Othello Video Transcript: Plot

Introduction: ​Hello! In this first video, I will explain the key plot points of Othello.
Problem: I​ n this first slide, I will be covering the main problem of Othello, which is the main
conflict of the plot. The key conflict of the play is Iago’s lies to Othello, which is that his wife
Desdemona, is cheating on him with his lieutenant, Cassio. However, Othello is unsure whether
to trust his wife or Iago. This provides a large source of contention not just for Othello internally,
but for the audience, which is aware of Iago’s manipulation.
Complications: ​In this second slide, I will be covering the main complication of Othello, which
is a situation or detail of a character that acts as a catalyst for the main conflict in the plot. The
key complication of the play occurs when Iago plants Desdemona’s handkerchief in Cassio’s
room and leads Othello into a conversation between Bianca and Cassio regarding the
handkerchief. This catalyzes Othello’s suspicion of Desdemona’s infidelity, as he now believes
she gave Cassio the handkerchief.
Climax: I​ n this third slide, I will be covering the main climax of Othello, which is the point at
which the conflict is the most intense. The climax of the play occurs when Othello resolves to
kill Desdemona, He enters their chambers, and threatens Desdemona as she pleads for mercy.
Although Desdemona repeats her innocence, Othello strangles her to death. This is the most
suspenseful and tense point of the internal conflict Othello has felt regarding Desdemona’s
infidelity, which culminates in her death.
Denouement: ​In this fourth slide, I will be covering the denouement of Othello, which is the final
part of the plot in which plot strings are tied up and resolved. In this short amount of time, Emilia
realizes the lies Iago has crafted, Emilia is stabbed by Iago before she can reveal his
manipulation, Othello discovers Iago’s treachery and stabs him, then commits suicide, Iago is
captured by the messenger Lodovico, and Lodovico names Cassio as the new general of the
Venetian army due to Othello’s death.
Reversal: I​ n this fifth slide, I will be covering the reversal of Othello, which is the point at which
a character’s fortune becomes misfortune. This occurs when Othello confesses his insecurities to
Iago, who, up until this point, perceived Othello as confident and self-assured (Act III, Scene 3).
This confession of self-doubt allows Iago to now play on Othello’s insecurities in order to
convince Othello of Desdemona’s “Infidelity”.
Recognition: ​In this last slide, I will be covering the recognition of Othello, which is the moment
at which a chief character recognizes the happy or awful truth. This occurs when Othello realizes
that Desdemona was telling the truth, and that she never cheated on him. Iago had fed him lies
this whole time, resulting in the death of his wife. In this scenario, the chief character recognized
the awful truth.