ACT+5

ACT 5 "Murder, murder and more murder" Scene 1- The final act of Othello begins with Roderigo and Iago in discussion. Iago is directing Roderigo on how to murder Cassio. To himself, Iago muses how everyone that dies that night will be to his benefit. Shortly following, Cassio enters and a fight ensues between him and Roderigo. Othello also enters, and hears that Iago has kept his word to help murder Cassio. Inspired by Iago keeping his word, Othello makes a pledge to himself to kill his whore of a lover. As Othello leaves to commit his deed, Gratiano and Lodovico enter hearing the cries of Roderigo and Cassio. The pair of Venetians are confused and while they are perplexed Iago enters to talk with them. Cassio is continuing to scream in pain and Iago goes to assist Roderigo in his predicament. However, Iago does not help Roderigo. Instead, Iago stabs Roderigo and kills him. In the confusion Bianca also enters and rushes to aid her beloved Cassio. This provides Iago an opportunity to accuse Bianca of stabbing Cassio. Cassio and Roderigo are carried away and Emilia enters shortly after. Emilia, Iago, and Bianca discuss the night's events and Iago sends Emilia to the castle to tell Othello and Desdemona.

Scene 2-  Desdemona lies asleep in bed as the final scene of Othello begins. Othello enters and kisses Desdemona while he discusses how he must punish the one that he loves. Feeling the kisses upon her lips, Desdemona awakens and asks Othello to come to bed with her. In response, Othello tells her that he will have to kill her and talks about her sins. Leading up to her death, Desdemona continually denies ever having an adulterous affair with someone. Othello's rage builds and he screams out at her and wrestles her to the ground. Desdemona pleads with him to save her and to think of what he is doing. Despite Desdemona's cries, Othello is so overtaken by jealousy that he never stops to think. Othello then smothers Desdemona. Right after Othello has strangled Desdemona, Emilia knocks at the door. She tells him that she has urgent news and Othello hides Desdemona's body and lets Emilia into the room. With haste, Emilia begins to tell Othello of Roderigo's murder and that Cassio remains alive. Desdemona cries out in her last breaths that she has been murdered unfairly. Emilia opens the bed curtains and sees Desdemona. In her last sentence of life Desdemona tells Emilia that she killed herself and that Othello had nothing to do with it. At first Othello reassures this point with Emilia, but then he tells Emilia that he was the one that killed his wife. He continues and explains to Emilia that Iago told him that Desdemona was unfaithful. Shocked that her husband would spread such a scandalous lie, Emilia explains to Othello that Desdemona never cheated him and he must be mistaken. At this moment, the party of Montano, Gratiano, and Iago enter the room. Emilia tells of the murder and she charges at Iago for being so deceitful and manipulative. Othello tells Gratiano he knew Desdemona was unfaithful when he saw the handkerchief in Cassio's hands. Suddenly, everything connects for Emilia. She realizes that Iago wanted that handkerchief so he could set everything up according to his plans. After Emilia explains this to Othello, Othello charges at Iago. During Othello's charge, Iago stabs Emilia. Emilia dies singing Desdemona's willow song. Othello is in utter misery upon realizing he killed his innocent and beloved wife. In his misery he discusses with Lodovico and Othello is allowed to stab Iago. However, instead of killing Iago, Othello merely wounds him. Othello claims that death is bliss for him, so he would not want Iago to have that. Lodovico tells Othello that he will be taken back to Venice. In the final tragic event of the play, Othello stabs and kills himself. Before he dies, Othello kisses Desdemona on the lips. Lodovico ends the play by telling Iago how selfish and monstrous he was.