1440200 1623 Shakespeare. Othello. Four Leaves.
10251.
Othello. From the First Folio. 1623. Four Leaves.
(315-318, 335-338)
(See item 10217 in this collection for full description of Othello Fragment)
The Othello fragment is divided into two parts, the second part being far and away the more important.
(Pages 315-318)
Othello and Desdemona appear before Brabantio (Desdemona’s father) and the duke, the lovers pleading for Brabantio to accept them. The duke, thinking they were meeting to discuss the Turkish fleet now headed for Cyprus, tells them to decide it among themselves, it being more critical the Othello captain the fleet and head to intercept the Turks. Before leaving, Othello informs the others that he and Desdemona have secretly wed. Desdemona begs the duke to allow her to go with Othello and he agrees. Othello, completely trusting and unwary, places Desdemona in the care of Iago.
With the lovers gone, Iago pulls Rodorigo (who also loves Desdemona) aside and claims he has a way to win her back for him. He urges Rodorigo to “put money in thy purse,” that Moors are an inconstant breed and no match for a “subtle Venetian”. He says that Rodorigo will soon “enjoy” Desdemona.
Alone Iago reveals his hatred for Rodorigo and outlines his plot to use convince Othello that Cassio is having an affair with Desdemona. Later he takes note of the way Cassio greets Desdemona and how they stand aside and talk. They are awaiting Othello’s ship which arrives with much fanfare and cheering for Othello. Iago’s soliloquy re-emphasizes his hatred for Othello and claims that Cassio has also been sleeping with Aemilia (Iago’s wife).
(Pages 335-338)
These pivotal leaves comprise the most powerful and dramatic scenes of the play.
Under cover of night Iago has stabbed Cassio and then made a hasty exit he then reenters and comes to Cassio’s aid as though totally unaware of what has transpired as the rest of the group lead Cassio off Iago in an aside tells us
this is the night
that either makes me or fordoes me quite
the next scene opens with what is perhaps Othello’s best known soliloquy
It is the cause, it is the cause my soul:
He asks Desdemona if she has made her peace with heaven then tells her that if she has not she best hurry for this is her last night on earth. Pleading with him, Desdemona begs to know why he is so set on killing her and he tells her that it is because of the handkerchief I gave you and that you then gave to Cassio. I told you how much that meant to me and yet as a token of your love you gave it to Cassio when she denies that it was Cassio and says bring him here but Othello tells her he is already dead that Iago has carried out the deed for him he then smothers her and her handmaiden Emilia Iago’s wife rushes in to try to stay him.
Othello has just slain Desdemona and Iago’s wife, Emilia, confronts him and demands to know how he could have killed one who was so pure, so completely chaste and in love with him. Othello tells her his wife was not true; he knows this from Iago. “…thy husband knew it all”. Incredulous, Emilia can only repeatedly ask “My husband?” Othello also tells her that Iago informed him of Desdemona having slept with Cassio. Still unbelieving, Emilia asks
“did my husband say she was false?”
“He, woman” Othello raves
“I say thy husband/dost understand the word? My friend, thy husband: honest, honest Iago.” Emilia screams “Help, Help, oh help/ the Moor hath killed my mistress. Murder! Murder!”
Still in shock Emelia says that her husband is basically a “gull”; she screams for help and Iago is one of three that rush in to attend her. As further proof of Desdemona’s treachery Othello produces the handkerchief that he has given her saying it was his mother’s and that Desdemona should guard it closely. Emilia screams and says that it was she who found it “by fortune” and gave it to Iago as “he begged of me to steal it.” Iago cries “villainous whore?” and stabs her. Dying, Emilia asks that she be lain beside her mistress. Her last words are:
“Moor she was chaste: she loved thee cruel Moor/So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true/So speaking as I think, alas, I die.”
Iago rushes out again. Othello, grieving, calls to hell itself:
“Who me ye devils/from the possession of this heavenly sight/
Blow me about in winds, roast me in Sulphur./Wash me in steep down gulfs of liquid fire!/O Desdemon! Dead. Desdemon! Dead! O, O!”
Two noble Venetians, Ludovico and Montano, both friends of Desdemona, enter with Iago as prisoner and Cassio who has only been wounded. Cassio says he found the handkerchief in his chamber where Iago had just now told him he dropped it “for a special purpose.”
Othello, completely distraught, delivers his final speech beginning with “Soft you now, a word or two before I go”. He then stabs himself and crosses to Desdemona. “I kissed thee ere I killed thee: no way but this. Killing myself to die upon a kiss.” He kisses her lifeless body and dies at her side.
Good