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 Brabantio,
a rich senator of Venice, had a beautiful daughter, the gentle
Desdemona. She was so beautiful and rich that many men wanted to
marry her, but she did not love any of the handsome and wealthy
young men of Venice. She thought that a man's character and mind
were more important than his age or his appearance. She chose
for her lover a foreigner-a Moor from North Africa, whom her
father often invited to his house.
The noble Moor was a brave soldier. He had fought for the
Venetians in their wars against the Turks, and had become a
general in the Venetian army. The State thought highly of his
abilities and trusted him. His name was Othello.
Othello was not a young man, but
he was a very interesting person. As a soldier he had traveled
far, and fought in many different countries. Desdemona loved to
hear him tell stories of his adventures. He would talk of the
battles he had fought and the dangers he had faced on land and
sea. He had been taken prisoner by the enemy, and sold into
slavery. Then he had escaped. He spoke of the strange thing he
had seen, the great deserts, mountains reaching right up into
the clouds, savage people who ate the bodies of their enemies,
and a race of people in Africa whose heads grew not on their
shoulders, but in their chests. These traveler's tales greatly
interested Desdemona. Whenever Othello visited the house, she
would get down and listen to him.
One day. when he had been telling
her about his life, she told him that she wished to live the
same kind of life as he had lived. Taking this opportunity,
Othello told Desdemona that he loved her. She agreed to marry
him.
Brabantio had always told his
daughter that she was free to choose her own husband, as she
pleased. He had expected that, like all noble Venetian ladies,
she would choose a man of high rank and of her own race and
colour. But Desdemona loved the Moor. He was brave strong, noble
an important man in the city, and an exciting man to be with. To
her, the fact that he was an older man. and a foreigner, was of
no importance. The two decided to marry at once in secret.
Their marriage did not remain a
secret for long. Othello had an enemy called Iago, who was a
soldier in the Venetian army. Iago had hoped to become a senior
officer. Three of the most important people in the city had
asked Othello to give him this position. But Othello had already
chosen someone else-a man called Michael Casio.
Iago had been given a much less
important post and he was very displeased about it. It seemed so
unfair. He told his friend Rodrigo that Othello had seen how
well he had fought in Rhodes Cyprus and other places. He could
not understand why Othello liked Casio better.
Michael Cassio is a clever man,
said Iago, but he has never fought in a battle in his life!
Iagi hated Othello. He was angry
that Othello had not made him a senior officer. He was jealous
of Othello's military success. He had also heard people say that
Othello had made love to his Emilia.
Iago told Roderigo that he would
serve in the army under Othello, and that he would appear to do
his duty and be friendly. But he would only do these things for
his own purposes. The truth was he wanted to make trouble for
the Moor.
 On the night of Othello's secret marriage to Desdemona, Iago and
Rodrigo went to Brabantio's house. They told him what had
happened. Brabantio went mad with anger. He complained to the
rulers of Venice about Othello. He was a powerful man, and they
had to listen to him.
At a meeting of the Senate, Brabantio accused the Moor of using
witchcraft to make Desdemona marry him. He was very surprised
that Desdemona had agreed to accept Othello as her husband. He
believed that unless someone had put some sort of magic spell on
her, she would never have married him without asking for her
father's consent first.
Othello, speaking simply and plainly, told the Senate what had
happened. He admitted that he had married Desdemona but denied
that he had used any evil means to make her love him. Everyone
believed him.
At that time. Venice urgently needed Othello's military
assistance, and would not do anything against him. Even while
the discussion about Othello's marriage to Desdemona was taking
place, news arrived about the Turkish fleet. It was on its way
to attack the island of Cyprus which in those days belonged to
the Venetians. In this hour of danger Othello was the only man
the State trusted to lead the Venetian army against the Turks.
Brabantio was urged to accept the marriage, as it had already
taken place. He however, insisted that Desdemona tell her story.
If she said that she had married Othello willingly, he would
withdraw his charges.
Desdemona then spoke to the Senate. She told them how much she
loved and respected her but said she now had a greater duty to
Othello, her lord and husband. In the same way. her mother had
respected Brabantio more than her own father.
Old Brabantio, unable to do
anything else, gave his daughter to Othello, saying that he was
glad he had no other children to disappoint him.
Once all these difficulties had
been overcome, Othello readily agreed to go to Cyprus and take
command of the Venetian army there. Desdemona decided to go with
her husband.
Othello had to leave immediately.
He asked Iago, whom he thought was a friend, to take Desdemona
safely to Cyprus in another ship that would leave a few days
later Iago's wife Emilia, would be her serving woman. Brabantio
although he had accepted the marriage between Othello and
Desdemona, was not happy about it. He warned Othello that
Desdemona might deceive her deceived her father.
Shortly before Othello reached
Cyprus there was a violent storm at sea. This caused great
concern for Othello's safety, but brought good news, too. The
Governor of Cyprus was informed that the storm had destroyed
almost all of the Turkish fleet.
As the Governor was standing by
shore, shouts were heard in the distance. The Venetian ship
carrying Iago and Desdemona had arrived. It was a fast ship, and
although it had not left Venice until after the others. it had
reached Cyprus quickly. Othello's ship had been driven off
course by storm, but it arrived in Cyprus soon afterwards.
When they were on shore, Othello
and Desdemona greeted each other tenderly. Saying that Desdemona
would receive a warm welcome, Othello led beautiful young wife
to the Governor's castle. Among the welcoming party watching
their arrival, was Othello's lieutenant, Michael Cassio.
Cassio was the friend of Othello
and Desdemona. He was young and handsome. He had acted as a
go-between for Othello and Desdemona, taking messages from one
to the other before they had married. Othello was very thankful
for his help since he himself was not used to the kind of gentle
conversation which pleased Iadies. He had often sent Cassio to
Brabantio's home, and it was no surprise that Desdemona looked
on him as one of their closest friends. The courageous Othello,
being of a serious nature was happy that Desdemona and his
friend, Cassio, could talk and laugh together.
Iago, who had come to Cyprus with
Desdemona was jealous of Cassio as much as he was jealous of
Othello. He often made fun of Cassio as a man who, he said was
fit only for the company of Iadies. Iago formed an evil plan for
revenge. He would make trouble between Cassio, the Moor and
Desdemona and bring ruin to them all at one and the same time.
Iago was cunning He understood the
way people think. He knew that of all the pains which cause
trouble between people, the pain of jealousy has the sharpest
sting. He knew Othello had a free and open nature, which could
easily be influenced. By making Othello easily be influenced. By
making Othello jealous of Cassio, Iago would have his revenge.
The General's wedding, his arrival
in Cyprus with his arrival in Cyprus with his Iady and the news
of the destruction of the enemy fleet. were all good reasons for
a special holiay. Wine flowed freey as everyone celebrated.
Cassio was an officer of the
Guard. He had orders to keep the Venetian soldiers from drinking
too much, to avoid any quarrels that would frighten the people
of Cyprus.
That night Iago began his evil
plans. He told Roderigo that he thought Desdemona and Cassio
were lovers. This made Roderigo angry, because he had once loved
Desdemona himself and had wanted to marry her.
Iago told Roderigo that Cassio was
a very quick-tempered man. If Roderigo did something to make
Cassio angry, there would be a fight, and Iago could use this to
bring Cassio into disgrace, Roderigo who now hated Cassio as
much as Iago agreed to help.
Later that evening Iago went to
see Cassio taking some wine with him. He knew Cassio did not
like drinking, but Iago prentened he wanted to drink to the
health of Othello and Desdemona. He invited Cassio to drink with
him. As Cassio was the friend of the newly married couple he
could not refuse.
Iago filled Cassio's cup with wine
again and again. One or two other people joned them, including
the Governor of Cyprus. They drank wine and sang songs together.
The more Cassio drank the more he talked and the more excited he
became.
After a while Cassio had to leave
the drinking party. Iago then told the Governor that although
Cassio was a good soldier, he often got drunk in the evenings.
At that moment Roderigo walked by. Iago told him go after Cassio.
Soon there was the sound of
someone shouting, Help! Hepl! A moment later Roderigo went
running past, with Cassio looking very angry behind him. The
Governor went running past with Cassio looking very angry behind
him. The Governor went to stop Cassio but Cassio attacked him
too and wounded him, and then tried to fight everyone else. Iago
who had started all this mischief quietly told Roderigo to go
and ring the castle bell. Othello heard the noise, and came with
a group of gentlemen to see what was happening.
Othello could see that Cassio had
behaved disgracefully. He said Cassio could no longer be his
lieutenant.
In this way one part of Iago's
plan had succeeded. His rival, Cassio had been disgraced and
removed from his position as a senior officer. But further use
was to be made of the adventures of that night.
 Cassio told Iago, whom he still
thought was his friend, that he was sorry for his foolish
behaviour. He knew he had made Othello angry. He wanted to get
his position back and he asked Iago what he should do.
Pretending to be friendly, Iago
advised him to ask for Desdemona's help. She could plead his
case to Othello he said, and Othello would do anything that
Desdemona asked him. Desdemona would be able to restore Cassio
to the General's favor.
This was good advice, but it was
given for a wicked purpose. If Cassio did as Iago planned to
make Othello ask himself why his wife was pleading for Cassio.
Iago planned to make Othello ask himself why his wife was
pleading for Cassio. Iago would then get Othello to believe that
Desdemona had fallen in love with Cassio. This Iago knew would
make Othello very unhappy.
Cassio followed Iago's advice. The
next day he went to see Desdemona and asked for her help.
Desdemona promised Cassio that she would do everthing in her
power to help him. She said that she would give Othello no peace
until he pardoned Cassio.
Soon afterwards Desdemona spoke to
Othello, asking him to forgive Cassio. She showed him how sorry
poor Cassio was. She said it was unfair that Cassio should be
given such a hard punishment. 'My Iord,'she said, 'you know that
before we were married, Cassio often came to talk to me about
you. He always befended you when I was displeased with anything
you had done. Now I am defending him from your displeasure.
Really, I think this is a very little thing to ask. If ever I
wqant to test your love, Iwill ask a much more serious favour.'
Othello could not say 'No' to his
wife. he finally agreed to do as she wished.
Othello and lago had entered the
room together just as Cassio was Ieaving it after his
conversation with Desdemona. lago full of cunning, said in a Iow
voice.as if to himself, 'I do not like that.' At the time Othello
took little notice of what lago had said, but when Desdemona had
gone, he remembered it.
In this by his little remarks,
cleverly planned questions replies that were not as sincere as
they seemed. and annoying reminders of Othello's own Iago
gradually persuaded Othello to distrust the friendship think
there must be some meaning in all this, for he considered Iago
an honest man. Iago probably sees and knows much more than he
reveals. However he wanted to be sure To Iago he said later, I
know that my wife is beautiful, loves company and feasting enjoy
conversation, sings, plays, and dances well. But in someone who
is of good character, there is nothing wrong with any of this. I
must have proof before I think she s dishonest.
Iago declared he had no proof of
Desdemona's unfaithfulness. He only begged Othello to watch her
behavior closely and said not be jealous. At the same time he
cunningly hinted that Venetian woman, married to man of high
rank, were if ten unfaithful to their husbands. He reminded
Othello that Desdemona had deceived her father in marrying him.
Othello was persuaded by this argument. If she had deceived her
father, might she not deceive him, her husband?
Othello was full of grief
when he thought about these things but he refused to believe
that Desdemona was false to him. However he took Iago's advice.
He delayed his pardon of Cassio in order to observe Cassio's
behavior with Desdemona.
In this way another part of Iago
evil plan began to work. Othello was already unhappy, and Iago
intended to trap Desdemona through her own goodness.
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