![]() ![]() Emlia provides commentary on Iago’s character (which she ascribes to all men) and ultimately is the device by which Iago is finally condemned. ![]() The presence of Roderigo also allows Iago to outline, in detail, his ruthless machinations which reveal his truly wicked nature. Iago now plots to destroy Othello for a variety of motives (not just Desdemona) and finds a willing accomplice and dupe in Roderigo who is in love with Desdemona. Shakespeare tightens the action and reduces the time-frame he also introduces a host of new characters to give, in many cases, a double-motive for an action (Reidhead and Johnson 804). The ensign continues his path of villainy before ultimately dying under torture. The ensign, for his part, returns to Venice with the one-legged captain and they accuse the Moor of murdering Desdemona the Moor is arrested, banished and ultimately killed by Desdemona’s family. ![]() The Moor, distracted from grief, strips the ensign of his title. They then pull the timbers of the roof down as an alibi. After a large payment, the ensign waylays the captain, attacks him with a sword (only wounding him) the ensign and the Moor then turn to Desdemona and beat her to death with a sand-filled stocking. The Moor decides he must kill his wife and her “lover” and plots with the ensign who agrees to help him. Through a series of misunderstandings and malevolent plotting on the part of the ensign–the Moor comes to believe that Desdemona has been unfaithful with the captain. When the Moor degrades a captain in his garrison for wounding a soldier–the ensign emerges, seeing an opportunity as Desdemona seeks to make peace between her husband and the captain. Meanwhile, an ensign in the Moor’s ranks lusts after Desdemona but she will not give him the time of day because she thinks only of her husband the ensign bides his time. When the Moor is sent to Cyprus to fight the Turks as a commander of a garrison, his new wife accompanies him. It is well-known that Shakespeare used existing stories as the basis for many of his plays Othello, written and performed in 1604 and first printed in 1622, is based on a tale in Cinthio’s Hecatommithi (1565), “Un Capitano Moro.” In the original, an unnamed Moor marries a beautiful lady, Desdemona, in spite of her parents’ opposition (Reidhead and Johnson 803). “Othello’s Lamentation,” by William Salter, 1857. ![]()
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