands it of his wife, who, of course, cannot
produce it. The Moor decides that he must kill his wife and plots
with the ensign to kill both his wife and the captain.
The ensign, after a large payment, waylays the captain, attacks him
with his sword, and manages to wound him on the leg.
Desdemona is tearful to see the captain in pain, and the Moor and
the ensign beat her to death with a sand filled stocking. Then they
pulled down the rotten timber ceiling on her, making it appear
that the falling roof had killed her. The Moor, distracted with grief
for his dead wife, turns against the ensign and cashiers him.
The ensign now plots to ruin the Moor. He goes back to Venice
with the captain, now one-legged, and they accuse the Moor of
injuring him and murdering Desdemona. The Moor is arrested,
refuses to speak under torture, and is banished and later killed by
Desdemona's family. The ensign pursues his career of villainy with
other victims, but in the end is arrested and dies under torture.
Shakespeare's Version
In creating his tragedy Othello, Shakespeare tightened and
dramatized the original story in several ways. The plot is
concentrated in time and space, other characters are introduced to
give, in several places, a double motive for an action. Iago now
plots to destroy Othello, for a variety of motives, rather than
Desdemona. Roderigo provides Iago with a useful dupe; his
existence allows Iago to outline his wicked plans in conversation
rather than soliloquy and to demonstrate his capacity for ruthless
manipulation. Emilia provides a running commentary on Iago and
his character, which she ascribes to all men. She innocently picks
up the handkerchief, allowing the elimination of the daughter
from the plot, and is a quick source of the information that finally
condemns Iago.
Shakespeare also significantly altered the story's ending,
concentrating revenge, love, and despair in the final dramatic
scene of the play: murder in the marriage bed, followed
immediately by revelation and grief. Shakespeare's Othello
murders his wife alone, face to face, by strangulation, struggling
with his love for her to the end.
By concentrating the action and developing the characters into
fully realized human beings, with their own names, personalities,
and ways of looking at the world, Shakespeare created a tragedy
whose beauty and pathos is universal.
 Othello Summary
In Venice, Roderigo complains to Iago that, despite the money he's
given Iago to help him woo Desdemona, she's eloped with the Moorish
general Othello. Iago responds that he too hates Othello, for whom he
works as a standard-bearer: Othello chose Cassio, rather than Iago, to be
his lieutenant. The two men go to the home of Desdemona's father, the
senator Brabantio, and rouse him with graphic descriptions of his
daughter having sex with the Moor. Brabantio, enraged, interrupts
Othello as he receives an urgent message from the Duke of Venice, and
accompanies Othello see the Duke. In front of the Duke, Brabantio
accuses Othello of having used magic to seduce Desdemona. Othello
responds that it was stories of his exciting life history and military
bravery that won Desdemona. When summoned, Desdemona supports
Othello's story. Brabantio grudgingly blesses the newlyweds. The Duke
then sends Othello to lead a fleet of Venetians to defend Cyprus from a
Turkish attack. Desdemona accompanies him. Iago reassures Roderigo
that he will still win Desdemona in the end, then privately admits that
he's just using Roderigo for money while he plots his own revenge.
When the Venetians arrive in Cyprus, the governor Montano reports that
a storm at sea has drowned the Turkish fleet, eliminating the military
threat. Iago quickly hatches a plan to make Othello believe that
Desdemona has been unfaithful to him with either Cassio or Roderigo.
That night, while Othello and Desdemona go to bed to consummate
their marriage, Iago succeeds in getting Cassio drunk. He then goads
Roderigo into provoking Cassio, starting a brawl. Disgusted, Othello
demotes Cassio.
Meanwhile, Iago convinces Desdemona to try to get Othello to reinstate
Cassio. Iago then uses Desdemona's requests that he be merciful to
Cassio to make Othello suspect that Desdemona is cheating on him with
Cassio. Othello, takes the bait, repeatedly praising Iago for his honesty.
Later, when Desdemona accidentally drops a handkerchief that Othello
had given to her as a love-token, Emilia gives it to Iago, who had long
asked her to steal it for him. Iago then plants it in Cassio's room.
Othello, upset, demands that Iago show him proof of Desdemona's
infidelity. Iago responds that he has heard Cassio fantasize lewdly about
Desdemona in his sleep and that he has seen Cassio wipe his mouth with
Desdemona's handkerchief. Othello promotes Iago to the status of
lieutenant and orders him to kill Cassio within three days. Othello then
goes to Desdemona's room, and asks her for the handkerchief.
Desdemona, who had been searching for the handkerchief, admits she
can't find it. Othello storms off. Meanwhile, Cassio's mistress, the
prostitute Bianca, comes to his quarters. Cassio asks her to make a copy
of a handkerchief he's recently found in his room, because he admires it.
Iago continues to spur Othello's jealousy. When he reports that Cassio
has admitted to sleeping with Desdemona, Othello falls into an epileptic
fit. Iago urges Othello to hide while he questions Cassio about
Desdemona. In fact, he asks Cassio about Bianca, causing Cassio to
laugh. Watching from afar, Othello grows increasingly furious. Then,
Bianca shows up, and throws Desdemona's handkerchief at Cassio,
accusing him of having it from another whore. After Cassio and Bianca
leave, Iago easily persuades Othello to kill Desdemona. Iago promises to
take care of Cassio himself. He then convinces Roderigo that if Cassio
were to die, Othello would have to remain in Cyprus, leaving
Desdemona in Venice for Roderigo. Iago instructs Roderigo to wait
outside Bianca's house that night and kill Cassio when he leaves.
That night, Iago sets Roderigo up to kill Cassio as planned. When Cassio
exits Bianca's house, Roderigo attacks him; both are wounded.
Overhearing Roderigo's cries for help, Othello believes that Cassio is
dead and is impressed by Iago's loyalty. Meanwhile, Iago goes to
Bianca's; finding Cassio wounded, he stabs Roderigo, killing him (and
thus assuring that his secret will not be revealed). Iago then calls the
others, including Bianca, whom he arrests, accusing her of having
conspired with Roderigo. While this is going on, Othello arrives at
Desdemona's chamber. Enchanted by her beauty, he nonetheless resists
her pleas to spare her life, and he smothers her with a pillow. Emilia
arrives to tell Othello that Roderigo is dead and Cassio alive, when she
hears Desdemona's dying cries.
When Emilia demands why Othello has killed Desdemona, Othello
explains how Iago proved to him that Desdemona slept with Cassio. As
Montano, Iago, and Gratiano, a relative of Brabantio's all arrive, Emilia
accuses Iago of lying and explains that she stole this from Desdemona at
her husband's behest. Othello attacks Iago. In the uproar, Iago stabs and
kills Emilia, then flees. Montano and Gratiano disarm Othello, then
chase down Iago. When he is dragged back in their custody, Othello
wounds him before being disarmed again. Letters found on Roderigo's
corpse reveal the full extent of Iago's plots; he himself refuses to explain
himself. Othello draws a hidden dagger and, after a speech, kills himself.