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One all of luxury, an ass, a madman!

Wherein have I so deserv'd of you

That you extol me thus?

LUCIO.

Faith, my lord, I spoke it but according to the trick.

If you will hang me for it, you may; but I had rather it would

please you I might be whipt.

DUKE.

Whipt first, sir, and hang'd after.

Proclaim it, Provost, round about the city,

If any woman wrong'd by this lewd fellow-

As I have heard him swear himself there's one

Whom he begot with child, let her appear,

And he shall marry her. The nuptial finish'd,

Let him be whipt and hang'd.

LUCIO.

I beseech your Highness, do not marry me to a whore.

Your

Highness said even now I made you a duke; good my lord, do not

recompense me in making me a cuckold.

DUKE.

Upon mine honour, thou shalt marry her.

Thy slanders I forgive; and therewithal

Remit thy other forfeits. Take him to prison;

And see our pleasure herein executed.

LUCIO.

Marrying a punk, my lord, is pressing to death,

whipping,

and hanging.

DUKE.

Slandering a prince deserves it.

Exeunt OFFICERS with LUCIO

She, Claudio, that you wrong'd, look you restore.

Joy to you, Mariana! Love her, Angelo;

I have confess'd her, and I know her virtue.

Thanks, good friend Escalus, for thy much goodness;

There's more behind that is more gratulate.

Thanks, Provost, for thy care and secrecy;

We shall employ thee in a worthier place.

Forgive him, Angelo, that brought you home

The head of Ragozine for Claudio's:

Th' offence pardons itself. Dear Isabel,

I have a motion much imports your good;

Whereto if you'll a willing ear incline,

What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine.

So, bring us to our palace, where we'll show

What's yet behind that's meet you all should know.

Exeunt

OTHELLO

This famous tragedy is believed to have been written in 1603, and is based on the Italian short story Un Capitano Moro by Cinthio, a follower of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his wife Desdemona; his lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted ensign Iago, whose secret machinations to bring about the downfall of Othello serve as the play’s central action.

The play opens with Roderigo, a rich and dissolute gentleman, complaining to Iago, a high-ranking soldier, that he has not told him about the secret marriage between Desdemona, the daughter of a Senator named Brabantio, and Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army. He is upset because he loves Desdemona and had previously asked her father for her hand in marriage. Iago is upset with Othello for promoting a younger man named Cassio above him, and tells Roderigo that he plans to use Othello for his own advantage.

Shakespeare's main source text for this play is available via this link.

Orson Wells’ film noir style 1952 film adaptation

The 1995 movie version, with Kenneth Brannagh as the conspiring Iago

CONTENTS

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

ACT I. SCENE I. Venice. A street.

SCENE II. Another street.

SCENE III. A council chamber. The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending.

ACT II. SCENE I. A seaport in Cyprus. An open place near the quay.

SCENE II. A street.

SCENE III. A hall in the castle.

ACT III. SCENE I. Before the castle.

SCENE II. A room in the castle.

SCENE III. The garden of the castle.

SCENE IV. Before the castle.

ACT IV. SCENE I. Cyprus. Before the castle.

SCENE II. A room in the castle.

SCENE III. Another room in the castle.

ACT V. SCENE I. Cyprus. A street.

SCENE II. A bedchamber in the castle. Desdemona in bed asleep; a light burning.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

OTHELLO, the Moor, general of the Venetian forces

DESDEMONA, his wife

IAGO, ensign to Othello

EMILIA, his wife, lady-in-waiting to Desdemona

CASSIO, lieutenant to Othello

THE DUKE OF VENICE

BRABANTIO, Venetian Senator, father of Desdemona

GRATIANO, nobleman of Venice, brother of Brabantio

LODOVICO, nobleman of Venice, kinsman of Brabantio

RODERIGO, rejected suitor of Desdemona