Key Events

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The Climax

In terms of the play’s structure, Act Five Scene Two contains the climax, the falling action and the dénouement.

New World

The audience witnesses not only the deaths of the central lovers in the story: Othello and Desdemona, but also caught by the shrapnel of the murders is Emilia, who herself is killed.
Iago is not killed but is injured.
He however, swears to keep his motivation secret to the authorities who arrest him.
It is only at this point that a New World can be constructed.

Desdemona's death

Othello enters the bedroom and kisses the sleeping Desdemona while justifying what he intends to do.
She wakes and he warns her that he is about to kill her so she had better say her prayers.
She asks that Cassio be sent for to testify on her behalf, but is told that he is dead.
She begs for more time but Othello refuses and smothers her.

Emilia's response

Emilia arrives too late to prevent Desdemona’s death but in time to hear Desdemona’s claim it was not Othello’s fault.
Emilia is thunderstruck to be told by Othello that ‘honest, honest Iago’ was the person who claimed Desdemona was false.
She rails at Othello for his ignorance and stupidity, and also verbally attacks her husband when he confirms the slander, despite his ordering her to be quiet.

Emilia's murder

Gratiano then delivers the news that Brabantio is dead. It seems that Brabantio’s earlier warning has come true.
When Emilia explains how Cassio got the handkerchief, Othello tries to kill Iago but is disarmed, and Iago gets the opportunity to kill Emilia and run away.

Iago's escape

Montano chases Iago while Gratiano keeps guard outside the bedroom door.
Emilia dies singing the Willow song and vouching for Desdemona’s love for the ‘cruel Moor’.

The Tragedy is Complete

In terms of the play’s structure, Act Five Scene Two contains the climax, the falling action and the dénouement.

Othello's speech

Othello finds another sword and calls Gratiano in to witness his speech of self-damnation, an audience then swelled by Lodovico, Cassio, Montano and Iago.
Iago refuses to satisfy Othello’s need to know the cause of his hatred.
Written evidence is produced against Iago from the dead Roderigo’s pockets.

Completing the tragedy

Cassio is to be governor in Cyprus.
Iago is to be tortured by him, and Othello is to be taken back to Venice for trial, but prevents this by killing himself in military fashion.
He falls upon the bed with the bodies of Desdemona and Emilia. The tragedy is complete.

Governor Cassio

Fortune’s wheel turns very quickly now and a New World emerges: the new governor of Cyprus is the recently dismissed lieutenant.
Cassio’s forgiveness and charity mark him out as the true Christian.
That he is male, white and Christian restores the social order.

Iago's punishment

Cassio’s promotion at the end of the play, and Iago alive to see it and suffer from it, is probably the worst punishment for Iago (or is it his exclusion from the trinity of loved ones on the bed?).

1Context

1.1Introduction

1.1.1Specifications

1.2Background

1.2.1Shakespeare

1.2.2Love

1.2.3Tragedy

1.2.4Historical Context

1.3Othello

1.3.1Setting

1.3.2Social Issues

2Act One: Summaries & Themes

2.1Act and Scene Summaries

2.1.1Structure

2.1.2The Exam

2.2Scene One

2.2.1Key Events

2.2.2Key Themes

2.2.3Key Ideas

2.3Scene Two

2.3.1Key Events

2.3.2Key Themes

2.3.3Key Ideas

2.4Scene Three

2.4.1Key Events

2.4.2Key Events 2

2.4.3Key Themes

2.4.4Key Ideas

3Act Two: Summaries & Themes

3.1Scene One & Two

3.1.1Scene One: Events

3.1.2Key Events 2

3.1.3Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy

3.1.4Scene Two: Events

3.2Scene Three

3.2.1Key Events

3.2.2Key Ideas

4Act Three: Summaries & Themes

4.1Key Events

4.1.1Scene One & Two

4.1.2Scene Three

4.1.3Scene Three: Key Ideas

4.1.4Scene Four

5Act Four

5.1Scene One

5.1.1Key Events

5.1.2Key Ideas

5.2Scene Two

5.2.1Key Events

5.2.2Key Ideas

5.3Scene Three

5.3.1Key Events

5.3.2Key Ideas

6Act Five

6.1Scene One

6.1.1Key Events

6.1.2Key Ideas

6.2Scene Two

6.2.1Key Events

6.2.2Key Ideas

7Character Profiles

7.1Major Characters

7.1.1Othello

7.1.2Iago

7.1.3Desdemona

7.1.4Emilia

7.1.5Cassio

7.2Minor Characters

7.2.1Roderigo & Brabantio

7.2.2Other Characters

8Key Themes

8.1Love & Tragedy

8.1.1Love

8.1.2Love 2

8.1.3Tragedy

8.1.4Tragedy 2

8.2Other Key Themes

8.2.1Public versus Private

8.2.2Appearance & Reality

9Writing Techniques

9.1Writing Techniques

9.1.1Structure

9.1.2Genre

9.1.3Form & Language

9.1.4Language & Imagery

10Critical Debates

10.1Criticism & Performance

10.1.1Shakespeare's Legacy

10.1.2Traditional

10.1.3Modern & Contemporary

10.2Approaches

10.2.1Feminist Approach

10.2.2Psychoanalytic Approach

10.2.3Marxist Approach

11Approaching AQA English Literature

11.1Specification A

11.1.1Specification A

11.1.2Love Through the Ages

11.2Specification B

11.2.1Specification B

11.2.2Aspects of Tragedy

12Issues of Assessment

12.1The Exams

12.1.1AOs

12.1.2Mark Scheme

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