Othello
William Shakespeare
SUMMARY:
Brabantio was a wealthy senator of Venice. He had a beautiful daughter named Desdemona. She had many suiters. But Desdemona found none suitable. She liked a Moor, whom her father loved, and often called him to his house.
Othello was a fearless soldier. By his victory against the Turks, he had risen to the rank of a general in the Venetian army. He was honoured and trusted by the state. He had also been a traveller. He would tell Desdemona the story of his adventures in different lands. Desdemona would love to hear such sensational tales. While telling her stories, Othello declared his love for Desdemona. He managed to win her love. They decided to marry privately.
The marriage did not remain secret for long. Desdemona’s father came to know it. A special council of the senate was convened. Othello was accused of marrying Desdemona by spells and witchcraft.
At that moment the Turks were approaching Cyprus to recapture that island from the Venetian’s. The state considered Othello the right person to defend. Cyprus against the mighty invaders. Othello stood as an accused before the council. He explained the situation and was ably supported by Desdemona. The old Senator expressed his sorrow for his unjust behaviour. He accepted his daughter’s decision to marry the black Moor.
No sooner had Othello and Desdemona arrived in Cyprus then the news came that a sever Strom had dispersed the Turkish fleet. So the island was free from external aggression. But something more dangerous was in store for Othello.
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Cassio was Othello’s most confidential associate. He was a young soldier, a Florentine. He was always, pleasant and favourite with women. Othello employed him as his envoy to Desdemona during their love- affair. Thus Cassio also earned desdemona’s confidence. He was a frequenter to their house. Cassio and Desdemona would laugh and talk but Othello was never jealous of their intimacy.
Othello had lately promoted Cassio to the past of lieu- tenant, a place of trust, only next to the post of the general. This promotion made Iago, an older officer, very much jealous. Iago hated Cassio and Othello as well for favouring Cassio. Iago thought of a horrible scheme of revenge which would involve both Cassio, the Moor and Desdemona. Iago was very shrewd and had studied human nature deeply. He thought that if he could succeed in making Othello jealous of Cassio, it would be an ideal plot of revenge against both Othello and Cassio.
Cyprus being secured from enemy attack, Othello made a short of holiday. It was a moment of feasting and marry-making. Cassio was given the charge to keep the soldiers away from excessive drinking. That night Iago laid his dangerous plot. He made Cassio drink freely. Heavy drinking made Cassio lose his balance. In his drunken state, he began to praise desdemona’s beauty. After a while a fight broken out in a large scale. The alarm – bell was rung. Othello arrived at the scene. Iago put the blame on Cassio. He was immediately removed from the past of lieu- ten- ant.
A part of Iago’s plot was thus successful. Now he was eager to work out the second part of his mischievous scheme. He advised Cassio to approach Desdemona whose intervention and pending Othello could never resist. Desdemona warmly accepted cassio’s prayer. She began to persuade Othello to change his hasty decision.
Iago was true to his diabolical nature. He suggested to Othello that Cassio was, and had been desdemona’s lover. Iago arrange through his wife Emilia that Othello should see Cassio to possess the handkerchief of Desdemona. Othello believed in Iago’s words. He began to burn in jealousy. He accused Desdemona of being unfaithful and of loving another man. But he did not spell out the name of her secret lover.
Desdemona was taken aback by her husband’s accusation. She went to bed expected Othello would follow her. She soon fell asleep. Othello entered the chamber with the decision to put his wife to death. He awakened Desdemona with his kisses. In frenzied jealousy Othello told the name of Cassio, and the handkerchief she had given him. Othello did not hear desdemona’s reply. He instantly covered her up in the bed – clothes and stifled her to death.
On the other hand, Iago set one of his followers to murder Cassio. That man failed to do this. So Iago himself killed that man. Certain letters were found in his pockets which proved that Iago was guilty and that Cassio was innocent. This discovery made Othello feel that he was no better than a murdered. His Desdemona was pure, innocent and faithful. He could not endure the extreme mental agony. At last Othello threw himself upon a sword and killed himself.