English 12 - Mr. RinkaLesson #19

OthelloAct 5

Act Vhttp://www.wikisummaries.org/Othello

Scene 1Iago and Roderigo wait outside in the dark as Cassio leaves Bianca. Giving Roderigo a sword, he sends the man in to attack him as he leaves. However, Roderigo fails to pierce his armor and instead takes a wound himself. Iago, jumps in

during the fray and stabs Cassio, leaving the man on the ground unsure of who stabbed him. The cries of pain and murder from Cassio are interpreted by Othello as a successful execution by Iago, and he hurries to his bed chambers to kill his wife. Lodovico and Gratiano discover the men in the street, but it is too

dark to see what its happening. Iago quickly enters with a light and pretends to find Cassio. He quickly stabs Roderigo while the two other men are still confused and leads them to Cassio where they question his injuries. When Bianca enters the scene, she is distraught by Cassio’s injuries, which he cannot explain. When

Iago suggests it to be Roderigo’s doing, Cassio declares he doesn’t know the man. Emilia enters after Cassio and Roderigo’s corpse is removed and the two comment on the horrible results of whoring, arresting Bianca and commenting on Iago’s final move.http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html

Scene 2Othello enters Desdemona’s room and entreats her to pray and repent, as he does not want to kill her soul. She realizes her death is imminent and because she knows she cannot plead her case, she entreats Othello to let her live a bit longer or to merely banish her. He does not and as the two struggle, he smothers

her. Hearing a voice from outside, he thinks maybe he has failed and smothers her again, only to find that Emilia has arrived to give him the news of what has happened. He hides the bed and opens the door for Emilia who informs him that Cassio has killed Roderigo, not at all what he expected to hear. Desdemona is not quite dead yet

and speaks from under the sheets, “falsely murdered” prompting Emilia to call for help. Desdemona then dies, stating that she killed herself. Othello, however, announces that he murdered his wife, his eyes open by Iago to her treachery. Emilia discusses with Othello what she herself saw, and that her husband is a liar and as his

treachery becomes apparent, she calls murder to wake everyone. When everyone arrives, she lays her claims out against Iago, calling him a liar and giving him a chance to defend himself. He retains his claim that Cassio and Desdemona were having an affair. However, Emilia describes how she found the handkerchief

and gave it to Iago. He quickly stabs his wife and runs off, leaving Emilia to die, but not before she explains to Othello how Desdemona loved him. Iago is quickly caught and returned to the scene, where Othello declares his follies after Iago refuses to explain himself. In one final show of devotion and despair,

Othello takes his own life and falls upon the bed. Lodovico takes charge of the situation, giving Othello’s property to his next of kin and granting command of the forces to Cassio, who will have the sentencing power over Iago. Lodovico himself will return to Venice to explain exactly what happened.

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/othello/full.html

Othello and Desdemona by Alexandre-Marie Colin, 1829http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello

Discussion

A classic story of good and evil and how both play upon human nature.

Iago = evilDesdemona = goodOthello = human nature

Iago

• Motivated by evil qualities (envy, revenge, and selfishness)

• Using evil means such as lies to satisfy his desire

• Very deceitful and devious• Understands the frailties of

humans

Othello: I do not think but Desdemona's honest.Iago: Long live she so, and long live you to think so!Othello: And, yet, how nature erring from itself,—Iago: Ay, there's the point. - Act III Scene 3http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Othello

Edwin Booth as Iago, ca. 1870 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello

Desdemona

• Innocent and pure in terms of character

• Loyal to her character• Trusting because of her

nature• Easily victimized

So will I turn her virtue into pitch,And out of her own goodness make the netThat shall enmesh them all. - Iago, Act II scene 3http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Othello

Desdemona by Frederic Leighton, ca. 1888

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello

Othello• Capable of love and heroic deeds• Directed more by emotion than

by reason• Has little understanding of

human nature• Lacks a sense of self-awareness• Represents human propensity for

falling victim to evil

The Moor is of a free and open nature,That thinks men honest that but seem to be so,And will as tenderly be led by the noseAs asses are. - Iago, scene IIIhttp://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Othello

American actor John McCullough as Othello, 1878 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Othello

Elizabethan Women

Desdemona represents an attitude toward woman during the Elizabethan Age.•More possessions than people•The weaker sex•Temptresses•Subservient

Assignment #1

Read Gli Hecatommithi by Giraldi Cinthio which is the source for Shakespeare’s Othello. When finished discuss the differences between the two.http://opera.stanford.edu/Verdi/Otello/source.html

Assignment #2

Write a 5 paragraph essay that illustrates your reaction to the play Othello. The first body paragraph should explain what you like about the play. The second should describe what you dislike, and the third should explain the lessons you learned from reading the play.

Assignment #2 cont.

• Use the LA 12 essay rubric as your guide.

• Follow the writing process.• Pair up with another for the

read/share/revise portion of the process.

English 12 - Mr. RinkaLesson #19

OthelloAct 5