Othello
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Othello, Moorish commander of the armed forces of Venice, had secretly married Desdemona, the much younger daughter of the respected Senator Brabantio. Capitalizing on this news, Othellos ensign, Iago, who had earlier professed his desires to Desdemona without receiving her love in return, sought revenge. Also passed over for promotion as Othellos new lieutenant chief of staff, the Moor having chosen instead a loyal Florentine, Michael Cassio, Iago now devised a scheme to rid himself of these sorry reminders of his own failings. He dispatched his inexperienced follower, Roderigo, to inform Brabantio of the illicit marriage.
The thought of a beguiling Moors marrying his beloved daughter without consent, led the Senator with his guards to Othellos house. However, violence was postponed by the report of an imminent attack on Cyprus from armed Turkish galleys. The Duke of Venice summoned Othello to the senate chambers. When Desdemona appeared and professed her love for Othello, the Duke cleared him of wrongdoing, saying to Brabantio, “If virtue no delighted beauty lack, / Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.” Then the Duke directed his courageous commander to lead the Venetian forces to Cyprus in its defense.
With his honor intact, and through Desdemonas pleas to remain with her love, Othello gained permission to have her sail with him. For the voyage, Othello entrusted Desdemona to the care of Iagos wife, Emilia, who did not suspect her husbands treachery. Before the soldier band could reach its enemy, a storm destroyed the Turkish fleet and dispersed the Venetian vessels. Fortunately, all of Othellos ships returned safely to Cyprus and Othello and his bride were reunited.
Iagos hateful plan turned now to lies and innuendo. Seeing the infatuation his pawn Roderigo had for Desdemona, Iago engaged Rodcrigo in conversation, promising that he could secure for him Desdemonas love:
I hate the Moor. My cause is hearted: thine both no less reason. Let s be conjunctive in our revenge against him. If thou canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport.
But then evil Iago demanded a price for Desdemona: Roderigo would have to engage Cassio in a fight during the lieutenants night watch. Iago further fanned Roderigos readiness to kill Cassio by claiming that Cassio was Desdcmonas latest love.
That night Iago succeeded in getting Cassio drunk, and the brawl turned to riot. By way of reprimand, Othello was forced to demotc Cassio, a severe blow to the high-ranking officer. Desdemona nobly appealed to her husband on Cassios behalf, in an attempt to revive their friendship. This innocent act provided Iago with yet another idea – a way to convince the Moor of his wifes “natural attraction” to the handsome young Florentine.
Iago approached the despondent Cassio and convinced him that a meeting could be arranged between him and Desdemona; and she could use her influence to have Cassios position restored. When the meeting took place, Iago drew Othello aside to cause him to see Cassio in the act of “soliciting” his wife. He also began his line of subtle allusions to gossip of a prior romance between the two. His clever suggestions continued, daily planting seeds of jealousy in Othellos heart.
Meanwhile, Desdemona could sense her husbands growing despair. Othellos jealous rages grieved not only her, his ill-starred wife, but also all those under his command. Emilia, Desdemonas loving caretaker, swore of her mistress fidelity, but the tormented Othello would not listen.
Iagos plan was promoted even more when he obtained a handkerchief Othello had given to Desdemona as a love token. It had been found by Emilia, who intended to return it to her mistress. Instead, Iago secretly planted it in Cassios bed.
Tortured over the weeks, and weary of Iagos incessant insinuations, Othello finally demanded proof from Iago of Desdemonas unfaithfulness:
Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore,
Or by the worth of mans eternal soul,
Thou hadst been better have been born a dog
Than answer my wakd wrath
Iago swore to have heard Cassio speak words of love to Desdemona in his sleep. As additional evidence he cited having seen Cassio wipe his beard with the missing scarf, which Cassio had since discovered in his quarters. Iagos cunning plan was working; Othello was finally convinced:
Othello: Get me some poison, Iogo, this night
Iago: Do it at with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed she hath contaminated.
Othello: Good, good. The justice of it pleases. Very good.
Iago: And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker …
Overwhelmed with madness, Othello at once accepted Iagos words, making him his new lieutenant and charging him with his first order of business: Kill the deceitful Cassio.
In treacherous obedience to his commander, Iago enlisted Roderigo to ambush Cassio. With Iago hiding in the nights darkness, Roderigo confronted Cassio in a duel, but was wounded himself. Then, in the scuffle, Iago leaped out and wounded Cassio. In order to keep Roderigo from talking, Iago next turned on Roderigo, fatally stabbing the unfortunate lackey.
A crowd quickly gathered, including a harlot who claimed wounded Cassio as a friend. Iago, reasoning that a broken and a shunned Cassio would be an even sweeter revenge than a dead Cassio, decided this woman could be used to further defame his enemy. Pretending to have been a passer-by coming to Cassios aid, Iago, along with some other Venetian gentlemen, assisted the wounded ensign toward Othellos home.
That same evening, Othello ordered Desdemona to excuse her servant early and