Iago goes off to deal with Roderigo. Iago lies and tells him that Othello is to be sent to Mauritania and the best way to keep him in Cyprus with Desdemona is to kill Cassio. The gullible Roderigo agrees. Later that night, Roderigo and Iago search for Cassio. When he is found, Roderigo attacks him, but Roderigo is wounded. Iago rushes in to murder him, but only manages to stab Cassio’s leg. Othello hears Cassio’s cries and assumes he has been killed. He goes off to murder Desdemona. Iago murders Roderigo, for he is fearful that he will talk.
Othello enters the bedroom, where Desdemona is sleeping. He gives her a last kiss, which wakes her. Realizing what is about to happen, she pleads for her life, or at least for some time, but Othello will not listen. He smothers her. Almost immediately, Emilia knocks at the door for admission. When Othello is sure that his wife is dead, he lets Emilia in. She tells him that Cassio has killed Roderigo (as all believe). She then sees Desdemona’s body and learns that her husband Iago is responsible for Othello’s belief in Desdemona’s guilt. She tells Othello that Iago has lied and goes out to call for help. Iago, Montano, Gratiano and others enter, and Othello tells why he has killed Desdemona. Emilia then reveals the truth about the handkerchief, saying that she had taken it and given it to Iago. In anger, Iago stabs and kills his wife. Othello wounds Iago before he escapes. He is then confined to the room as a prisoner.
Lodovico and Montano come in with Cassio in a chair and Iago as prisoner. Lodovico takes command. He puts Othello under guard, places Cassio in his stead, and condemns Iago to torture. After a moving speech, Othello stabs himself and dies on Desdemona’s body. Lodovico leaves to report the dreadful facts to the senate of Venice.
THEMES
Major Theme
The major theme of Othello is the destructive power of jealousy. Because Othello is a totally jealous man, he easily falls prey to Iago’s plotting and scheming. His mind is poisoned by the jealousy, and it leads, both directly and indirectly, to the deaths of Desdemona, Roderigo, Emilia, and Othello. Jealousy is truly the fatal flaw of the protagonist, and the entire play revolves around it.
Minor Themes
One of the minor Themes in Othello is that of deception, developed mostly through Iago, who is an arch-deceiver throughout the play. Because he is angry that Othello has passed over him for a promotion, he vows revenge. Playing upon Othello’s jealousy, he deceives him into believing that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio. He also deceives Roderigo, making him believe that Desdemona will tire of Othello and eventually be won by Roderigo. It is Iago’s repeated deceptions that move the plot of the play forward to the ultimate climax and tragedy.
Another minor theme of Othello is love, and the play can be considered a romantic tragedy. The play is romantic because it celebrates "the marriage of two minds" as embodied in Othello and Desdemona. They marry in spite of the protests of Desdemona’s father, and she faithfully follows her husband wherever he is sent. Their romantic marriage, however, is ruined by the villainous machinations of Iago. Othello is eventually led to murder his beloved, turning the romantic play into a tragedy.
A third minor theme of Othello revolves around appearance vs. reality. Iago has an honest face, which helps hide his deceitful soul. Othello appears to be strong and courageous, a leading general, but he is easily tricked into fearing that his wife is unfaithful. It appears that Desdemona has left her treasured handkerchief with Cassio; in reality, Emilia has taken it and Iago has planted in on Cassio. Because of Iago’s trickery, it appears to Othello that Desdemona is involved with Cassio; in truth, she is innocent, loving her husband dearly. Throughout the play, Iago is instrumental in making sure that reality is disguised by appearances, which he manipulates.
MOOD
The predominant mood of the whole play is somber and tragic. Iago works his evil almost from the opening scene, and each new deception that he plans brings greater misery. The tragic gloom that he causes is only occasionally relieved by comedy, provided by Roderigo and the Clown.
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