Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-1-key-events

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# Key Events

English Lit: AQA A Level Othello, topic 5.1.1

## Iago's Mind Games

Here Othello and Iago are seen again, and as the scene unfolds we observe Iago playing mind games with Othello once more.

### Iago

![Iago](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/3f84c71f-7534-4468-8f9b-3e941927ed82/shutterstock_397886950.jpg)

- Iago tries to get Othello to imagine Desdemona and Cassio in bed together and then brings up the tragic symbol of the handkerchief.
- Iago continues where he left off, forcing Othello to discuss the handkerchief and Desdemona’s honesty. 
- Iago manipulatively claims that Cassio has admitted the affair to him, provoking Othello to fall into a fit.

### Cassio

![Cassio](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-07/1067548c-e876-492c-a3c9-a8b266f0b1e6/Manipulation-Puppet-Strings-.jpg)

- Cassio appears during Othello’s fit but Iago gets rid of him quickly. 
- When Cassio returns, it is to be an unwitting performer in a piece of drama engineered by Iago, with Othello as witness, whereby Bianca becomes a substitute Desdemona as the topic of conversation.

### Bianca

![Bianca](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-03/542819c5-71eb-44d4-96c7-8b368b43f6ca/shutterstock_552448774.jpg)

- Suddenly Bianca appears in person at this point, and throws back the handkerchief in the sight of Othello. 
- Cassio runs after her, which gives Iago the opportunity to move Othello onto the point of agreeing that Desdemona and Cassio will die together that same evening.

### Domestic violence

![Domestic violence](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/97fa7f2d-bf10-4ae4-a8d4-a1a6d1d6554f/fear-1131143_1920.jpg)

- Relatives of Desdemona, who are acting as officials from Venice, arrive with a letter for Othello. 
- In front of them Othello strikes her and they are shocked by his behaviour.
- Lodovico is told by Iago that this is typical of Othello’s current behaviour.

### Sadistic malice

![Sadistic malice](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/631331f4-8b91-428c-80c7-d962f66887a8/cemetery-morbid-death-die-.jpg)

- Iago is lucky in that Bianca turns up to reject the handkerchief at the appropriate moment, and she unwittingly confirms Desdemona’s death sentence. 
- He even knows that Cassio can be counted upon to laugh excessively. 
- His addressing of Cassio as ‘Lieutenant’ is sadistic malice.

### Reputation

![Reputation](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/memory-location-images/Istanbul,%20Turkey-min.jpeg)

- The arrival of the Venetians to relieve Othello and to promote Cassio - although logical, since the Turkish threat has been temporarily removed - seems to be an indictment of Othello and a confirmation of Cassio as his replacement in love and war. 
- Striking a woman was regarded as a cowardly and dishonourable at the time, especially in public, and this action damages both their reputations.

## Test yourself on Key Events

- Who appears during Othello’s fit in Act Four Scene One?
- Events of Act Four Scene One (1)
- Events of Act Four Scene One (2)

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/eaa5fbae-2db3-4bc1-9205-b0228468355d/section/bfd42722-e2b3-417c-aab5-629ee55d4e4f/session)

- Previous topic: [4.1.4 Scene Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-4-scene-four.md)
- Next topic: [5.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-2-key-ideas.md)

## English Lit: AQA A Level Othello contents

### 1 Context
- 1.1 Introduction
  - [1.1.1 Specifications](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-1-1-specifications.md)
- 1.2 Background
  - [1.2.1 Shakespeare](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-1-shakespeare.md)
  - [1.2.2 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-2-love.md)
  - [1.2.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-3-tragedy.md)
  - [1.2.4 Historical Context](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-2-4-historical-context.md)
- 1.3 Othello
  - [1.3.1 Setting](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-1-setting.md)
  - [1.3.2 Social Issues](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/1-3-2-social-issues.md)

### 2 Act One: Summaries & Themes
- 2.1 Act and Scene Summaries
  - [2.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-1-structure.md)
  - [2.1.2 The Exam](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-1-2-the-exam.md)
- 2.2 Scene One
  - [2.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.2.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-2-key-themes.md)
  - [2.2.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-2-3-key-ideas.md)
- 2.3 Scene Two
  - [2.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.3.2 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-2-key-themes.md)
  - [2.3.3 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-3-3-key-ideas.md)
- 2.4 Scene Three
  - [2.4.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-1-key-events.md)
  - [2.4.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-2-key-events-2.md)
  - [2.4.3 Key Themes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-3-key-themes.md)
  - [2.4.4 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/2-4-4-key-ideas.md)

### 3 Act Two: Summaries & Themes
- 3.1 Scene One & Two
  - [3.1.1 Scene One: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-1-scene-one-events.md)
  - [3.1.2 Key Events 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-2-key-events-2.md)
  - [3.1.3 Key Ideas: Love & Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-3-key-ideas-love-and-tragedy.md)
  - [3.1.4 Scene Two: Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-1-4-scene-two-events.md)
- 3.2 Scene Three
  - [3.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [3.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/3-2-2-key-ideas.md)

### 4 Act Three: Summaries & Themes
- 4.1 Key Events
  - [4.1.1 Scene One & Two](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-1-scene-one-and-two.md)
  - [4.1.2 Scene Three](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-2-scene-three.md)
  - [4.1.3 Scene Three: Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-3-scene-three-key-ideas.md)
  - [4.1.4 Scene Four](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/4-1-4-scene-four.md)

### 5 Act Four
- 5.1 Scene One
  - [5.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-1-2-key-ideas.md)
- 5.2 Scene Two
  - [5.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-2-2-key-ideas.md)
- 5.3 Scene Three
  - [5.3.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-1-key-events.md)
  - [5.3.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/5-3-2-key-ideas.md)

### 6 Act Five
- 6.1 Scene One
  - [6.1.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-1-key-events.md)
  - [6.1.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-1-2-key-ideas.md)
- 6.2 Scene Two
  - [6.2.1 Key Events](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-1-key-events.md)
  - [6.2.2 Key Ideas](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/6-2-2-key-ideas.md)

### 7 Character Profiles
- 7.1 Major Characters
  - [7.1.1 Othello](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-1-othello.md)
  - [7.1.2 Iago](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-2-iago.md)
  - [7.1.3 Desdemona](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-3-desdemona.md)
  - [7.1.4 Emilia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-4-emilia.md)
  - [7.1.5 Cassio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-1-5-cassio.md)
- 7.2 Minor Characters
  - [7.2.1 Roderigo & Brabantio](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-1-roderigo-and-brabantio.md)
  - [7.2.2 Other Characters](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/7-2-2-other-characters.md)

### 8 Key Themes
- 8.1 Love & Tragedy
  - [8.1.1 Love](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-1-love.md)
  - [8.1.2 Love 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-2-love-2.md)
  - [8.1.3 Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-3-tragedy.md)
  - [8.1.4 Tragedy 2](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-1-4-tragedy-2.md)
- 8.2 Other Key Themes
  - [8.2.1 Public versus Private](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-1-public-versus-private.md)
  - [8.2.2 Appearance & Reality](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/8-2-2-appearance-and-reality.md)

### 9 Writing Techniques
- 9.1 Writing Techniques
  - [9.1.1 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-1-structure.md)
  - [9.1.2 Genre](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-2-genre.md)
  - [9.1.3 Form & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-3-form-and-language.md)
  - [9.1.4 Language & Imagery](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/9-1-4-language-and-imagery.md)

### 10 Critical Debates
- 10.1 Criticism & Performance
  - [10.1.1 Shakespeare's Legacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-1-shakespeares-legacy.md)
  - [10.1.2 Traditional](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-2-traditional.md)
  - [10.1.3 Modern & Contemporary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-1-3-modern-and-contemporary.md)
- 10.2 Approaches
  - [10.2.1 Feminist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-1-feminist-approach.md)
  - [10.2.2 Psychoanalytic Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-2-psychoanalytic-approach.md)
  - [10.2.3 Marxist Approach](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/10-2-3-marxist-approach.md)

### 11 Approaching AQA English Literature
- 11.1 Specification A
  - [11.1.1 Specification A](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-1-specification-a.md)
  - [11.1.2 Love Through the Ages](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-1-2-love-through-the-ages.md)
- 11.2 Specification B
  - [11.2.1 Specification B](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-1-specification-b.md)
  - [11.2.2 Aspects of Tragedy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/11-2-2-aspects-of-tragedy.md)

### 12 Issues of Assessment
- 12.1 The Exams
  - [12.1.1 AOs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-1-aos.md)
  - [12.1.2 Mark Scheme](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/a-level/english-literature/aqa/othello/12-1-2-mark-scheme.md)