Othello, a tragedy by William Shakespeare, follows the rise and fall of the noble Moorish general Othello, who serves in the Venetian army. At the play's start, Othello has secretly married Desdemona, a young Venetian woman, angering her father, Brabantio. However, Othello defends their union, and they move to Cyprus, where he is assigned to lead against a Turkish fleet.

Iago, Othello’s ensign, harbors resentment toward him for promoting Cassio to lieutenant over him. To exact revenge, Iago crafts a scheme to ruin Othello. He manipulates Othello into believing that Desdemona has been unfaithful with Cassio, planting seeds of jealousy and using Desdemona’s lost handkerchief, which Iago’s wife, Emilia, unwittingly aids him in stealing. Consumed by jealousy, Othello confronts and ultimately murders Desdemona.

When Emilia exposes Iago’s deceit, Othello, overwhelmed with remorse, realizes his tragic mistake. Iago kills Emilia to keep his secret but is arrested. Othello, devastated by guilt and loss, takes his own life. The play concludes with Cassio taking charge and Iago facing punishment, as the tragic consequences of jealousy and betrayal resonate through the surviving characters.

Othello: A Moorish general in the Venetian army, Othello is noble and respected but becomes tragically susceptible to jealousy. His fatal flaw is his trust in Iago, which leads him to doubt and ultimately murder his wife, Desdemona.

Desdemona: Othello’s loving and faithful wife, Desdemona is a virtuous Venetian woman who defies societal expectations to marry Othello. Her innocence and devotion make her a tragic victim of Othello's jealousy.

Iago: Othello’s ensign, Iago is the play’s main antagonist, motivated by bitterness and envy. He devises a complex plan to manipulate Othello, driving him to jealousy and revenge against Desdemona and Cassio.

Cassio: Othello’s loyal lieutenant, Cassio is young, honorable, and respected but becomes a pawn in Iago’s scheme. Iago’s manipulations cause Othello to believe Cassio is Desdemona’s lover.

Emilia: Iago’s wife and Desdemona’s attendant, Emilia is practical and outspoken. She unwittingly helps Iago by giving him Desdemona’s handkerchief, but ultimately exposes his treachery at the play's end.

Roderigo: A foolish and wealthy Venetian suitor of Desdemona, Roderigo is manipulated by Iago, who promises to help him win her love while using him to further his own schemes.

Brabantio: Desdemona’s father and a Venetian senator, Brabantio disapproves of her marriage to Othello, suspecting witchcraft. His disapproval foreshadows the social tensions Othello faces.

Bianca: A courtesan in love with Cassio, Bianca unwittingly plays a role in Iago’s plot when she is given Desdemona’s handkerchief, furthering Othello’s suspicions.

The Duke of Venice: The Duke is a powerful authority figure in Venice who respects Othello and sends him to Cyprus to defend the state, thus setting the stage for the play’s events.

Montano: The governor of Cyprus before Othello, Montano remains loyal to Venice and is a witness to the events that unfold under Othello’s leadership.

Lodovico: A nobleman of Venice, Lodovico is shocked by Othello’s actions and represents the rule of law, arriving in Cyprus to restore order at the end.

Gratiano: Brabantio’s kinsman, Gratiano arrives with Lodovico in Cyprus and learns of his relative’s death, symbolizing the tragic consequences of the play’s events on the Venetian families.

"O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it feeds on,"

Iago, Act 3, Scene 3

Iago warns Othello about the dangers of jealousy, ironically stirring the very jealousy he pretends to caution against, using this metaphor to highlight its consuming and destructive nature.

"Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and what remains is bestial,"

Cassio, Act 2, Scene 3

Cassio laments the loss of his honor after a drunken brawl, emphasizing how reputation is central to identity and self-worth in the play.

"I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss,"

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2

Othello's last words as he kisses the dead Desdemona and takes his own life, underscoring the tragedy of his love and guilt, as well as the irreversible consequences of his actions.

"Men should be what they seem; Or those that be not, would they might seem none!"

Iago, Act 3, Scene 3

Iago ironically states that people should be honest, all the while embodying deceit; this line reflects his duplicitous nature and the theme of appearance versus reality.

"She loved me for the dangers I had passed, And I loved her that she did pity them,"

Othello, Act 1, Scene 3

Othello describes the basis of his love for Desdemona, rooted in admiration and shared empathy, a bond that contrasts sharply with the jealousy that later consumes him.

"My noble Moor is true of mind, and made of no such baseness as jealous creatures are,"

Desdemona, Act 3, Scene 4

Desdemona confidently asserts her faith in Othello's loyalty and goodness, tragically unaware of the jealousy already taking root in him.

"Put out the light, and then put out the light,"

Othello, Act 5, Scene 2

Othello speaks metaphorically as he contemplates killing Desdemona, comparing extinguishing her life to snuffing out a candle, revealing the depth of his inner turmoil.

"I am not what I am,"

Iago, Act 1, Scene 1

This paradoxical line captures Iago’s deceitful nature, foreshadowing the duplicity he will wield throughout the play, as he pretends loyalty while plotting ruin.

Act 1:
The play opens in Venice, where Iago, bitter over being passed over for promotion, conspires with Roderigo, a rejected suitor of Desdemona, to ruin Othello, the Moorish general. They inform Desdemona's father, Brabantio, that she has eloped with Othello. Brabantio is enraged and accuses Othello of using witchcraft to win Desdemona’s love. The Duke of Venice intervenes and hears both sides, ultimately ruling in Othello's favor after Desdemona defends her love for him. Othello is then ordered to Cyprus to defend it from a Turkish invasion, and Desdemona insists on accompanying him.

Act 2:
The scene shifts to Cyprus, where a storm has destroyed the Turkish fleet. Othello, Desdemona, and the others arrive safely. Iago begins to implement his plan, targeting Cassio, Othello’s lieutenant, whom Iago resents. Iago gets Cassio drunk, leading to a brawl in which Cassio injures a local official. Othello is forced to demote Cassio, who is devastated at the loss of his reputation. Iago advises Cassio to seek Desdemona's help in regaining his position, setting up the next phase of his scheme.

Act 3:
Iago’s manipulation deepens as he convinces Othello that Desdemona’s efforts to help Cassio are evidence of an affair between them. He plants seeds of doubt and jealousy, which begin to take hold in Othello’s mind. Iago then arranges for his wife, Emilia, to steal a handkerchief belonging to Desdemona, a treasured gift from Othello. Iago plants it with Cassio to further convince Othello of his wife’s infidelity. Consumed by jealousy, Othello vows revenge on Desdemona and Cassio.

Act 4:
Othello's jealousy spirals into madness. Iago continues to manipulate him, arranging for Othello to overhear a conversation that appears to confirm Cassio's affair with Desdemona. Othello publicly mistreats Desdemona, who is confused and hurt by his accusations. Despite her protests of innocence, Othello resolves to kill her. Iago plots with Roderigo to kill Cassio, promising that it will secure Roderigo’s chance with Desdemona.

Act 5:
The tragedy reaches its climax. Roderigo attacks Cassio but fails and is killed by Iago to cover up his involvement. Meanwhile, Othello smothers Desdemona in their bed, convinced of her guilt. Emilia arrives and exposes Iago’s deception, revealing the truth about the handkerchief. Othello, devastated by guilt, realizes he was deceived. Iago kills Emilia and is arrested, refusing to explain his actions. Overcome with remorse, Othello takes his own life, dying beside Desdemona. The play ends with Cassio assuming command, and Lodovico and Gratiano vowing to bring Iago to justice.