Act 5, Scene 1 Summary

Iago instructs Roderigo to kill Cassio with his rapier. Roderigo is unsure if he has the capacity for murder; he thus requests Iago to accompany him just in case. Roderigo even reveals to the audience in an aside that he is not motivated enough to murder Cassio. Meanwhile, Iago, in his aside, confesses that he doesn’t care if Roderigo murders Cassio or vice-versa. For him, it will be more beneficial if they both kill each other. He also realizes that Roderigo has to die; otherwise Iago might be exposed.

Roderigo attacks Cassio, who in turn stabs Roderigo in defense. Iago emerges, stabs Cassio in the leg, and flees before he can be identified. Othello hears about the brawl and is pleased that Iago has kept his word and attacked Cassio. He leaves to finish off Desdemona. Lodovico and Gratiano enter. They’re followed by Iago, who is carrying a light. Cassio tells him that he has been attacked by someone. Iago spots Roderigo, who is still alive. Iago fakes a quarrel and kills Roderigo, who calls Iago an “inhuman dog” before he dies.

Bianca enters and sees a wounded Cassio. Iago now attempts to pin this attack on Bianca, and calls her a “strumpet.” Emilia enters, witnesses what has happened, and joins Iago in blaming Bianca. Iago then orders Emilia to report the incident to Othello and Desdemona.

Act 5, Scene 1 Analysis

In this scene, Roderigo is unable to carry out Iago’s plan; in what is certainly a tragic end, he is killed by Iago. Roderigo realizes that he’s been manipulated only when Iago stabs him. Roderigo had given Iago his friendship, money, and loyalty only to be betrayed at the end. He is a timid and weak character without the determination to match his ambition: he fails to kill Cassio after plotting the murder with Iago; he is also unable to win Desdemona over. When Iago sees Roderigo’s failed attempt to kill Cassio, Iago wounds Cassio, and under the pretext of saving Cassio, kills Roderigo. He even manages to project Bianca as Cassio’s attacker. No one suspects Iago of foul play. Othello’s brief appearance in this scene is marked by bloodthirst. Thinking Cassio is dead, he proceeds to kill with great fervor.

Act 5, Scene 2 Summary

Othello enters Desdemona’s chamber with the intention of killing her. She looks serene, beautiful, and innocent, but Othello is undeterred. He tries to justify his intention with imageries and metaphors. Even when his rage somehow mellows, his opinion of Desdemona remains the same. Desdemona wakes up and asks Othello to join her in bed. Othello enquires whether she has prayed and tells her that she has to atone for her sins. Desdemona realizes that she cannot possibly do anything to change Othello’s mind, but tells him once more that she is innocent.

Othello sees this as an opening to let Desdemona know of the handkerchief, that he has found the enchanting object in Cassio’s possession. She denies any offence and asks Othello to summon Cassio. Othello tells her that Cassio is dead. She pleads with him to not kill her, but Othello pays no heed.

Emilia enters to let Othello know of the attempted assassination. Othello thus learns that Cassio is not dead. Emilia realizes that Desdemona has nearly been killed. Desdemona speaks her last words before dying. Although she is not guilty, she admits that she is, and that she herself is to blame for her plight. When Othello continues to speak ill of Desdemona, Emilia defends her. Othello lets Emilia know that Iago, her husband, knows the truth. Emilia is shocked to hear this, and she realizes at once what might have transpired. Emilia calls Iago a liar. Othello threatens to kill her, but she is not frightened by his threats. Instead, she accuses him of killing Desdemona.

Montano, Gratiano, and Iago enter. Gratiano states that he is happy that Brabantio is not alive to witness Desdemona’s tragic end. Emilia charges at Iago, and he admits his wrongdoings. He then stabs Emilia for exposing him and runs away. Emilia dies. When he is brought back, Othello stabs Iago, but Iago survives. Othello then asks everyone present at the scene to repeat the following lines: “I kissed thee ere I killed thee. No way but this,/Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.” He then stabs and kills himself. Cassio becomes the leader in Cyprus, while Lodovico and Gratiano leave for Venice to carry the tragic news. Iago is taken into custody and will be tried for his crimes.

Act 5, Scene 2 Analysis

Othello’s farewell to Desdemona is rather ironic in nature: he is not only bidding farewell to his wife but also to his peace of mind and eventually to himself. Although he tries hard to see Desdemona as a sinner, he can only notice her innocence in her sleep, which, to be sure, doesn’t deter him from killing her. He tries instead to justify the impending crime he is about to commit. Desdemona, on the other hand, surrenders herself to this destiny. It is quite ironic that the same handkerchief which symbolized her love for Othello is now the reason for her killing.

Desdemona’s last words are rather ambiguous. Mysteriously enough, her resignation deepens just moments before her death. Many critics opine that she may have called herself guilty to absolve her husband of blame and guilt, that doing so was an expression of love on her part.

Emilia’s death, too, can be compared with Desdemona’s. Although she is not as devoted a wife as Desdemona, she, too, was betrayed by Iago. She is the voice of reason and values friendship and honor more than her marriage.

Othello, who has always been worried about his public image, destroys his reputation. Toward the end of the play, he is seen by everyone as “a fallen Moor.” His tarnished reputation is ample reason for him to murder Desdemona, though he eventually realizes that Iago had manipulated him all along. In his grand last speech, he compares his crime to throwing “a pearl away richer than all his tribe,” although it doesn’t justify the cruelty of his action. Othello struggles with his ideas of reputation and honor till the very end.