What is the summary of the play Othello?

What is the summary of the play Othello?

The play is set in motion when Othello, a heroic black general in the service of Venice, appoints Cassio and not Iago as his chief lieutenant. Jealous of Othello’s success and envious of Cassio, Iago plots Othello’s downfall by falsely implicating Othello’s wife, Desdemona, and Cassio in a love affair.

What is Othello’s characterization?

Character Analysis. As a skilled soldier and general, Othello is brave, confident, smart and physically strong. Unfortunately, he is also a racial outsider, insecure about his Moorish background, emotionally out of control and naïve. Othello’s insecurity is his fatal flaw, a weakness in his personality.

How is justice shown in Othello?

Othello uses the language of justice and the law to justify killing Desdemona (‘it is the cause’, line 1) and demands that she ‘deny each article’ (line 54) of his accusations before he smothers her. When he realises the truth, Othello takes justice into his own hands and commits suicide.

What is Emilia’s purpose in Othello?

Emilia helped Iago persuade Othello of Desdemona’s guilt, and while she cannot undo Desdemona’s death, she can at least bear witness to the truth of what really happened.

What is the main idea of Othello?

Lesson Summary Some of the major themes in this play include racial prejudice, manipulation, and jealousy. Specifically, Othello is regarded as a beast by other characters because he is black. Iago is jealous of Cassio because Othello promotes him to a higher military position.

Is Othello misguided or cruel?

Othello was madly in love with Desdemona and they were compassionate for each other but he was misguided and confused with jealousy and hatred which steered him off course to his sinister fate.

What did Othello call Desdemona?

I suspect you are referring to Act IV, scene ii, when, after striking her in front of Lodovico, Othello finally calls Desdemona a whore.

Is Emilia a strong character?

Emilia’s conviction for female equality is so strong that she attempts to convince Desdemona that she should not put up with Othello’s jealousy. ‘I do think it’s a husband’s fault if their wives do fail,’ Emilia protests. ‘Let husbands know their wives have sense like them’ (Act 4, Scene 3).

What is the plot summary of Othello?

Plot Analysis. Othello is the story of a noble military general who has enjoyed many successes on the battlefield, but because of mistakes of judgment and his outsider status in his society, sabotages his most intimate relationship and himself.

Why does Othello kill himself?

Othello killed Desdemona because he believed that she had become unfaithful. This was because of Iago’s plot to ruin Othello’s life, because Othello had snubbed him for a job position. Othello kills himself, however, out of a mixture of guilt and self-loathing,…

What does Othello fear?

Love and ultimately the fear of rejection, shame, loss of reputation and self-worth intertwine in Othello to create an almost personal tragedy. The circumstances are real and an audience can relate…

What are the characteristics of Othello?

Othello is an outsider who is intelligent and confident in military matters but socially insecure. He leads an intense life, swinging between triumph and dread. He is different from those around him, due to his origins and his life history, but he shares their religion, values, and patriotism to Venice.