SHAKESPEARE ON DISK. OTHELLO, THE MOORE OF VENICE. Copyright (c) Interconnection Publications Inc., 1989 DRAMATIS PERSONAE. OTHELLO. A noble Moor in the service of the Venetian state. IAGO. Ancient of Othello. DESDEMONA. Wife of Othello. CASSIO. Lieutenant of Othello. RODERIGO. A Venetian gentleman. EMILIA. Wife of Iago. MONTANO. Governor of Cyprus. BIANCA. Mistress of Cassio. CLOWN. Servant of Othello. BRABANTIO. A senator; father of Desdemona. LODOVICO. Kinsman of Brabantio. GRATIANO. Brother of Brabantio. THE DUKE OF VENICE. SENATORS, MESSENGER, SAILOR, HERALD, OFFICERS, GENTLEMEN, MUSICIAN, ATTENDANTS. SYNOPSIS. 1/1 Venice. A street. IAGO and RODERIGO enter; RODERIGO bemoans his loss of Desdemona; IAGO reveals his jealousy of Cassio. IAGO and RODERIGO arouse BRABANTIO, who appears at a window; they tell him that Desdemona has eloped with Othello; they all exit to confront the couple. 1/2 Venice. Another street. OTHELLO, IAGO, and ATTENDANTS enter; they speak; CASSIO enters, with OFFICERS, summoning OTHELLO to an emergency war council. BRABANTIO, RODERIGO enter, with OFFICERS; BRABANTIO accuses OTHELLO of using black magic to win Desdemona; OTHELLO proposes they bring the dispute before the Duke, and all agree. 1/3 Venice. A council-chamber. The DUKE and SENATORS speak about the war with the Turks. BRABANTIO, OTHELLO, IAGO, RODERIGO, and OFFICERS enter and BRABANTIO makes his charges; IAGO and ATTENDANTS exit to bring back Desdemona; OTHELLO describes their courtship; DESDEMONA enters, accompanied by IAGO and ATTENDANTS; DESDEMONA confirms that she and OTHELLO are wife and husband; BRABANTIO disowns DESDEMONA. The DUKE orders OTHELLO to Cyprus; it is planned that DESDEMONA will join him, accompanied by IAGO. All exit, except IAGO and RODERIGO; RODERIGO threatens suicide; IAGO dissuades him, suggesting that Desdemona may still be won; RODERIGO exits. IAGO plots to use jealousy to turn Othello against Cassio. 2/1 A seaport town in Cyprus. An open place near the Quay. MONTANO and TWO GENTEMEN enter; they speak about a tumultuous storm which has delayed Othello's convoy. CASSIO, just disembarked, enters, followed by a THIRD GENTLEMAN; a FOURTH GENTLEMAN enters, announcing the arrival of another ship; the SECOND GENTLEMAN exits, then re-enters with the news that the ship is Iago's; DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and ATTENDANTS enter. IAGO jests with DESDEMONA; IAGO, noting CASSIO kiss DESDEMONA's hand, perfects his plans. OTHELLO and ATTENDANTS enter; OTHELLO and DESDEMONA greet each other passionately; all exit, except IAGO and RODERIGO. IAGO convinces RODERIGO that Cassio and Desdemona are lovers; he incites him to confront Cassio that evening; RODERIGO exits. IAGO soliloquizes; he suspects that Emilia has been unfaithful with both Othello and Cassio. 2/2 A seaport town in Cyprus. A street. A HERALD proclaims to a group of PEOPLE that Othello has declared a holiday in celebration of the destruction of the Turkish fleet. 2/3 Cyprus. A hall in the castle. OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and ATTENDANTS enter; OTHELLO and DESDEMONA go to bed. IAGO enters; he gets CASSIO drunk; CASSIO exits, and re-enters with MONTANO and some GENTLEMEN, followed by SERVANTS with wine; they carouse; CASSIO exits. RODERIGO enters, then exits immediately, on Cassio's heels; IAGO and MONTANO speak; CASSIO and RODERIGO enter, quarrelling; MONTANO intercedes, and is wounded by CASSIO; RODERIGO exits. OTHELLO and ATTENDANTS enter; IAGO recounts the fight; OTHELLO demotes CASSIO. MONTANO exits, assisted by all, except IAGO and CASSIO; CASSIO sorrows over his folly; IAGO suggests CASSIO enlist Desdemona's aid; CASSIO exits. IAGO, left alone, plots further; RODERIGO enters, complaining; IAGO encourages him; they exit. 3/1 Cyprus. Before the castle. CASSIO and MUSICIANS enter to serenade Othello and Desdemona; a CLOWN enters; he jibes the MUSICIANS, who exit; CASSIO asks the CLOWN to fetch Emilia. IAGO enters; he promises CASSIO a tete-a-tete with Desdemona, then exits. EMILIA enters; she agrees to take CASSIO to Desdemona; they exit. 3/2 Cyprus. A room in the castle. OTHELLO, IAGO, and GENTLEMEN enter; OTHELLO gives IAGO letters to deliver; all exit. 3/3 Cyprus. The garden of the castle. DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA enter; DESDEMONA tells CASSIO she will speak for him to Othello. As CASSIO exits, OTHELLO and IAGO enter; IAGO calls OTHELLO's attention to Cassio's speedy departure. DESDEMONA pleads Cassio's cause until OTHELLO agrees to see him; DESDEMONA and EMILIA exit. IAGO works OTHELLO into a state of jealousy; IAGO exits. DESDEMONA and EMILIA enter; DESDEMONA calms OTHELLO, wiping his brow with her handkerchief; DESDEMONA accidently drops the handkerchief; OTHELLO and DESDEMONA exit; EMILIA picks up the handkerchief; IAGO enters, and she gives it to him; EMILIA exits. OTHELLO enters; he demands proof that Desdemona is unfaithful; IAGO says he has heard Cassio speaking in his sleep about making love to Desdemona; IAGO describes the handkerchief, and says he saw it in Cassio's possession. OTHELLO vows revenge; IAGO joins him; OTHELLO names IAGO his new lieutenant. 3/4 Cyprus. Before the castle. DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and the CLOWN enter; the CLOWN exits to fetch Cassio. OTHELLO enters; DESDEMONA again pleads Cassio's cause; OTHELLO berates DESDEMONA for losing the handkerchief, which he gave her; he says it has supernatural powers; OTHELLO exits. CASSIO and IAGO enter; all speak; IAGO exits and, after more conversation, DESDEMONA and EMILIA exit. BIANCA enters; CASSIO gives her the handkerchief to have the embroidery copied. 4/1 Cyprus. Before the castle. IAGO tells OTHELLO that Cassio has admitted committing adultery with Desdemona; OTHELLO falls into a nervous fit. CASSIO enters; IAGO sends him away. IAGO suggests that OTHELLO, who has recovered, hide and eavesdrop as IAGO speaks with Cassio about Desdemona; OTHELLO does so; CASSIO enters; CASSIO talks bawdily about Bianca, but OTHELLO believes the subject is Desdemona; BIANCA enters, jealous, and returns the handkerchief; BIANCA exits, followed by CASSIO. OTHELLO, incensed, plots to murder Desdemona; IAGO encourages him. LODOVICO, DESDEMONA and ATTENDANTS enter; LUDOVICA gives OTHELLO a letter from the Duke ordering him back to Venice and appointing Cassio governor of Cyprus. DESDEMONA reveals OTHELLO's anger against CASSIO; OTHELLO strikes DESDEMONA; DESDEMONA exits, followed by OTHELLO. LODOVICO and IAGO speak. 4/2 Cyprus. A room in the castle. OTHELLO interogates EMILIA about Desdemona; EMILIA swears Desdemona has been faithful; EMILIA exits, and re- enters with DESDEMONA. EMILIA, on OTHELLO's orders, exits to guard the door. Confronted by OTHELLO, DESDEMONA swears she has been faithful; OTHELLO does not believe her; EMILIA enters; OTHELLO exits. DESDEMONA and EMILIA speak, then EMILIA exits; she re- enters with IAGO; IAGO assures DESDEMONA that a matter of state is what is upsetting Othello. As DESDEMONA and EMILIA exit, RODERIGO enters; IAGO and RODERIGO plan to murder Cassio. 4/3 Cyprus. Another room in the castle. OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and ATTENDANTS enter; OTHELLO orders DESDEMONA to bed; all exit, except DESDEMONA and EMILIA; DESDEMONA, melancholy, sings; they exit. 5/1 Cyprus. A street. IAGO and RODERIGO lurk in wait for Cassio; CASSIO enters; RODERIGO thrusts at CASSIO, and is in turn wounded by him; IAGO, under cover, wounds CASSIO, then exits. OTHELLO enters, hears CASSIO's cries, then exits. LODOVICO and GRATIANO enter, followed by IAGO; IAGO goes to CASSIO's aid, then stabs RODERIGO, as one of the assassins. BIANCA enters; IAGO hints she may be the cause of the fracas. CASSIO and RODERIGO are borne out; EMILIA enters; IAGO sends her to tell Othello what has happened. 5/2 Cyprus. A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA in bed asleep; a light burning. OTHELLO enters; despite DESDEMONA's pleas, he smothers her. EMILIA enters; DESDEMONA regains consciousness before dying, and absolves OTHELLO; OTHELLO confesses his guilt and reveals Iago's role in exposing Desdemona's supposed infidelity. EMILIA says IAGO has been lying; she calls for help. MONTANO, GRATIANO, and IAGO enter; OTHELLO speaks of the handkerchief; EMILIA says she was the one who gave it to IAGO; OTHELLO thrusts at IAGO; IAGO wounds EMILIA, then exits; MONTANO recovers Iago's sword, and he and GRATIANO exit after Iago. EMILIA dies; GRATIANO enters, followed by LODOVICO, MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair, and OFFICERS with IAGO, prisoner; OTHELLO wounds IAGO; OTHELLO's sword is taken away; the full extent of IAGO's treachery is revealed; OTHELLO kills himself with a dagger. LODOVICO promises IAGO terrible punishment.