Othello, Scene by Scene

NAVIGATION:

The Tragic Story of Othello, Scene-by-Scene

A man like ourselves, but better rather than worse, makes a great mistake and falls (losing his identity) — raising our pity and fear — until he discovers the truth about what he has done and regains himself — resulting in a catharsis of our pity and fear.

A man like ourselves, but better rather than worse . . . .

1.1: THE RIGHT ENEMIES: --As the scene opens, what is going on between Iago and Roderigo?; --How does Iago deal with Roderigo's truculence?; --What kind of person is Roderigo? Iago? Brabantio?; --All three of them express hatred for Othello. How does this affect our attitude about him?
1.2: GRACE UNDER FIRE: --Who is the "magnifico" that Iago is talking about? What is that man's relationship to Othello? What is that man's position in the state of Venice?; --In lines 1 - 30 what does Iago do to try to ruin Othello's life? Why doesn't Iago's plan work?; --At line 58 what does Iago do to try to ruin Othello's life? Why doesn't Iago's plan work?; --How does this scene affect our opinion of Othello?
1.3.1-303: COURAGEOUS LOVE: --What is Brabantio's accusation against Othello?; --Compare the Duke's speech beginning at line 65 with his speech beginning at line 106. How has the Duke's attitude towards Brabantio changed? Why has it changed?; --What are the two possibilities that First Senator speaks of in his speech beginning at line 110? How do lines 145 - 169 answer First Senator's question?; --How does Desdemona appearance and speech (beginning at line 180) contradict Brabantio's accusation against Othello?; --What does this scene add to our estimation of Othello?

makes a great mistake . . . .

1.3. 301 ff.: IAGO AND HIS PLAN: --Why is Roderigo entertaining thoughts of suicide?; --See line 333. Why is Roderigo shocked?; --At line 379 Roderigo says "I am chang'd." In what way is he changed, and what effected the change?; --Iago's soliloquy (line 383 ff.): What is Iago's plan? Do we think that it might work?
2.1.1-312: FLYING INTO IAGO'S CROSSHAIRS: --Why does Cassio kiss Emilia?; --What does Desdemona think of herself?; --Why is Iago sure that he can use Cassio and Desdemona to bring down Othello?; --Why is Iago considered Shakespeare's most frightening villain?
2.2.; 2.3: BUTTERFLIES IN THE SPIDER'S WEB
3.1, 3.2: CASSIO STUMBLES INTO THE TRAP
3.3.1-103: SNAP!: --Why does Cassio leave when Othello and Iago show up?; --Why does Desdemona invite Cassio to stay and hear her speak on his behalf?; --In lines 36 - 51 what is Iago's strategy? Why does it not work this time?; --Why is line 103 Othello's tragic mistake?
3.3.113 ff.: SPIRALING DOWNWARD: --In Othello's soliloquy beginning at line 258, he gives three reasons why "She's gone." What are those three reasons, and why are we sure that he is mistaken about all three?; --In lines 278 - 289, does Othello see the handkerchief? Does he touch it? And why does he not remember this moment when Iago says, "such a handkerchief— / I am sure it was your wife's — did I today / See Cassio wipe his beard with"?; --In Othello's soliloquy beginning at line 258, he says what he is going to do about Desdemona. What is it? At the end of the scene, he says he again says what he is going to do about Desdemona, but this time he says something different. What is it?; --What is the most important thing that makes Othello change his mind about what he is going to do about Desdemona?
3.4: A MOUNTAIN MADE OUT OF A MOLEHILL: --Why does Desdemona lie to Othello about the handkerchief?; --Why does Desdemona try to change the subject from the handkerchief to Cassio?; --Desdemona says, "I' faith, you are to blame." What does that mean?; --Othello storms off. Why? Why can't he tell Desdemona his suspicions?
4.1: EVERYTHING BY FITS AND STARTS: --The stage directions says that Othello "Falls in a trance." What does that look like?; --In lines 197 - 199 Iago whips Othello into line with a psychological threat. What is that threat?; --Othello hits Desdemona just after she says something that angers him. What did she say, and what did she mean by it?; --What is the contrast between what we see of Othello in this scene and what we saw of him in the first two scenes of the play?
4.2.: IN HELL: --Why does Othello speaks as though he is in a whorehouse with a whore named Desdemona?; --Does this scene creates sympathy for Othello?
4.3.: THE LAMB THAT IS ABOUT TO BE SLAUGHTERED
5.1.: THE MASTERMIND MAKES A MISTAKE
5.2: REALIZATION AND REMORSE: --In the opening of the last scene of the play, as Othello is preparing to kill Desdemona, he justifies that killing. What is his justification? Do you find the justification compelling, even if Desdemona were guilty of a adultery with Cassio?; --Othello exclaims to Desdemona, "thou dost stone my heart, / And makest me call what I intend to do / A murder, which I thought a sacrifice." What has Desdemona done to cause Othello to say this?; --In lines 126 - 130 Othello suddenly changes his tune. How and why does he change his tune?; --At line 198 Othello howls with . . . grief? anger?; --At line 266 Othello says he has a weapon. What weapon is it? What does he do with it? And why?; --Why does Othello kill himself?; --Does the ending of Othello give you a sense of calm and understanding?