Editor's Choice

Can you provide a summary of Othello?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Othello is a story about love, jealousy, and betrayal. In a nutshell, complicated characters with complicated backgrounds make racially charged bad decisions that lead to tragic consequences for innocent victims.

To sum up the plot of the play, a dark-skinned war hero, Othello, and a white woman, Desdemona, fall in love and decide to marry, much to her father's shock and dismay. Othello's trusted friend and deputy, Iago, decides to take advantage of the bad feelings around Othello's race and what some see as a sense of entitlement that leads him to marry a white woman. Iago creates big problems for Othello because he is angry and jealous of another officer who has received a promotion from Othello. Iago also manipulates Cassio, the unsuspecting promoted officer, and masterminds a situation where Cassio and Desdemona appear to be having an affair to exact revenge on Othello and on Cassio, of whom Iago is envious. Othello is heartbroken when he finds out about the supposed affair and is driven to commit a horrible act in his mad rage, blind to the truth of his wife's love and innocence. After he murders Desdemona, Othello kills himself, while Iago lives on. Though the audience is meant to feel most sorry for Desdemona and Othello, who are obvious victims of Iago's villainy, other characters also die at Iago's hand.

Iago is one of Shakespeare's most famous and most horrible villains, while both Othello and Desdemona are among Shakespeare's most pathetic victims of tragic circumstances.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Othello begins with a discussion of the titular Othello between Iago and Roderigo. They conspire against him and wake Brabantio in the middle of the night with news that Othello has eloped with his daughter Desdemona. An enraged Brabantio demands justice, for Othello is a Moor. However, he is also a valued Italian general who is well-spoken and well-liked. The council declines to press charges against Othello, whom Desdemona openly chooses and who is needed to fight a Turkish fleet.

Storms destroy the Turkish navy, and the soldiers make it safely home. Iago and Roderigo continue to work against Othello so Roderigo can steal Desdemona and Iago can get revenge for Othello promoting Cassio over him. Iago manipulates Cassio into getting so drunk and making such a fool of himself that Othello relieves him of duty. From there, Iago suggests to Othello that Cassio and Desdemona are having an affair, presenting him with false evidence and lies.

The usually placid Othello begins to lose his mind over the thought of Desdemona’s deception and infidelity with one of his best friends. Iago orchestrates a series of events that gets Cassio maimed and Roderigo killed, and Othello, convinced that Iago has proven Desdemona’s adultery, murders the one he loves. With the help of Emilia, Iago’s wife, it is revealed that Iago is behind this lie. Iago kills Emilia, and Othello, who directs others to “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate… speak / Of one that loved not wisely but too well,” commits suicide. Iago, who is wounded by Othello and will be tortured, remains alive.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial