STAGEiT! Shakespeare® Acting Tool For Students
Othello Paraphrasing Worksheet
Grades 5-8
Floyd Rumohr
STAGEiT! Shakespeare® www.stageitshakespeare.com STAGEiT! Shakespeare® Acting Tool for Students Grades 5-8 – Othello Paraphrasing Worksheets
Copyright © 2014 by Floyd Rumohr
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First edition: January 2014
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2 In My Own Words Student Worksheet
My name: Othello Worksheet
SHAKESPEARE IN MY OWN WORDS ACT I Venice
Need more room in this column? Put the cursor Roderigo: Thou toldst me thou didst hold in the desired space and press the return button 1. him in thy hate. to add additional space!
Iago: Despise me if I do not. Three great ones of the city, in 2. personal suit to make me his lieutenant, off-capped1 to him.
Chorus: But he, as loving his own pride 3. and purposes, evades them with a bombast circumstance.2
1 off-capped: removed their hats 2 bombast circumstance: wordy or pompous talk 3 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: For ‘Certes,’1 says he, “I have 4. already chose my officer.”
Chorus: One Michael Cassio, a Florentine. That never set a 5. squadron in the field, nor the division of a battle knows more than a spinster.2
Iago: Now, sir, be judge yourself 6. whether I in any just term am affined to love the Moor.3
7. Roderigo: I would not follow him, then.
8. Iago: O, sir, content you. I follow him to serve my turn upon
1 certes: certainly 2 spinster: an older, single woman 3 Moor: A member of the Muslim people of northwest Africa 4 My name: Othello Worksheet
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him. For when my outward action doth demonstrate the native act and figure of my heart in complement extern, ‘tis not long after but I will wear my heart upon my sleeve for daws1 to peck at. I am not what I am.
9. Chorus: If he can carry it thus!
10. Iago: Here is her father’s house.
1 daws: stupid birds 5 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Roderigo: I’ll call aloud. Awake! What ho, Brabantio! Thieves! Thieves! 11. Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags!
Iago slinks off to the corner
Chorus: Your fair daughter, transported with no worse 12. nor better guard to the gross clasps of a lascivious1 Moor.
Roderigo: Your daughter, if you have not 13. given her leave, I say again, hath made a gross revolt.
Roderigo exits into the house of Brabantio as Othello enters
Iago: But I pray you, sir, are you fast 14. married?
1 lascivious: expressing an overwhelming desire or craving 6 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Chorus: Be assured of this, that the magnifico1 is much beloved. He will divorce you or put 15. upon you what restraint or grievance the law will give him cable.
Othello: Let him do his spite. For know, Iago, but that I love the gentle 16. Desdemona. But look, what lights come yond.
Chorus: The Duke does greet you, 17. general, and he requires your haste-post-haste appearance.
18. Othello: What is the matter, think you?
1 magnifico: refers to Brabantio; one of Venice’s most prominent citizens 7 My name: Othello Worksheet
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½ Chorus: Something from Cyprus, as I 19. may divine.
½ Chorus: Many of the consuls, raised and met, are at the Duke’s 20. already. You have been hotly called for.
Othello and Iago go to the home of the Duke. Chorus changes pose and becomes the Duke.
Duke: Valiant Othello, we must 21. straight employ you against the general enemy Ottoman.
Enter Brabantio followed by Roderigo
22. Brabantio: My daughter! O, my daughter!
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23. Duke: Dead?
Brabantio: Ay, to me. She is abused, stol’n 24. from me, and corrupted.
Duke: Whoe’er he be that in this foul proceeding hath thus beguiled1 your daughter of 25. herself and you of her, the bloody book of law you shall yourself read in the bitter letter.
26. Brabantio: Here is the man – this Moor
1 beguile: to deceive, to take away from by cheating 9 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Roderigo: What, in your own part, can 27. you say to this?
Othello: That I have ta’en away this old man’s daughter, it is most true. True I have married her. 28. I will a round unvarnished tale deliver of my whole course of love. I won his daughter.
29. Brabantio: To vouch this is no proof.
Othello: I do beseech you, send for the 30. lady and let her speak of me before her father.
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31. Duke: Fetch Desdemona hither.
Brabantio: If she confesses that she was half the wooer, destruction on 32. my head if my bad blame light on the man.
Enter Desdemona
Duke: Come hither, gentle mistress. Do you perceive in all this 33. noble company where most you owe obedience?
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Desdemona: I do perceive here a divided duty. I am hitherto your daughter. But here’s my husband. And so much duty as 34. my mother showed to you, preferring you before her father, so much I challenge that I may profess due to the Moor my lord.
Brabantio: God be with you! Come hither, Moor. I here do give thee that with all my heart, which but 35. that thou hast already with all my heart, I would keep from thee. I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.
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Duke: The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes for Cyprus. Othello, you must therefore be 36. content to slubber1 the gloss of your new fortunes with this more stubborn and boist’rous expedition.
Othello: I do agnize2 a natural and prompt alacrity I find in 37. hardness, and do undertake this present war against the Ottomites.
1 slubber: to defile, soil or stain 2 agnize: acknowledge 13 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Desdemona: That I did love the Moor to live with him my downright 38. violence and storm of fortunes may trumpet to the world. Let me go with him.
Duke: Be it as you shall privately 39. determine. You must away tonight.
Othello: So please you Grace. My ancient1 -- a man he is of 40. honesty and trust. To his conveyance I assign my wife.
1 ancient: a standard-bearer; the lowest ranking commissioned officer 14 My name: Othello Worksheet
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41. Duke: Let it be so.
Brabantio: Look to her, Moor, if thou hast 42. eyes to see. She has deceived her father, and may thee.
Exit Duke and Brabantio
Othello: Honest Iago, my Desdemona must I leave to thee. I prithee,1 43. let thy wife attend on her. Come, Desdemona, I have but an hour to spend with thee.
Exit Othello and Desdemona
1 prithee: pray thee 15 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Roderigo: Iago, what will I do, think’st thou? I confess it is my shame 44. to be so fond, but it is not in my virtue to amend.
Iago: Come, be a man. Drown thyself? Drown cats and blind puppies. Put money in thy purse, it cannot be that 45. Desdemona should long continue her love to the Moor. Put but money in your purse. These Moors are changeable in their wills.
Roderigo: Wilt thou be fast to my hopes 46. if I depend on the issue?
Iago: Thou art sure of me. Go, make money. I have told thee often, 47. and I retell thee again and again, I hate the Moor.
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48. Roderigo: I am changed.
Roderigo exits
Iago: Thus do I ever make my fool my purse. I hate the Moor. He holds me well. The better shall my purpose work on him. Cassio’s a proper man. To get his place and to plume up my will in double knavery – how? 49. How? After some time, to abuse Othello’s ear that he is too familiar with his wife. 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 th’ nose as asses are. I have it.
ACT 2 A seaport in Cyprus
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Chorus: News, lads! Our wars are done. The desperate tempest 1 hath so banged the Turks that their designment2 halts. A 50. noble ship of Venice is here put in. Michael Cassio, lieutenant to the warlike Moor3 Othello, is come on shore.
Cassio enters
Cassio: Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle, that so approve the Moor. O, let the heavens 51. give him defense against the elements, for I have lost him on a dangerous sea.
From offstage shouts are heard of “A sail! A sail!”
52. Cassio: What noise? Who has put in?
1 tempest: a violent storm 2 designment: plans 3 Moor: a member of the Muslim people of northwest Africa 18 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Chorus: ‘Tis one Iago, ancient1 to the 53. General.
Cassio: Tempest themselves, high seas and howling winds, the guttered rocks and congregated sands as having sense of beauty, do omit their 54. mortal natures, letting go safely by the divine Desdemona. Our captain’s captain, left in the conduct of the bold Iago.
Enter Desdemona, Iago and Roderigo
Chorus & Cassio: Hail to thee, lady, and 55. the grace of heaven.
1 ancient: a standard-bearer; the lowest ranking commissioned officer 19 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Desdemona: I thank you, valiant Cassio. 56. What tidings can you tell of my lord?
Cassio: He is not yet arrived nor know 57. I aught but that he’s well and will be shortly here.
58. Desdemona: O, but I fear.
Iago: He takes her by the palm. With as little web as this will I 59. ensnare as great a fly as Cassio.
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Chorus: If such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it had 60. been better you had not kissed your three fingers1 so oft.
Trumpets are heard from offstage along with cries of “A sail! A sail!” Cassio and Desdemona break their tableau.
61. Desdemona: The Moor. I know his trumpet.
Enter Othello
Othello: O, my fair warrior! It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my 62. soul’s joy! News, friends! Our wars are done. The Turks are drowned.
1 kissed your three fingers: a courtly gesture 21 My name: Othello Worksheet
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63. Desdemona: Come. Let us to the castle.
Othello and Desdemona exit followed by Cassio
Iago: The Lieutenant tonight watches on the court of guard. 64. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona is directly in love with him.
Roderigo: With him? Why ‘tis not 65. possible.
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Iago: The knave1 is handsome, young and hath all those requisites in him that folly and 66. green2 minds look after. Dids’t thou not see her paddle3 with the palm of his hand?
Roderigo: Yes, that I did. But that was 67. but courtesy.
1 knave: a villain 2 green: inexperienced 3 paddle: play with her fingers on his 23 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: Pish! Watch you tonight. For 68. the command, I’ll lay it upon you.
69. Chorus: Cassio knows you not.
Iago: Do you find some occasion to 70. anger Cassio.
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Chorus: Either by speaking too loud, or 71. tainting his discipline, or from what other course you please.
Iago: Sir, he’s rash and haply may strike at you. Provoke him 72. that he may, for even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny.1
1 mutiny: an open rebellion against authority 25 My name: Othello Worksheet
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73. Roderigo: I will do this. Adieu.
Roderigo exits
Chorus: That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it. That she loves 74. him, ‘tis apt and of great credit.1
Cassio and Iago enter
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Iago: Yet that I put the Moor into a jealousy so strong that judgment cannot cure. I’ll have our Michael Cassio on 75. the hip,1 abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb.2 Make the Moor thank me, love me, and reward me for making him egregiously3 an ass.
1 on the hip: have him at a disadvantage; a wrestling term 2 rank garb: language that will make him look coarse 3 egregiously: obviously bad or offensive 27 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Chorus: It is Othello’s pleasure, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing the mere 76. perdition1 of the Turkish fleet, every man put himself into triumph!
77. Cassio: We must to the watch.
Iago: Not this hour, lieutenant. Our 78. general cast us thus early for the love of his Desdemona.
1 perdition: complete destruction 28 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Cassio: She’s a most exquisite lady. Indeed, she’s a most fresh and 79. delicate creature. She is indeed perfection.
Iago: Come, lieutenant, I have a 80. stoup1 of wine.
Cassio: Not tonight, good Iago. I have 81. very poor and unhappy brains for drinking.
1 stoup: a large drinking vessel 29 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: If I can fasten but one cup upon him, he’ll be as full of 82. quarrel and offense as my mistress’ dog. But one cup; I’ll drink for you.
83. Chorus: Some wine, ho!
Cassio: Good faith, a little one; not 84. past a pint
85. Iago: To the health of our General!
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Cassio: Let’s to our affairs. Do not think, gentlemen, I am drunk. I can stand well enough and I 86. speak well enough. You must not think then that I am drunk.
Iago: ‘Tis pity of him. I fear the trust Othello puts him in, on some 87. odd time of his infirmity,1 will shake this island.
Roderigo begins to enter. Iago stops him and whispers.
Iago: I pray you, after the 88. Lieutenant, go.
1 infirmity: a sickness or weakness 31 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Chorus: And ‘tis great pity that the noble Moor should hazard 89. such a place as his own second with one of an engraffed infirmity1.
An alarum bell and shouts of “Help!” are heard from offstage. Cassio enters chasing Roderigo.
Cassio: A knave teach me my duty? I’ll 90. beat the knave into a twiggen bottle.2
1 engraffed infirmity: a weakness that has grown to be a part of the person 2 twiggen bottle: a bottle encased in woven twigs or wicker work 32 My name: Othello Worksheet
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91. Roderigo: Beat me?
Cassio ‘hits’ Roderigo. Chorus grabs Cassio and holds him back.
Cassio: Let me go, sir, or I’ll knock you 92. o’er the mazard.1
93. Chorus: Come, come, you’re drunk.
Othello enters
Othello: Why, how now, ho! From whence ariseth this? Honest 94. Iago. That looks dead with grieving, speak. Who began this?
1 mazard: a slang term for head 33 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth than it should do offense to Michael 95. Cassio. Yet I persuade myself, to speak the truth shall nothing wrong him.
Othello: I know, Iago, thy honesty and love doth mince this matter, making it light to Cassio. 96. Cassio, I love thee, but nevermore be an officer of mine.
Othello exits. The chorus releases Cassio and he falls to his knees.
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Cassio: Reputation, reputation, 97. reputation! O, I have lost my reputation!
Chorus: Come, you are too severe a 98. moraler.
Cassio: I will ask him for my place 99. again; he shall tell me I am a drunkard!
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Iago: You or any living man may be drunk at a time, man. I’ll tell you what you shall do. Our general’s wife is now the 100. general: confess yourself freely to her. Importune her help to put you in your place again.
Cassio: You advise me well. Good 101. night, honest Iago.
Cassio exits
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Iago: For while this honest fool plies Desdemona to repair his fortune, and she for him 102. pleads strongly to the Moor, I’ll pour this pestilence1 into his ear: that she repeals him for her body’s lust.2
Chorus: And by how much she strives 103. to do him good, she shall undo her credit with the Moor.
1 pestilence: poison 2 lust: an overwhelming desire or craving 37 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: Two things are to be done. My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress. I’ll set her on. Myself the while to draw the 104. Moor apart and bring him jump when he may Cassio find soliciting his wife. Ay, that’s the way.
ACT 3 Before the castle in Cyprus
Cassio: I have made bold, Iago, to send in to your wife. My suit to her 105. is that she will to virtuous Desdemona procure1 me some access.
1 procure: to obtain or acquire 38 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: I’ll send her to you presently, 106. and I’ll devise a mean to draw the Moor1 out of the way.
Cassio: I never knew a Florentine 107. more kind and honest.
Emilia enters
Emilia: Good morrow, good lieutenant. I am sorry for your 108. displeasure. The General and his wife are talking it, and she speaks for you stoutly
1 Moor: a member of the Muslim people of northwest Africa 39 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Cassio: Yet I beseech1 you, give me advantage of some brief 109. discourse2 with Desdemona alone.
Emilia: I will bestow you where you 110. shall have time to speak your bosom3 freely.
Emilia and Casso move into Desdemona’s quarters
Desdemona: Be thou assured, good Cassio, 111. I will do all my abilities in thy behalf.
1 beseech: beg 2 discourse: conversation 3 bosom: innermost thoughts 40 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Emilia: Good madam, do. I warrant it 112. grieves my husband as if the cause were his.
Desdemona: O, that’s an honest fellow! Do not doubt, Cassio, but I will 113. have my lord and you again as friendly as you were.
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Cassio: Bounteous madam, whatever shall become of Michael 114. Cassio, he’s never anything but your true servant.
Othello and Iago enter
Cassio: Madam, I’ll take my leave. I am 115. very ill at ease, unfit for mine own purposes.
Cassio exits without looking at Othello
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116. Iago: Ha, I like not that.
Othello: Was that not Cassio parted 117. from my wife?
Iago: No, sure, I cannot think it that 118. he would steal away so guiltylike, seeing your coming.
119. Othello: I do believe it was he.
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Desdemona: How now, my lord? I have been talking with a suitor 120. here, a man who languishes1 in your displeasure.
121. Othello: Who is’t you mean?
1 languishes: exists in miserable conditions 44 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Desdemona: Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. If I have any grace or power to 122. move you, his present reconciliation1 take; I prithee2 call him back.
Othello: Not now, sweet Desdemona. 123. Some other time.
124. Desdemona: But shall’t be shortly?
1 reconciliation: the act of settling or resolving 2 prithee: pray thee 45 My name: Othello Worksheet
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125. Othello: The sooner, sweet, for you.
Desdemona: I prithee name the time. When 126. shall he come? Tell me, Othello.
Othello: Prithee, no more. Let him 127. come when he will; I will deny thee nothing.
Desdemona and Emilia exit
Iago: My noble lord. Did Michael 129. Cassio, when you wooed my lady, know of your love?
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Othello: He did, from first to last and 130. went between us very oft.1
Iago: I did not think he had been 131. acquainted with her.
Othello: Indeed. Is he not honest? Thou dost mean something. If thou 132. dost love me, show me thy thought.
1 oft: often 47 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: Men should be what they 133. seem. Why then, I think Cassio’s an honest man.
Othello: Nay, yet there’s more in this. 134. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago.
Iago: Good name in man and woman, dear my lord, is the immediate jewel of their souls. 135. He that filches1 of me my good name robs me of that which not enriches him and makes me poor indeed.
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Othello: By heaven, I’ll know thy 136. thoughts!
Iago: O beware my lord of jealousy! It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock the meat it 137. feeds on. That cuckold1 lives in bliss who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger.
Othello: O misery! Think’st thou I’d make a life of jealousy, to 138. follow still the changes of the moon with fresh suspicions? No.
1 cuckold: a man whose wife has taken a boyfriend on the side 49 My name: Othello Worksheet
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Iago: I am glad of this, for now I shall have reason to show the love and duty that I bear you with franker spirit. Look to 139. your wife; observe her well with Cassio; look to it. In Venice they do let God see the pranks they dare not show their husbands.
140. Othello: Dost thou say so?
Iago: She did deceive her father, marrying you, and when she 141. seemed to shake and fear your looks, she loved them most.
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Othello: If more thou dost perceive, let 142. me know more. Set on thy wife to observe.
Iago exits
Othello: This fellow’s of exceeding honesty, and knows all qualities with a learned spirit of human dealings. O curse of 143. marriage, that we can call these delicate creatures ours and not their appetites! Look where she comes.
Enter Desdemona followed by Emilia
Desdemona: How now, my dear Othello? 144. Are you not well?
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Othello: I have a pain upon my 145. forehead, here.
Desdemona: Let me but bind it hard; within 146. this hour it will be well.
Desdemona reaches into a pocket for her handkerchief
Othello: Your napkin is too little. Let it 147. alone. Come, I’ll go in with you.
The handkerchief falls unnoticed. Othello and Desdemona exit together. Emilia picks up the forgotten handkerchief.
Emilia: I am glad I have found this napkin. This was her first remembrance1 from the Moor. 148. My wayward husband hath a hundred times wooed me to steal it.
1 remembrance: keepsake 52 My name: Othello Worksheet
SHAKESPEARE IN MY OWN WORDS Enter Iago
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Iago: How now? What do you here 149. alone?
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150. Emilia: I have a thing for you. That same handkerchief that the
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Moor first gave to Desdemona
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151. Iago: A good wench! Give it me.
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SHAKESPEARE IN MY OWN WORDS Emilia gives him the handkerchief and then exits to follow Desdemona
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152. Iago: I have use for it. I will in Cassio’s lodging lose this
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napkin and let him find it. Trifles1 light as air are to the
1 trifles: small ornaments such as a piece of jewelry; something trivial 61 My name: Othello Worksheet
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jealous confirmations strong as proofs of holy writ.
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Othello enters
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153. Othello: Avaunt! Begone! Thou hast set me on the rack. What sense had I of her stol’n hours of
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lust? I saw it not, thought it not; it harmed not me.
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154. Iago: I am sorry to hear this.
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155. Othello: So I had nothing known. O, now, forever farewell the tranquil1 mind! Farewell
1 tranquil: peaceful 68 My name: Othello Worksheet
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content! Be sure of it, give me the ocular1 proof. Make me to see it or woe upon thy life!
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156. Iago: I do not like the office. I lay with Cassio lately. In sleep I heard him say “sweet Desdemona, let us be wary, let us hide our loves. O sweet
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creature!”
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Othello: O, monstrous! Monstrous! I’ll 157. tear her all to pieces.
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158. Iago: Tell me but this: Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief spotted with strawberries in your wife’s hand? But such a
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handkerchief, did I today see Cassio wipe his beard with.
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159. Othello: I gave her such a one. ‘Twas1 my first gift. It speaks against her with the other proofs. All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven. ‘Tis gone. Arise, black
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vengeance from the hollow hell! Within these three days let me hear thee say that Cassio’s not alive.
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Iago: My friend is dead. ‘Tis done at 160. your request. But let her live. I am your own forever.
ACT 4 Before the castle in Cyprus
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Desdemona: Where should I lose that 161. handkerchief, Emilia?
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162. Emilia: I know not, madam.
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Desdemona: Believe me, I had rather lost 163. my purse full of crusadoes.1
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Emilia: Is Othello not jealous? Look 164. where he comes.
Othello enters and moves to join Desdemona and Emilia
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Desdemona: I will not leave him now till 165. Cassio be called to him.
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Othello: I have a salt and sorry rheum1 166. offends me. Lend me thy handkerchief.
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SHAKESPEARE IN MY OWN WORDS Desdemona hands Othello a handkerchief
167. Othello: That which I gave you.
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168. Desdemona: I have it not about me.
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Othello: That’s a fault. To lose it or give it away were such perdition1 169. as nothing else could match. There’s magic in the web of it.
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Desdemona: It is not lost, but what an if it 170. were?
171. Othello: Fetch it. Let me see it!
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Desdemona: This is a trick to put me from 172. my suit. Pray you, let Cassio be received again.
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173. Othello: The handkerchief!
174. Desdemona: I pray, talk me of Cassio.
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175. Othello: The handkerchief! Zounds!1
176. Desdemona: Sure, there’s some wonder in this handkerchief! I am most
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unhappy in the loss of it.
177. Emilia: But jealous souls will not be answered so. They are not ever jealous for the cause, but jealous for they’re jealous. It is
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a monster begot upon itself, born on itself.
Desdemona: Heaven keep that monster 178. from Othello’s mind!
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SHAKESPEARE IN MY OWN WORDS Desdemona and Emilia exit. Othello turns to face the audience as Iago enters.
Othello: O, it comes o’er my memory as doth the raven1 o’er the 179. infectious house, boding to all – he had my handkerchief.
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Iago: Ay, what of that? What if I had 180. said I had seen him do you wrong?
181. Othello: Hath he said anything?
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Iago: He hath my lord. Stand you awhile apart. Confine yourself 182. but in a patient list. I bade him anon1 return and here speak with me.
183. Othello: Did he confess it?
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Iago: Do but encave1 yourself, and mark the fleers, the gibes2 and notable scorns that dwell in 184. every region of his face. For I will make him tell the tale anew.
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185. Othello: O, thou art wise, ‘tis certain.
Othello moves upstage to hide as Cassio enters with Desdemona’s handkerchief hanging out of his pocket.
186. Iago: Now will I question Cassio of Bianca, A housewife that dotes on Cassio. As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad. How do you, lieutenant?
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Cassio: The worser that you give me 187. the addition1 whose want even kills me.
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Iago: Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on it. Now, if this suit 188. lay in Bianca’s power, how quickly should you speed!
Cassio: Alas, poor rogue,1 I think in 189. faith she loves me.
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190. Othello: Look how he laughs already.
Iago: She gives it out that you shall 191. marry her.
192. Cassio: She is persuaded I will marry her out of her own love and
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flattery, not out of my promise. She hangs and lolls and weeps upon me, so shakes and pulls me. Ha, ha, ha!
Othello: Crying “O dear Cassio,” as it 193. were; his gesture imports it.
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Cassio: Well, I must leave her 194. company. Prithee1 come. Will you?
Iago shakes his head no. Cassio exits and Othello moves back to Iago.
195. Othello: How shall I murder him, Iago?
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Iago: Did you perceive how he 196. laughed at his vice?1 And did you see the handkerchief?
Othello: O Iago! Let her rot and perish and be damned tonight, for 197. she shall not live. Get me some poison, Iago, this night.
198. Iago: Do it not with poison. Strangle her in her bed, even the bed
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she hath contaminated. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker.1
199. Othello: Excellent good.
Iago exits. Othello moves to Desdemona’s chamber. Emilia is there.
Othello: You have seen Cassio and she 200. together.
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Emilia: But then I saw no harm, and then I heard each syllable that 201. breath made up between them.
Othello: What, did they never whisper? 202. Nor send you out o’ th’ way?
203. Emilia: Never. I durst,1 my lord, to
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wager she is honest, lay down my soul at stake. If you think other, remove your thought.
Othello: Let me see your eyes. Look in 204. my face.
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205. Desdemona: What horrible fancy’s this?
Othello: O, devil, devil! If that the earth could teem with woman’s 206. tears, each drop you fall would prove a crocodile.
207. Desdemona: Upon my knees, what doth your speech import? I understand a fury in your
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words, but not the words.
208. Othello: Why? What art thou?
Desdemona: Your wife, my lord, your true 209. and loyal wife.
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Othello: Come, swear it. Swear thou art 210. honest. Heaven truly knows thou art false as hell.
Desdemona: To whom, my lord? With 211. whom? How am I false?
212. Othello: Ah, Desdemon, away, away,
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away!
213. Desdemona: By heaven, you do me wrong!
Emilia: How do you, madam? How do 214. you, my good lady? What’s the matter with my lord?
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Desdemona: Emilia. I cannot weep, nor answers have I none. What 215. shall I do to win my lord again?
Emilia: I will be hanged if some eternal villain, some busy and insinuating rogue, some 216. cogging,1 cozening2 slave, to get some office, have not devised this slander.3
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Desdemona: Dost thou in conscience think – tell me, Emilia – that there 217. be women do abuse their husbands in such gross kind?
Emilia: There be some such. No 218. question.
Desdemona: I do not think there is any 219. such woman.
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Emilia: Yes, a dozen. But I do think it is their husbands’ faults if wives do fall. Say that they 220. slack their duties, or say they strike us. Yet we have some revenge.
Desdemona: So, get thee gone. Good night. 221. Mine eyes do itch; doth that bode weeping?
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222. Emilia: ‘Tis neither here nor there.
ACT 5 A street in Cyprus
Iago: Here, stand behind this bulk.1 223. Straight will he come.
Roderigo: I have no great devotion to the 224. deed. ‘Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword! He dies.
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Iago: Now, whether he kills Cassio, or Cassio him, or each do kill 225. the other, every way makes my gain. Be it so.
226. Chorus: I hear him coming.
Cassio enters
227. Roderigo: ‘Tis he! – Villain, thou diest!
228. Cassio: That thrust had been mine enemy indeed but that my coat is better than thou
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know’st.
229. Roderigo: O, I am slain!
Roderigo falls; Iago stabs Cassio in the leg and hides. Othello enters from the opposite side of the stage – he is unable to see Iago, Cassio and Roderigo.
230. Cassio: Help, ho! Murder, murder!
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Othello: The voice of Cassio! Iago keep 231. his word.
232. Roderigo: O, villain that I am!
Othello: ‘Tis he! O brave Iago, honest and just, thou teaches me. -- 233. Minion, your dear lies dead, and your unblest fate hies.1 Strumpet,2 I come.
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Roderigo: Nobody come? Then shall I 234. bleed to death.
Chorus: Who’s there? Whose noise is 235. this that cries on murder?
Cassio: Here, here! For Heaven’s sake, 236. help me!
237. Iago: What’s the matter?
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Cassio: Iago? O, I am spoiled, undone 238. by villains.
239. Chorus: What villains have done this?
Cassio: I think that one of them is 240. hereabout and cannot make away.
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241. Roderigo: O, help me here!
242. Chorus: That’s one of them.
243. Iago: O murd’rous slave! O villain!
Roderigo: O damned Iago! O inhuman 244. dog!
Iago kills Roderigo
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Iago: Here’s Cassio, hurt by villains. 245. What malice1 was between you?
Cassio: None in the world. Nor do I 246. know the man.
Iago: Kind gentlemen, let’s go see 247. poor Cassio dressed.2
Iago, Cassio and Roderigo freeze in tableau. Chorus helps shift the audience’s focus to the other side of the stage – Desdemona’s bedchamber; she is asleep.
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Othello: Yet I’ll not shed her blood, nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow. Yet she must die, 248. else she’ll betray more men. So sweet was ne’er so fatal.1 She wakes.
249. Desdemona: Who’s there? Othello?
Othello: Have you prayed tonight, 250. Desdemon? I would not kill thy unprepared spirit.
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251. Desdemona: Talk you of killing?
252. Othello: Ay, I do.
Desdemona: Why should I fear I know not, 253. since guiltiness I know not, but yet I feel fear.
Othello: That handkerchief which I so 254. loved, and gave thee, thou gav’st to Cassio.
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Desdemona: No, by my life and soul! Send 255. for the man and ask him.
Othello: His mouth is stopped. Honest 256. Iago hath ta’en order for it.
Desdemona: Alas, he is betrayed, and I 257. undone.
258. Othello: It is too late. (he smothers her)
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Emilia: My lord, my lord? I do 259. beseech1 you that I may speak with you.
Othello: I had forgot thee. O, come in 260. Emilia.
Emilia: Cassio, my lord, hath killed a 261. young Venetian called Roderigo.
Othello: Not Cassio killed? Then 262. murder’s out of tune, and sweet revenge grows harsh.
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263. Desdemona: O falsely, falsely murdered.
Emilia: Out and alas, that was my 264. lady’s voice! O, who hath done this deed?
Desdemona: Nobody. I myself. Farewell. 265. (she dies)
Othello: She’s like a liar gone to 266. burning hell! ‘Twas I that killed her.
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Emilia: O, the more angel she, and you 267. the blacker devil!
Othello: That I did proceed upon just 268. grounds to this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.
Emilia: My husband? That she was 269. false to wedlock?
Othello: Ay, it was he that told me on her first. An honest man he is, 270. and hates the slime that sticks on filthy deeds.
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Emilia: If he say so, may his pernicious1 soul rot half a grain a day! He lies to the heart! (loudly) Help! Help, ho! 271. Help! The Moor2 hath killed my mistress! Murder, murder!
Iago and Chorus join the scene in the bedchamber
272. Chorus: What is the matter?
Emilia: O, are you come, Iago? Disprove this villain, if thou 273. be’st a man. He says thou tolds’t him that his wife was false.
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Iago: I told him what I thought, and told no more that what he 274. found himself was apt and true.
275. Emilia: You told a lie!
276. Chorus: An odious, damned lie!
Emilia: And your reports set the 277. murder on!
278. Iago: What, are you mad?
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Chorus: Poor Desdemona, I am glad thy father’s dead. Thy match 279. was mortal to him. Did he live now, this sight would make him do a desperate turn.
Othello: ‘Tis pitiful. But yet Iago knows that she with Cassio hath the act of shame a thousand times committed and she did gratify his amorous1 works with that 280. recognizance and pledge of love which first I gave her. I saw it in his hand. It was a handkerchief, an antique token my father gave my mother.
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281. Emilia: O God! O heavenly God!
282. Iago: Zounds, hold your peace!
Emilia: I will not. O thou dull Moor, that handkerchief thou speak’st of I found by fortune. She give it Cassio? No, alas I 283. found it, and I did giv’t my husband.
284. Iago: Filth, thou liest!
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Emilia: By heaven, I do not, I do not, 285. gentlemen!
286. Othello: Precious villain!
Othello runs at Iago but is stopped by the Chorus. Iago uses the opportunity to stab and kill Emilia and then runs off-stage. A couple of Chorus members pursue him.
287. Chorus: He’s gone, but his wife’s killed.
Emilia: She loved thee, cruel Moor. So come my soul to bliss, as I 288. speak true. So speaking as I think, alas, I die.
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Othello: O Desdemon! Dead, 289. Desdemon! Dead! O, O!
290. Chorus: Bring the villain forth.
Iago is led in by the chorus members who pursued him. Othello lunges toward Iago and stabs him.
291. Iago: I bleed sir, but not killed.
Chorus: This wretch hath part confessed his villainy. Did you 292. and he consent in Cassio’s death?
293. Othello: Ay. O villain!
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Iago: Demand me nothing. What 294. you know, you know.
½ Chorus: Sir, you shall understand what hath befall’n. Here is a letter found in the pocket of the 295. slain Roderigo, the one of them imports that death of Cassio, to be undertook by Roderigo.
½ Chorus: There is besides, in Roderigo’s letter, how he upbraids1 Iago 296. that he made him brave Cassio upon the watch, whereon it came that he was cast.
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Othello: O fool, fool, fool! I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this, killing myself, to die upon 297. a kiss. Speak of me as I am; of one that loved not wisely but too well. (He stabs himself and dies)
Chorus: O Spartan dog, look on the tragic loading of this bed. This is thy work. (to audience) To Cassio, lord governor, remains the censure1 of this hellish villain. Myself will straight aboard, and to the state this heavy act with heavy heart relate. 298.
1 censure: opinion. Today, censure means to criticize harshly. In the case of line 298, it means punishment. 136 Got feedback to help improve future worksheets? Experiences and photos to share?
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