Othello: Acts IV-V

Othello, the Moor of Venice
William Shakespeare

After much anticipation, the climax of the play occurs and then the play comes to a grinding halt. Within the last act, Cassio kills Roderigo while Iago secretly injures Cassio. Othello murders Desdemona. Gratiano reveals that Brabantio died of grief. Iago attempts to kill Emilia and succeeds when Othello charges at Iago. Iago escapes but then is captured, and Othello stabs Iago then kills himself. Luckily, Lodovico and Gratiano witnessed most of these events and could hold Iago accountable for his crimes. This list of deaths resulted from a lack of communication. Iago deceived all those around him, yet he is one of the few character left living at the end of the play. Had Othello held an honest and open conversation with his wife, rather than jumping straight to the worst conclusion, he would have learned that his wife was purely devoted to him. Also, if Othello held direct conversations honestly and openly with Cassio, he would have learned that Cassio had never had an affair with Desdemona. Cassio spoke of his relationship with Bianca, not with Desdemona. Othello could have discerned the difference if he had spoken directly to Cassio rather than hiding in the background of Cassio's conversation with Iago. After Emilia reveals what her husband has done, Iago's true nature shines. The characters no longer see him as honest Iago but "a notorious villain" (V, ii, 237).