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Othello, Act 5, Scene 1

William Shakespeare
Every note, for your class

The story so far

Earlier in the play

Iago has convinced Othello that Desdemona is unfaithful with Cassio. Othello plans to strangle her; Iago promises to kill Cassio. Venice has appointed Cassio to replace Othello. Iago urges Roderigo to ambush Cassio after supper, claiming his death will prevent Othello from taking Desdemona away.

In the last scene: Act 4, Scene 3

Othello leaves with Lodovico, ordering Desdemona to bed and telling her to dismiss Emilia. As Emilia helps her undress, Desdemona sings a song remembered from her mother’s maid and asks to be shrouded in her wedding sheets if she dies first. They discuss wives’ infidelity: Desdemona rejects it, while Emilia says husbands’ conduct can lead wives to it.

SCENE I. Cyprus. A Street.

Enter Iago and Roderigo.
IAGO
Here, stand behind this bulk. Straight will he come.Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home.Quick, quick, fear nothing; I’ll be at thy elbow.It makes us, or it mars us, think on that,And fix most firm thy resolution.
RODERIGO
Be near at hand, I may miscarry in ’t.
IAGO
Here, at thy hand. Be bold, and take thy stand.
Retires to a little distance.
RODERIGO
I have no great devotion to the deed;And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons.’Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword; he dies.
Goes to his stand.
IAGO
I have rubb’d this young quatold wordsa pimple or insignificant, contemptible person. almost to the sense,And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,Every way makes my gain. Live Roderigo,He calls me to a restitution largeOf gold and jewels that I bobb’d from him,As gifts to Desdemona.It must not be. If Cassio do remain,He hath a daily beauty in his lifeThat makes me ugly. And besides, the MoorMay unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril.No, he must die. But so, I hear him coming.
Enter Cassio.
RODERIGO
I know his gait; ’tis he. Villain, thou diest!
Rushes out, and makes a pass at Cassio.
CASSIO
That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,But that my coat is better than thou know’st.I will make proof of thine.
Draws, and wounds Roderigo.
RODERIGO
O, I am slain!
Iago rushes from his post, cuts Cassio behind in the leg, and exit.
CASSIO
I am maim’d forever. Help, ho! murder, murder!
Falls.
Enter Othello.
OTHELLO
The voice of Cassio. Iago keeps his word.
RODERIGO
O, villain that I am!
OTHELLO
It is even so.
CASSIO
O, help, ho! light! a surgeon!
OTHELLO
’Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just,That hast such noble sense of thy friend’s wrong!Thou teachest me,—minion, your dear lies dead,And your unbless’d fate hies. Strumpet, I come!Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;Thy bed, lust-stain’d, shall with lust’s blood be spotted.
Exit.
Enter Lodovico and Gratiano.
CASSIO
What, ho! No watch? No passage? murder, murder!
GRATIANO
’Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.
CASSIO
O, help!
LODOVICO
Hark!
RODERIGO
O wretched villain!
LODOVICO
Two or three groan. It is a heavy night.These may be counterfeits. Let’s think’t unsafeTo come in to the cry without more help.
RODERIGO
Nobody come? Then shall I bleed to death.
Enter Iago with a light.
LODOVICO
Hark!
GRATIANO
Here’s one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.
IAGO
Who’s there? Whose noise is this that cries on murderold wordsto raise the alarm by shouting 'murder'.?
LODOVICO
We do not know.
IAGO
Did not you hear a cry?
CASSIO
Here, here! for heaven’s sake, help me!
IAGO
What’s the matter?
GRATIANO
This is Othello’s ancientdomain-specificA military ensign-bearer, a junior officer responsible for carrying the company’s flag., as I take it.
LODOVICO
The same indeed, a very valiant fellow.
IAGO
What are you here that cry so grievously?
CASSIO
Iago? O, I am spoil’d, undone by villains!Give me some help.
IAGO
O me, lieutenant! What villains have done this?
CASSIO
I think that one of them is hereabout,And cannot make away.
IAGO
O treacherous villains!What are you there?Come in and give some help.
RODERIGO
O, help me here!
CASSIO
That’s one of them.
IAGO
O murderous slave! O villain!
Stabs Roderigo.
RODERIGO
O damn’d Iago! O inhuman dog!
IAGO
Kill men i’ the dark! Where be these bloody thieves?How silent is this town! Ho! murder! murder!What may you be? Are you of good or evil?
LODOVICO
As you shall prove us, praise us.
IAGO
Signior Lodovico?
LODOVICO
He, sir.
IAGO
I cry you mercy. Here’s Cassio hurt by villains.
GRATIANO
Cassio!
IAGO
How is’t, brother?
CASSIO
My leg is cut in two.
IAGO
Marry, heaven forbid!Light, gentlemen, I’ll bind it with my shirt.
Enter Bianca.
BIANCA
What is the matter, ho? Who is’t that cried?
IAGO
Who is’t that cried?
BIANCA
O my dear Cassio, my sweet Cassio! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspectWho they should be that have thus mangled you?
CASSIO
No.
GRATIANO
I am sorry to find you thus; I have been to seek you.
IAGO
Lend me a garter. So.—O, for a chair,To bear him easily hence!
BIANCA
Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!
IAGO
Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trashold wordsA worthless person; as a verb, to restrain or check someone, as a hound is checked during a hunt.To be a party in this injury.Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?Alas, my friend and my dear countrymanRoderigo? No. Yes, sure; O heaven! Roderigo.
GRATIANO
What, of Venice?
IAGO
Even he, sir. Did you know him?
GRATIANO
Know him? Ay.
IAGO
Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon.These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,That so neglected you.
GRATIANO
I am glad to see you.
IAGO
How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!
GRATIANO
Roderigo!
IAGO
He, he, ’tis he.
A chair brought in.
IAGO
O, that’s well said; the chair.Some good man bear him carefully from hence,I’ll fetch the general’s surgeon. For you, mistress,Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio,Was my dear friend. What malice was between you?
CASSIO
None in the world. Nor do I know the man.
IAGO
What, look you pale?—O, bear him out o’ the air.
Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.
IAGO
Stay you, good gentlemen.—Look you pale, mistress?Do you perceive the gastnessold wordsterror, dread, or a state of being aghast. of her eye?Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.Behold her well. I pray you, look upon her.Do you see, gentlemen? Nay, guiltiness will speakThough tongues were out of use.
Enter Emilia.
EMILIA
’Las, what’s the matter? What’s the matter, husband?
IAGO
Cassio hath here been set on in the darkBy Roderigo, and fellows that are ’scap’d.He’s almost slain, and Roderigo dead.
EMILIA
Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio!
IAGO
This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,Go know of Cassio where he supp’d tonight.What, do you shake at that?
BIANCA
He supp’d at my house, but I therefore shake not.
IAGO
O, did he so? I charge you go with me.
EMILIA
Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet!
BIANCA
I am no strumpet, but of life as honestAs you that thus abuse me.
EMILIA
As I? Foh! fie upon thee!
IAGO
Kind gentlemen, let’s go see poor Cassio dress’d.Come, mistress, you must tell’s another tale.Emilia, run you to the citadel,And tell my lord and lady what hath happ’d.Will you go on afore? This is the nightThat either makes me or fordoesold wordsto destroy or ruin. me quite.
Exeuntforeign phrasea stage direction instructing two or more performers to leave the stage..

Characters

Speaking

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  • 7 speeches
  • 5 speeches

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Themes

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Questions on this scene

  • Reading

    Who attacks Cassio first?