Othello opens in the stately city of Venice
brought before the Duke of Venice to be discussed. Othello and Desdemona plead their love to the
Duke, refuting the Senator’s claims that Othello bewitched his daughter, and that their marriage was
true. After Othello claims that he wooed her with his adventurous stories, Desdemona herself
testifies that she fell honestly in love with the Moor and freely married him.
Following their clearance of wrongdoing, Othello is immediately sent to defend against the Turks in
Cyrpus. Taking Desdemona with him, Othello sets out for the island with Iago and his wife Emilia in
tow. Again displaying his deceitful nature, Iago manages to convince Roderigo to follow along for
when Desdemona tires of her new husband.
When the Venetians arrive in Cyprus, Iago immediately goes about planting doubt in Othello’s mind
as to how loyal his wife is. A carefully planned fight between Roderigo and Cassio, the man who was
promoted above Iago, results in Cassio’s demotion
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