Othello: Study Guide

The story of an African general in the Venetian army who is tricked into suspecting his wife of adultery, Othello is a tragedy of sexual jealousy. First performed around 1604, the play is also a pioneering exploration of racial prejudice. Read a character analysis of Othello, plot summary, and important quotes.

Summary

Read a Plot Overview of the entire play or a scene by scene Summary and Analysis.

Plot Overview
Video Plot Summary
Key Questions and Answers
What Does the Ending Mean?

Summary & Analysis
Act I, scenes i–ii
Act I, scene iii
Act II, scenes i–ii
Act II, scene iii
Act III, scenes i–iii
Act III, scene iv
Act IV, scene i
Act IV, scenes ii–iii
Act V, scenes i–ii

Characters

See a complete list of the characters in Othello and in-depth analyses of Othello, Iago, Desdemona, Emilia, and Cassio.

Character List
Othello
Iago
Desdemona
Emilia
Cassio

Main Ideas

Here's where you'll find analysis about the play as a whole, from the major themes and ideas to analysis of style, tone, point of view, and more.

Themes
Plot Analysis
Protagonist
Antagonist
Setting
Motifs
Symbols
Genre
Allusions
Style
Point of View
Tone
Foreshadowing
Key Facts
Does Iago Hate Women?

Quotes

Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or refresh your memory of the play by reading these key quotes.

Important Quotations Explained

Quotes by Theme
Appearance vs. reality
Deception and treachery
Timing
Jealousy
Justice

Quotes by Section
Act I, scenes i–ii
Act I, scene iii
Act II, scenes i–ii
Act II, scene iii
Act III, scenes i–iii
Act III, scene iv
Act IV, scene i
Act IV, scenes ii–iii
Act V, scene i–ii

Quotes by Character
Othello
Desdemona
Iago
Cassio
Emilia

Quotes by Symbol
The Handkerchief
The Song "Willow"

Further Study

Test your knowledge of Othello with our quizzes and study questions, or go further with essays on the context and background and links to the best resources around the web.